Independent
coloured gemstone
reports.
Identification, origin, and treatment analysis for coloured gemstones from deposits worldwide. Clear answers through advanced analytical testing, with the methodology behind every finding documented in full.
Fig. 01 · FTIR Spectrometer · Specimen – Mozambique Ruby6.12 ct
01 · Where we operate
Source
markets
Testing capacity inside producing countries, not only consumer markets.
02 · Trade and auction clients
Trade
& auction
Preferred laboratory for major retail groups and international auction houses for high-value coloured gemstone testing.
03 · Globally recognised
100+
Buyers
Reports recognised across retail, auction, and wholesale markets worldwide.
04 · Origins covered
50+
Deposits
Geographic origin determination from a proprietary trace element database built by direct source sampling.
What we do
Five answers,
structured around the
questions that matter most.
Every gemstone raises questions. Our services are organised around the answers that matter, whether you need rapid verification, a museum-quality publication, or expert guidance on a time-sensitive decision.
01
Verify identity.
Natural vs Synthetic · Identification Report
Confirm whether your gemstone is natural or laboratory-grown. Spectroscopic analysis provides a clear answer on a specimen’s fundamental identity before committing to further documentation.
02
Confirm origin.
LA-ICP-MS · UV-VIS-NIR · FTIR · 50+ deposits
Geographic origin can shift a coloured gemstone’s value by multiples. We combine LA-ICP-MS trace element analysis with spectroscopy to establish provenance with scientific precision – Mogok and Mozambique for ruby, Kashmir, Ceylon, and Madagascar for sapphire, Colombia, Zambia, and Afghanistan for emerald.
03
Detect treatments.
Heat · Beryllium diffusion · Lead glass · Fracture filling · Coating
Many treatments are invisible to the naked eye but identifiable through targeted analytical techniques. Our treatment analysis documents exactly what has been done to a stone, protecting both buyer and seller.
04
Document value.
Travel Card · Premium Report · Monograph
From portable trade verification to comprehensive collector-grade publications. A wallet-sized Travel Card for the show floor. A four-page Premium Report in a leather presentation folder. A custom hardback Monograph for historic specimens.
05
Get expert guidance.
Verbal Consultation · 2 questions
Not every question requires a written report. Our Verbal Consultation service provides direct expert assessment for up to two gemstone-related questions, offering a practical entry point for time-sensitive decisions or preliminary evaluations.
Why ICA | GemLab
A laboratory
positioned at the
mine-to-market line.
Most gemological laboratories operate in consumer markets, far from where stones are mined and traded. We sit at the intersection of Southeast Asian gem sources and worldwide trade – with the science to match.
01 · Technical capability
Six advanced techniques, one workflow.
Microscopy, LA-ICP-MS, EDXRF, Raman, UV-VIS-NIR, and FTIR. Each addresses a specific analytical question. Together they deliver comprehensive characterisation no single technique can.
02 · Transparency
Methodology, not just results.
Every report reflects the analytical techniques applied and the reasoning behind our conclusions. This level of disclosure is not standard practice across the industry. We believe it should be.
03 · Source market presence
Verification where stones are formed.
The laboratory operates inside the trade rather than at its edges, with facilities in Bangkok, Dubai and Hong Kong, and a fourth opening in Surat. Further arrangements to extend testing capacity into producing countries are in progress.
04 · Verification
Every report, verifiable.
Enter the reference number or scan the QR code printed on the document at reports.icagemlab.com to confirm authenticity and view the digital record.
Instrumentation
The six advanced techniques that underpin every report. Used in combination, never in isolation.
Microscopy
Internal features, inclusions, and growth structure. Where every examination begins.
LA-ICP-MS
Trace element analysis. The basis for origin determination.
EDXRF
Rapid elemental screening across the visible spectrum.
Raman
Molecular identification through scattered light.
UV-VIS-NIR
Absorption analysis across ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared.
FTIR
Treatment detection through infrared absorption signatures.
Origin determination
Where a stone
was formed can shift
its value by
multiples.
A Burmese ruby. A Kashmir sapphire. A Colombian emerald. Each commands a premium that a chemically equivalent stone from another deposit does not. We use LA-ICP-MS to fingerprint trace elements and compare against our proprietary reference database, built from direct sampling of deposits across 50+ geographic sources worldwide.
50–300%
Origin value impact
50+
Deposits in reference DB
3
Spectroscopic techniques
Insights
From the
laboratory bench.
Gemological observations, industry analysis, and research from the laboratory. Topics range from specimen documentation under the microscope to commentary on treatment detection methodology and the science behind origin determination.
The laboratory
Founded in 2016
to advance gemological
testing standards.
ICA | GemLab was established to provide ethical, transparent reporting for the coloured gemstone industry. Our leadership team brings decades of combined experience in gemological research and laboratory operations. We sit in Bangkok, at the centre of the global coloured gemstone trade – close to source markets across Southeast Asia and within the regional supply chain that handles a significant proportion of the world’s coloured gemstone material.
2016
Founded
Bangkok
Headquarters
6
Advanced techniques
Frequently asked
Common questions.
Q.01 What is a gemstone report?
A gemstone report is a written document issued by a gemological laboratory that records the findings of analytical testing on a specific stone. An ICA | GemLab report can include species identification, treatment status, geographic origin, weight, dimensions, and colour assessment. We use the term “report” rather than “certificate” because gemological findings are documented observations rather than guaranteed facts. The accuracy of the document depends on the methods applied and the limits of current analytical science.
Q.02 How is gemstone origin determined?
Geographic origin is determined by analysing the trace element composition of a gemstone using LA-ICP-MS and comparing the result against a reference database of stones from known deposits. UV-VIS-NIR and FTIR spectroscopy provide additional confirmation through characteristic absorption patterns. The combination of trace element fingerprinting and spectroscopic analysis allows the laboratory to establish provenance with scientific precision, though origin determination remains an interpretive process and not every stone can be conclusively assigned to a single source.
Q.03 Can heat treatment be detected in a sapphire or ruby?
Heat treatment in corundum is detected through a combination of microscopic examination, FTIR spectroscopy, and UV-VIS-NIR analysis. Indicators include altered inclusion appearance, characteristic absorption features, and specific fluorescence reactions. Detection accuracy depends on the type and degree of treatment applied, and on the analytical techniques available. Higher-temperature treatments are generally easier to detect than low-temperature ones.
Q.04 Where is ICA | GemLab located?
The laboratory is based in Bangkok, Thailand, at the centre of the global coloured gemstone trade. Our location places us close to source markets across Southeast Asia and within the regional supply chain that handles a significant proportion of the world’s coloured gemstone material.
Work with us
Submit a stone,
or ask the
laboratory directly.
Our laboratory is based in Bangkok, at the centre of the global coloured gemstone trade. We are open to dealers, retailers, auction houses, collectors, and individual enquiries.
Address
919/7-8, 6th Floor
Jewelry Trade Center
Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Hours
Mon – Fri, 09:00 – 18:00 ICT
By appointment Saturday
Reach us
+66 2 630 0001
info@icagemlab.com
For trade professionals & dealers
Submit stones for testing or request lot pricing.
Enquire about turnaround times, parcel separation, and Travel Card formats. We work with major groups, retailers, auction houses, and individual dealers.
For collectors & enthusiasts
Not sure which service is right for your stone?
Get in touch and we will advise. The Verbal Consultation service is a practical entry point for time-sensitive decisions or preliminary evaluations.