Services.
Independent testing of coloured gemstones for identification, origin, and treatment status. Every service answers a specific question about a specific stone, with findings documented in the report format you choose.
Fig. 01 · The three questions every stone raises
Is it natural or laboratory-grown?
Where was it formed?
Has it been treated, and if so, how?
How our services work
Two decisions. One finding.
Every coloured gemstone raises questions. Is it natural or laboratory-grown? Where was it formed? Has it been treated, and if so, how? Our services are organised around the answers.
A submission to the laboratory involves two decisions. First, the analytical work required to answer your question or questions about the stone. Second, the report format used to document the findings.
Decision 01 · What you need to know
The analytical work.
Identification. Origin. Treatment detection. The analyses required to answer your question or questions about the stone. The findings are the same across every format.
Decision 02 · How it is documented
The report format.
Travel Card, Enfold, 2-Fold, Premium, or Monograph. A matter of presentation, audience, and intended use. The analyses do not change. The documentation does.
The format affects presentation, not findings.
What we do
Five categories of analytical work. One workflow.
Our analytical services group into five broad categories, each addressing a different kind of question. Across all categories the underlying analytical workflow is the same. Only the question, and the techniques selected to answer it, change.
01 · Identity
Verify Identity
What is this stone?
02 · Origin
Confirm Origin
Where was it formed?
03 · Treatment
Detect Treatments
What has been done to it?
04 · Documentation
Document Value
How should findings be presented?
05 · Consultation
Get Expert Guidance
Do you need a report at all?
Category 01 · Identity
Verify Identity.
“What is this stone?” The fundamental question.
Identification analyses confirm species and variety, separate natural material from laboratory-grown counterparts, and identify the specific chemical markers that distinguish closely related species. These services are suited to pre-purchase verification, parcel screening, and any situation where the fundamental identity of a stone needs to be confirmed before further commitment.
Common services · 04 listed
Natural vs Synthetic Determination
FTIR · Raman
Species and Variety Identification
Raman · EDXRF
Copper Testing for Paraíba Tourmaline
LA-ICP-MS
Chromium & Vanadium Testing for Emerald
LA-ICP-MS
Instrumentation. Classical gemological examination supported by Raman spectroscopy and FTIR. LA-ICP-MS trace element analysis where required.
Category 02 · Origin
Confirm Origin.
“Where was it formed?” A question of provenance.
Geographic origin can influence a coloured gemstone’s value by multiples. The same chemistry from a different deposit, the same colour from a different country, can command a premium or carry a discount. Origin determination establishes provenance through trace element fingerprinting and spectroscopic comparison against our proprietary reference database, built from direct sampling of deposits worldwide.
Deposits covered · 50+ worldwide
Fig. 03a · Origin coverage by species ● Hero deposits ○ Secondary
Ruby
Corundum, Cr
● Hero
Mogok, Mong Hsu
○ Secondary
Mozambique, Madagascar, Tajikistan, Vietnam
Sapphire
Corundum, Fe/Ti
● Hero
Kashmir, Ceylon
○ Secondary
Madagascar, Mogok, Australia, East Africa
Emerald
Beryl, Cr/V
● Hero
Colombia, Zambia
○ Secondary
Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Brazil
Spinel & Paraíba
MgAl₂O₄ · Cu-tourmaline
Where reference data exists
Instrumentation. LA-ICP-MS for trace element analysis, supported by UV-VIS-NIR and FTIR spectroscopy. Findings compared against our proprietary reference database.
Category 03 · Treatment
Detect Treatments.
“What has been done to it?” Visible to instruments, not the eye.
Most coloured gemstones in the market have undergone some form of treatment. Heat treatment for corundum. Oil and resin filling for emerald. Beryllium diffusion for sapphire. Lead glass filling for low-quality ruby. Coatings, irradiation, and dye treatments across various species. Many of these treatments are invisible to the naked eye and require targeted analytical techniques to detect.
Common services · 07 listed
Heat Treatment Detection
FTIR · UV-VIS
Beryllium Diffusion Detection
LA-ICP-MS
Clarity Enhancement (oil, resin, polymer)
FTIR
Lead Glass Filling Detection
EDXRF · Microscopy
Dye Treatment Detection
Microscopy · Raman
Cr / Ti Diffusion Detection
LA-ICP-MS
Colour Stability & Radiation Fading
UV-VIS-NIR
Instrumentation. Microscopic examination combined with FTIR, UV-VIS-NIR, and LA-ICP-MS as required by the specific treatment under investigation.
Category 04 · Documentation
Document Value.
“How should the findings be presented?” The format question.
The same analytical findings can be documented in different ways depending on the audience and the value of the stone. A dealer needs portable verification on the trade floor. A retailer needs a professional report for a client. An auction house needs presentation-grade documentation for a significant lot. A historic specimen warrants a custom publication. Format selection does not affect the analytical findings, but it affects how those findings are presented.
Report formats · 05 options
r.01 · Pocket
Travel Card.
Credit-card sized, portable. For trade-floor verification.
From $30 USD
r.02 · Trifold
Enfold Report.
Trifold paper. Business filing, standard professional use. Four languages.
From $30 USD
r.03 · Bifold
2-Fold Report.
Traditional bi-fold paper format. Follows international gem trade convention.
From $30 USD
r.04 · Leather
Premium Report.
Four pages in a leather trifold folder. Origin determination included. High-value stones and auctions.
Per piece or pair $1,200 USD
r.05 · Hardback
Monograph.
Custom-published hardback. Historic specimens, museum-quality pieces. ≈ 6,000 words.
Custom publication $8,700 USD
Instrumentation. Identical across formats. A Travel Card and a Premium Report drawing on the same analyses will reach the same conclusions, supported by the same instrumentation.
Category 05 · Consultation
Get Expert Guidance.
“Do I need a written report at all?” Sometimes a conversation is enough.
Not every situation requires a written report. For time-sensitive decisions, preliminary evaluations, and specific questions where formal documentation is not needed, our Verbal Consultation service provides direct expert assessment. A consultation is suited to situations where a clear answer to one or two specific questions is all that is required.
Common applications
Pre-purchase evaluation.
Preliminary assessment of a parcel.
Specific questions about treatment likelihood, origin probability, or species.
Time-sensitive trade decisions.
Verbal consultation
$10 USD
$15 USD
No written report is issued. Direct expert assessment only.
Instrumentation. Classical gemological examination drawing on the experience of the laboratory’s senior staff. Instrumentation engaged only where the answer requires it.
Choosing the right service
For most submitters, the workflow is straightforward.
Six common scenarios and the service that fits each. If you are uncertain which service fits your situation, contact the laboratory before submitting.
If.01
Identity
If you need to know whether a stone is natural or laboratory-grown.
Start with Natural vs Synthetic Determination. The fundamental identification question and the most common entry point to laboratory testing.
→ Service · Natural vs Synthetic
If.02
Trade & retail
If you need standard verification for trade or retail purposes.
An Identification Report covers species, measurements, colour, and treatment status. Choose Travel Card, Enfold, or 2-Fold depending on how you intend to use it.
→ Report · Travel / Enfold / 2-Fold
If.03
Origin
If you need geographic origin documentation.
Add ID + Origin to any standard format, or request a Premium Report or Monograph, both of which include origin as standard. Most reliable for ruby, sapphire, emerald, and spinel.
→ Service · ID + Origin
If.04
Treatment
If you need targeted detection of a specific treatment.
Individual treatment analyses are available without full identification. Commonly ordered for parcel screening or where treatment disclosure is the specific concern.
→ Service · Treatment-only
If.05
Volume
If you are submitting a parcel or batch of stones.
Lot pricing is available for multi-stone submissions. Contact the laboratory directly to discuss volume, services required, and turnaround.
→ Trade · Lot pricing
If.06
Unsure
If you are uncertain which service fits your situation.
Contact the laboratory before submitting. A short conversation can save unnecessary cost and ensure the analytical work matches your actual question.
→ Contact the laboratory
Trade & lot submissions
Discounted pricing and tailored workflows.
For dealers, wholesalers, and trade clients handling parcels or recurring submissions, the laboratory offers discounted pricing and tailored workflows. Trade pricing is set per submission based on volume, services required, and turnaround.
Trade clients move at a different pace and submit different volumes from individual collectors. The laboratory’s trade workflow is designed for parcels, recurring submissions, and high-throughput scenarios where consistency and turnaround matter as much as analytical depth.
Submission logistics, pricing, and turnaround are agreed before work begins. Contact the laboratory directly for a quote.
Common trade applications
Lot separation · natural vs synthetic verification.
Batch origin determination · matched suites.
Parcel screening · treatment status.
Pre-purchase verification · dealer inventory.
Frequently asked
About the services.
Category-level questions that come up most often. For brand and operational questions, see the FAQ on the About page.
Q.01 What services does ICA | GemLab offer?
ICA | GemLab offers analytical services covering identification, geographic origin determination, and treatment detection for coloured gemstones. Findings are documented in a range of report formats including the Travel Card, Enfold Report, 2-Fold Report, Premium Report, and Monograph. The laboratory also offers Verbal Consultations for clients who require expert assessment without formal documentation. The laboratory does not test diamonds.
Q.02 How do I choose between the different report formats?
Report format is a matter of presentation, audience, and use case — the analytical findings are the same regardless of format. The Travel Card is suited to portable trade-floor use. The Enfold and 2-Fold are standard paper reports for general trade and retail use. The Premium Report is designed for high-value stones where presentation quality matters. The Monograph is a custom-published hardback for historic and museum-quality specimens. If you are unsure, the value and intended use of the stone are the strongest signals.
Q.03 Is origin determination available for every gemstone?
Origin determination is most reliable for ruby, sapphire, emerald, and spinel, where the laboratory has extensive reference data across known deposits. For other species, origin determination may be possible but the analytical confidence varies depending on the deposit and the available reference data. The laboratory will advise on the feasibility of origin determination for a specific stone before testing commences.
Q.04 Can I submit a parcel of gemstones for testing?
Yes. Batch submissions and lot processing are common, particularly for dealers and trade clients. Lot pricing is set per submission based on volume and services required. Contact the laboratory directly to discuss specific submission requirements.
Q.05 How long does testing take?
Standard turnaround for an Identification Report is typically five to seven working days from receipt of the stone. Reports involving origin determination or specialised treatment analysis can require additional time. Premium Reports and Monographs involve extended production timelines reflecting the depth of the documentation and the bespoke production process. Contact the laboratory directly for turnaround estimates on time-sensitive submissions.
Q.06 What instrumentation does the laboratory use?
The laboratory’s analytical workflow draws on five advanced instruments. LA-ICP-MS for trace element analysis and origin determination. EDXRF for rapid elemental screening. Raman spectroscopy for molecular identification. UV-VIS-NIR for absorption analysis. FTIR for treatment detection. Each instrument addresses a specific analytical question, and the combined workflow provides comprehensive gemstone characterisation that no single technique can deliver alone.
Q.07 Do you test gemstones set in jewellery?
In many cases, yes. The laboratory will assess whether accurate testing is possible without unmounting the stone. Some analyses, particularly those requiring direct surface contact for LA-ICP-MS, may require the stone to be loose. We will advise on a case-by-case basis on submission.
Submit a stone or discuss a service
Two ways to get started.
For individual submissions, select your report format and analytical services on the Services and Fees page. For trade clients, parcels, recurring submissions, or any situation where a conversation with the laboratory would help, contact us directly.
For individual submitters
Choose a format, choose your analyses, submit.
The Services and Fees page presents the full transactional catalogue. Select the analytical work and the report format you need, and submit through the laboratory.
For trade clients
Lot pricing, parcels, recurring submissions.
Contact the laboratory directly to discuss volume, services required, turnaround, and submission logistics. Trade pricing is set per submission.