Monograph.
A custom-published hardback book documenting a single coloured gemstone or jewellery piece in approximately 6,000 words. The most comprehensive form of gemological documentation issued by the laboratory.
Commission fee · from
$8,700 USD
Format
Custom hardback
Length
≈ 6,000 words
Scope
One specimen
A hardback publication that documents a gemstone as both scientific specimen and historical object.
The Monograph is the laboratory’s most comprehensive documentation format. It is designed for gemstones and jewellery pieces of significant value, historical importance, or cultural meaning, where the documentation itself becomes part of the specimen’s provenance and collectible value.
Each Monograph is a custom-published hardback book commissioned for a single gemstone or jewellery piece. The format suits historic specimens, museum-quality pieces, significant auction lots, and ultra-high-net-worth collectors.
A copy of the publication remains with the specimen as part of its documented provenance. The Monograph travels with the stone.
What you receive
Contents of the volume.
A book-length record of a single specimen. Ten chapters, one analytical workflow, one specimen of record.
Length
≈ 6,000 words
Subject
01 specimen
Format
Hardback
Fig. 02 · Table of contents · Indicative
Chapter ordering varies by specimen. Production timeline reflects the bespoke nature of each commission.
Bespoke commissions
Not a standard product. Scoped individually.
The Monograph is a bespoke service. Each commission is scoped based on the specimen, the available provenance documentation, and any client requirements specific to the piece.
Every commission begins with a conversation. The laboratory reviews the specimen, the documentation that travels with it, and the questions the client wants answered.
From there, the scope of analytical work and research is agreed before any work begins. Production timeline reflects the bespoke nature of each commission, and the price quoted is held for the duration of the engagement.
Documented provenance is helpful but not required. A Monograph can be commissioned for specimens with limited provenance, in which case the publication focuses on the analytical findings and the geological context of the determined origin.
Indicative scope · single specimen
One specimen. One volume.
Related report formats
Four other ways the laboratory documents a stone.
The Monograph is the most comprehensive format the laboratory issues. For most submissions, one of the four standard formats is the appropriate route.
r.01 · Pocket
Travel Card Report
Credit-card sized, portable. Trade-floor verification.
From $30 USD
r.02 · Trifold
Enfold Report
Trifold paper. Standard professional use, four languages.
From $30 USD
r.03 · Bifold
2-Fold Report
Traditional bi-fold paper. International gem trade convention.
From $30 USD
r.04 · Leather
Premium Report
Four pages in a leather trifold folder. High-value stones and auctions.
From $1,200 USD
Frequently asked
About the Monograph.
Questions that arise most often during scoping.
Q.01 What is included in a Monograph?
A Monograph is a custom-published hardback book of approximately 6,000 words documenting a single gemstone or jewellery piece. Contents include species identification, measurements, colour grading, geographic origin determination, geological context of the deposit, treatment analysis, photographic and microscopic documentation, historical and cultural context where provenance exists, a methodological appendix, and a unique publication reference.
Q.02 Who is the Monograph designed for?
The Monograph is designed for gemstones and jewellery pieces of significant value, historical importance, or cultural meaning. It is suited to ultra-high-net-worth collectors, museums, auction houses handling exceptional lots, and estates or institutions that want a permanent record of a significant specimen.
Q.03 How long does a Monograph take to produce?
Each Monograph is bespoke. Production timeline depends on the analytical scope, the research required, the availability of provenance documentation, and the complexity of the specimen. Timeline is confirmed during the initial scoping conversation.
Q.04 Can a Monograph be commissioned for a jewellery piece rather than a single stone?
Yes. The Monograph can document a single stone or a jewellery piece. For jewellery, the publication addresses both the principal stone and the setting, with analytical work applied to the main specimen and descriptive documentation of the piece as a whole.
Q.05 How is the Monograph different from the Premium Report?
Both serve high-value gemstones, but they are not interchangeable. The Premium Report is a four-page document in a leather folder for the retail and auction-grade segment. The Monograph is a custom-published hardback book of approximately 6,000 words that includes original research into geological and historical context — designed for the historic, museum, and ultra-collector segment.
Q.06 Is the Monograph reissuable if the specimen changes ownership?
The publication reference is permanent and linked to the specimen. New ownership does not invalidate the Monograph. Reissuance or updated editions are possible by separate commission if the new owner requires updated documentation or additional analysis.
Q.07 What if I have a specimen with limited documented provenance?
Documented provenance is helpful but not required. A Monograph can be commissioned for specimens with limited provenance, in which case the publication focuses on the analytical findings, the geological context of the determined origin, and the known characteristics of the relevant deposit.
Commission a Monograph
A conversation, then a volume.
Every Monograph begins with an initial scoping conversation. The laboratory reviews the specimen, available provenance documentation, and the questions you want the volume to answer.
Single specimen · standard commission
One stone or piece. One volume.
Begin with an enquiry that describes the specimen, any documented provenance, and the timeframe in which the finished volume is required. Standard commissions are quoted from $8,700 USD.
Collections & complex pieces · bespoke quote
Multiple specimens, or exceptional depth.
Collections, multiple-piece commissions, and pieces requiring exceptional research depth are scoped individually. Pricing follows the initial conversation.