Dr. A. Peretti

Dr. A. Peretti earned his PhD for his dissertation on «Mineral Formation in the Alps» from the Institute of Mineralogy and Petrography at ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) in Zurich, Switzerland. He was also honored with an award from the University of Zurich for his master’s thesis, «Tectonics and Metamorphism in the Alps». Additionally, he holds distinguished recognition from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA) and the German Gemmological Association (FGG).

Dr. A. Peretti's professional achievements have been recognized by the European Federation of Geologists (Paris, France), which awarded him the prestigious distinction of EurGeol (European Geologist). His ongoing laboratory work includes mine expeditions, visits to cutting and treatment centers, and collaborations with universities and research scientists. These efforts have earned him a reputation as one of the world’s leading expert gemologists.

His published research is featured in «Contributions to Gemmology», an in-house publication of GRS, as well as in internationally renowned journals and newspapers, including Gems & Gemology (USA), Journal of Gemology (UK), Australian Gemologist (AUS), Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Switzerland), Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (GER), Earth and Planetary Science Letters (NL), American Mineralogist (USA), and other mineralogical periodicals. His work has also been showcased on Swiss and other European television programs.

GRS laboratory reports for significant gemstones, signed by Dr. A. Peretti, have been referenced in the catalogs of internationally recognized auction houses for over three decades.

Currently, Dr. Peretti serves as the CEO and owner of GRS Laboratories. In 2015, he discovered the new mineral Perettiite-(Y), Y3+2Mn2+4Fe2+[Si2B8O24], in Burma (Myanmar), which was named in his honor.

In 2020, the Peretti Museum Foundation was established. The foundation’s mission is to operate its own museum, featuring exhibitions on paleontology, mineralogy, and earth sciences. Its extensive amber collection, containing inclusions of lifeforms, is preserved for public display and scientific research. The foundation also supports research into describing new minerals and both extinct and extant lifeforms, with findings published in various international journals.

In November 2020, a newly discovered amphibian species with a ballistic tongue was named Yaksha perettii in his honor, as documented in the prestigious journal Science.

Awards & Achievements

1979 Award from SJF (Schweizer Jugend Forscht)
1983 Award from University of Zurich
1985 Grant (No. 2.4728-0.87) from SNCF (Swiss National Science Foundation)
1986 Grant from Janggen-Pöhn-Foundation St. Gallen (refunded)
2002 Award from TGJTA (Thai Gem & Jewelry Traders Association)
2015 Discovery of new mineral Perettiite-(Y)
2019 Honorary Lifetime Membership from the Austrian Gemmological Association
2020 Establishment of the Peretti Museum Foundation - PMF.org
2020 Award for "Excellence in Gemmology" from IDCA, New York
2020 Discovery of new animal species Yaksha perettii

Slideshow: Milestones of Dr. A. Peretti's Career

Article URL: https://www.gemresearch.ch/about/dr-a-peretti
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