[Pearling Technologies]

New just in..........

Gubelin Gem Lab in Lucerne, Switzerland is launching a grading system for South Sea cultured pearls by the end of the year, with Asia being the first and major destination.

"We have realised for quite some time that end-consumers and the trade need and would like to have a grading system for cultured pearls, especially South Sea pearls," said Gubelin's managing director, Dr Daniel Nyfeler. "We aim to introduce the service in Asia, which is important for the production and trading of South Sea pearls. We hope to develop a grading facility in Asia."

The pearls - no matter whether loose pearls, pearl strands or mounted pearl jewellery - will be graded according to their colours, consisting of the main hue and the overtone, lustre, nacre thickness, shape and size, noted Dr Nyfeler. Developed in cooperation with major South Sea pearl supplier The Autore Group in Australia, Gubelin's pearl grading system "will be based fundamentally" on Autore's classification guide for South Sea pearls, he added.

Although Autore is very much involved in the development of the system, Gubelin will have to treat the company in the same way as other clients, he stressed, adding that some major pearl producers and wholesalers had already told him that they wanted to use the Gubelin system.

"We are confident that the system will be good for the trade," he said. As for pearl treatments, he commented: "We are optimistic that we can find solutions to providing consumers with the transparency they need and formulating it in a positive manner."

The Swiss lab plans to extend the system to Tahitian pearls and akoya pearls, but has yet to decide if it will grade Chinese freshwater pearls.

[Ashley]

That is fantastic news! As long as they don't wax poetic on the lab reports , this could be an amazing new source for impartial grading.

[Kevin Canning]

It will be very interesting to see what the system will look like. Too simple and its not useful enough, to complicated and its useless to the average consumer.

[Ashley]

I would imagine that a highly scientific analysis would look quite a bit like a JPL Cert for Hanadama; the biggest difference would be it's not written in Japanese!

[john675]

This actually sounds encouraging. The current situation certainly leads to confusion when trying to compare pearls. I'm curious why they are hesitant to grade freshwater pearls. Any ideas why? Why not have a consistent grading for Freshwater pearls as well?

[jerin]

Hi John,

I think as there are so many shapes it might be hard... could be that in future freshwaters that are bead/tissue nucleated will be graded as they probably will be the most expensive pearls in that category, just guessing. Cute Avatar picture you have....