Gubelin Gemmology

NEXT GEMSTONE TESTING SERVICE WITH CGG IN SHANGHAI, CHINA

We are pleased to announce our upcoming Gemstone Testing Service with CGG in Shanghai, China, and warmly invite you to take advantage of this convenient opportunity to access our services locally.

We will offer free express on-site testing services for all major gemstones at no additional charge.

Event Details
Dates: 12 - 21 August 2026
Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The event will be conducted in two sessions:
Session 1: Consultation Services

12 - 14 August 2026
During these three days, our gemologists will provide verbal consultations regarding gemstone potential colour or treatment.

Session 2: On-Site Testing Services
17 - 21 August 2026
Comprehensive on-site testing services for all major gemstones will be available throughout this session. Testing will be conducted on-site, and test results will be provided during the event period. Official reports will be issued within 1 to 2 weeks thereafter.

Location:
1st Floor, No. 99 East Beijing Road
Yifeng Galleria
Shanghai 200002, China

Local Mobile: +852 9386 1787
For organizational purposes, we kindly ask that you contact us in advance to arrange an appointment:
Tel: +852 2868 2781
Email: [email protected]

We would also appreciate receiving an estimate of the number of stones you intend to submit for testing.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We look forward to welcoming you and meeting you in Shanghai.

What if smaller gem labs could access the analytical power of one of the world’s leading gemmological institutions?
Gemtelligence™ was created to help laboratories overcome a fundamental industry challenge:
the lack of large-scale “Ground Truth” reference data required for accurate and consistent gemstone interpretation.
Now, Gübelin Gem Lab offers Gemtelligence™ as a Software-as-a-Service platform for external laboratories and jewellery brands.
💎 AI-supported origin and treatment determination
💎 Trained on years of curated gemstone data
💎 Compatible with standard analytical instrumentation
💎 Designed to improve consistency and efficiency
This is not about replacing gemmologists. It is about giving laboratories new tools to navigate an increasingly complex gemstone market.
We are excited to help shape the next chapter of gemmology.

As we head into August, we're celebrating its beautiful birthstone, the peridot.
Peridot is an idiochromatic gemstone, meaning its vibrant green colour is an inherent part of its chemical composition rather than the result of trace impurities. Every peridot owes its distinctive colour to iron within the crystal itself.
Many recognise peridot by its characteristic oily lustre, its strong double refraction, and its distinctive 'lily pad' inclusions, as seen here under magnification.
Would you like to understand why gemstones have the colours they do? Or learn more about concepts such as lustre, double refraction, and the optical properties that make each gemstone unique?
Our Level 2 course explores these topics in greater depth, helping you build the knowledge and skills to confidently identify and understand gemstones.
And before you go, here's a question for you...
Which crystal system does peridot belong to?
A. Hexagonal
B. Trigonal
C. Orthorhombic
Answer: C. Orthorhombic
Did you get it right?

Level 2 (English) Lucerne Switzerland 14-18 September 2026
Level 2 (English) Lucerne Switzerland 2-6 November 2026

To book your seat get in touch with us at: [email protected]

Layered Structure
Growth structures are among the most common internal features observed in gemstones. Solid inclusions frequently align along these growth planes, recording the crystal's formation history. This photomicrograph shows fine dust-like particles arranged in distinct geometric, parallel layers, beautifully outlining the sapphire's growth structure.
The inclusion scene was documented in an unheated sapphire weighing over 100 ct from Sri Lanka.
Photomicrograph: Klaus Schollenbruch, Gübelin Gem Lab, Lucerne
Photo: Alisa Milakova, Gübelin Gem Lab, Lucerne

Mikado
Several rod-shaped amphibole crystals were found in a 3.6 ct emerald from Zambia’s Kafubu area. Crossed polarizing filters reveal vivid, iridescent colours within the inclusion scene.
80× magnification, 20 images stacked.
Photomicrograph: Klaus Schollenbruch, Gübelin Gem Lab, Lucerne
Photo: Alisa Milakova, Gübelin Gem Lab, Lucerne

At the Gübelin Gem Museum, visitors can explore our gem wall, which showcases a fascinating variety of gem materials from around the world.

Featured here are three examples of colourless quartz containing eye visible mineral inclusions. These inclusions transform quartz into miniature natural worlds, preserving minerals that were trapped during crystal growth millions of years ago. Quartz specimens with distinctive inclusions are highly sought after by gemstone enthusiasts and collectors.

In these photographs, you can see quartz containing chalcopyrite inclusions, rutile inclusions, and another specimen with striking blue mineral inclusions.

If you are looking to escape the summer heat while discovering something truly fascinating, visit the Gübelin Gem Museum, where every gemstone tells a story.

Photo 1 Quartz with blue mineral inclusion
Photo 2 Quartz with chalcopyrite inclusion
Photo 3 Quartz with rutile inclusion

Book your ticket at: www.gubelin-gemmology.com

Join Gübelin Academy`s upcoming courses this fall 2026 and let yourself be inspired by the incredible world of coloured gemstones.

Next Courses
Lucerne, Switzerland

10-11 September Level 1
14-18 September Level 2
21-25 September Level 3
28-29 September Practice Days

29-30 October Level 1
2-6 November Level 2
9-13 November Level 3
16-17 November Practice Days

Reserve your place at: [email protected]

This inclusion scene of prismatic crystals and healed fissures was observed in a sapphire from Kashmir. In Kashmiri sapphires, crystal inclusions of this appearance often lead gemmologists to consider pargasite. Raman analysis, however, identified these crystals as zircon.
Darkfield illumination, crossed polarizers, 32-image stack.
The brighter rim on the macrophotograph comes from the mix of cabochon / modified brilliant cut.

Photomicrograph: Klaus Schollenbruch, Gübelin Gem Lab, Lucerne
Photo: Alisa Milakova, Gübelin Gem Lab, Lucerne.

Did you know that gemstones can reveal their secrets through light?

In gemmology, we use a handheld instrument called a spectroscope to study how light interacts with gemstones. This fascinating topic is explored in our Level 2 course, where students discover the science behind gemstone colour and identification.

Certain elements found within gemstones such as titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, and copper play a key role in creating colour. As atoms gain or lose energy, they absorb and emit light at very specific wavelengths.

The result is that each gemstone displays its own unique spectral pattern. By examining these spectral patterns, gemmologists can often identify the colouring elements responsible for a gem’s appearance and gain valuable clues about its identity.

While a handheld spectroscope is an essential gemmological tool, modern gem laboratories take this principle much further. Advanced techniques such as Raman, UV Vis NIR, FTIR, and photoluminescence spectroscopy analyse the same interactions between light and matter with far greater precision. These methods help laboratories identify gemstones, detect treatments, distinguish natural from synthetic materials, and even determine geographic origin.
Every gemstone has its own signature. Spectroscopy helps us read it.

Contact us to learn more about our Level 2 courses and book your seat at [email protected]

Pictured: Dr. Eduard Joseph Gübelin’s personal spectroscope.

A fantastic two days at the 8th National Conference of Gemmology – "Tradition and Innovation in Gemology: The Scientific Method as a Bridge Between Past and Future" at the University of Pavia. It was inspiring to see researchers, analysts, students and industry professionals come together to discuss how science continues to shape the future of gemmology.

A special highlight was the presentation by our Chief Gemmologist, Alessandra Spingardi, "The Legacy of Dr. Eduard Josef Gübelin and the Evolution of Modern Gemmology." From Dr. Eduard Josef Gübelin's pioneering vision and world-renowned reference collection to today's innovations such as Provenance Proof Blockchain and Gemtelligence, it was a wonderful reminder that the future of gemmology is built on a foundation of scientific excellence, ethics and curiosity.

It was also a pleasure to meet Prof. Matteo Alvaro () and exchange ideas with colleagues from academia and the gem trade. Strengthening the connection between research and industry is essential for the continued development of our field.

Thank you to the organizers from the Dipartimento di scienze della terra at the University of Pavia for hosting such an engaging event. Looking forward to seeing how these collaborations continue to advance gemmological science.