Message From The Director’s Desk

GRS (GRS Gemresearch Swisslab LTD, Switzerland) is a private gemological research company whose aim is to bring leadership and detailed information on important gemological subjects to the public and the trade.

The activities of GRS are focused on the identification of gemstones from all over the world. These include high-quality gems from newly opened mines and gem imitations and synthetics. Methods are constantly being developed for producing imitations of precious gems, such as rubies, sapphires, diamonds and emeralds. In addition to new synthesis methods, thermal and radiation treatments are being developed to improve the appearance and beauty of gemstones. To find the true nature of a gemstone, and consequently its value, the systematic review of gems form new mines and the research and identification of synthetic and treated gemstones have become increasingly important. Active, in depth research utilizing sophisticated scientific methods is the best insurance for high standards. The GRS gemological reports, documenting authenticity and origin of gemstones are internationally accepted and trusted throughout the world. To show its commitment, GRS invests much of its resources and time on research and continuously publishes the results in leading specialized journals.

GRS aims to become a leader in the field of gemological research. To facilitate this goal, it has developed an in-depth cooperation with scientific partners in Swiss Universities, including the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). Travel expeditions and studies of remote gem deposits provide the necessary research materials. Further activities include the visits to highly sophisticated synthetic gem producing laboratories.

The constant monitoring of new gemstone treating technologies allows GRS to identify and distinguish "Synthetic" from "Treated", "Enhanced" and "Un-Enhanced" gemstones.

Continuously documenting and publishing gemological research is indispensable for increasing public confidence in the true value and appreciation of gemstones. To show its contribution to gemology, GRS makes its non-confidential research available through its website (http://www.gemresearch.ch) and through its own forthcoming journal "Contributions to Gemology".

This first Issue of "Contributions to Gemology" focuses on the new colored sapphire treatment that produces different colors such as the orangy-pink sapphires (reminiscent of colors commonly known as "Padparadscha"). The acceptance of this new product in the world market is being negatively affected by a lack of knowledge of the exact nature of this treatment.

This article represents a comprehensive scientific study focusing on one of these new gemstone enhancement methods. The conclusions made here are therefore exemplary and applicable to this particular method. A more technically oriented version of this article is presently being prepared for an internationally recognized scientific journal specializing in the latest research of analytical chemistry.

GRS is proud to announce that we are the first research team to successfully measure Beryllium in these newly enhanced colored sapphires using a special technique (LA-ICP-MS). Furthermore, this is the first time that these gemstones have been analyzed by the scientific method of cathodoluminescence.

We here at GRS hope that this gemological research article featured in the first issue of "Contribution to Gemology" will contribute to clear-up the confusion caused by this new color enhancement method.


June 2002, Lucerne, Switzerland


Dr. Adolf Peretti
Director of GRS