Gem Laboratory Reports for Rubies
When looking at rubies that cost a few thousand dollars or much, much more, there are always reports available for review. If there are no lab reports, the buyer can request one before purchase of the ruby and the dealer often covers the cost (for rubies under $1,000 the buyer might need to pay an additional fee).
Lab reports also list contact information for verification of the reports they generate. This certifies the authenticity of these particular gems for both the vendors and the consumers.
For grading consistency, most labs follow similar practices to ensure accuracy and avoid conflict of interests. How all this is executed does vary from lab to lab, including certain details of what is written in the reports.
When a ruby is rare and beautiful enough to go to auction, they will often have multiple lab reports. This does not indicate one lab is better than another, but functions as a second, separate gemological opinion to ensure authenticity.
Common Problems
In the intricate world of ruby evaluation, gem laboratory reports are crucial for defining a ruby’s value and characteristics. However, enthusiasts and professionals alike often face common problems when interpreting these reports. A primary issue is the limited color definition; rubies are celebrated for their vibrant hues, yet laboratories might use broad or inconsistent terminology to describe color, leading to ambiguity about the stone’s true shade and saturation. This issue is compounded by other problems such as discrepancies in grading standards across different labs, which can result in varied quality assessments for the same gem. While a report certifying a ruby as having “Pigeon’s Blood” coloring without fail will lead to a price premium, there may be stones that fit the color profile in some labs yet have not been graded by a lab that makes this distinction. Likewise there can be some with the distinction that not everyone agrees should fit in that category. It is important to also keep in mind your personal color preference when looking at and evaluating rubies for purchase. We’re delighted to help our customers find the perfect shade of ruby, ensuring it not only meets their personal preferences but also represents the most valuable choice.
Training received at prestigious gemological institutions, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), indicates that these laboratories tend to provide minimal details in their reports to mitigate accountability and liability. This approach, particularly the practice of reporting only the gem’s hue, may serve the labs’ interests by limiting liability but does little to enhance customer trust. Furthermore, there is an inconsistency in the inclusion of color-accurate photographs within these reports, with some laboratories performing better than others. This variation affects the ability of clients to accurately gauge the gem’s color and clarity, crucial aspects in determining its value and authenticity.
Here is a list of some of the most reputable gemological labs. For more details on parts of these answers, please scroll down below.
| Labs | GUBELIN | GIA | SSEF | GRS | GAAJ | AIGS | GIT | C.D | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Reputation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Accredited Lab Gemologists | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple Teams | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Lab-Grade Equipment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Thorough Color Criteria | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Trade Names | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Geographic Origin | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gemological Education | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Lab Report with Origin, 2ct | USD $700 | USD $150 | USD $920 | USD $150 | No USD | USD $100 | USD $50 | USD $175 | USD $110 |
Gemological Lab Credibility Factors
Gubelin Gem Lab (G)
Established: 1923
Reputation: International
Staff: Experienced staff of trained gemologists
Equipment: Latest gemological equipment
Color-Grading Criteria: Limited to “Hue” - Trade names listed
Geographic Origin: Provides information about where the gem formed
Gemological Labs: Lucerne, Switzerland / New York City, New York / Hong Kong, China
Gemological Education: Offers courses in Hong Kong and Lucerne
Price for 2ct Full Gem Reports: USD $700
Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
Established: 1931
Reputation: International
Staff: Experienced staff of trained gemologists
Equipment: Latest gemological equipment
Color-Grading Criteria: Limited to “Hue” - Trade names listed
Geographic Origin: Provides information about where the gem formed
Gemological Labs: Carlsbad, California / New York City, New York / Hong Kong, China / Antwerp, Belgium / Ramat Gan, Israel / Gaborone, Botswana / Johannesburg, South Africa / Surat, India / Mumbai, India / Bangkok, Thailand / Tokyo, Japan
Gemological Education: Carlsbad, California / New York City, New York / London, United Kingdom / Surat, ndia / Mumbai,India / Bangkok,Thailand / Hong Kong, China / Taipei, Taiwan
Price for 2ct Full Gem Reports: USD $150
Swiss Gemological Institute (SSEF)
Established: 1974
Reputation: International
Staff: Experienced staff of trained gemologists
Equipment: Latest gemological equipment
Color-Grading Criteria: Lists “Hue” and “Saturation” - No trade names
Geographic Origin: Provides information about where the gem formed
Gemological Labs: Basel, Switzerland
Gemological Education: Offers training in Basel, Switzerland
Price for 2ct Full Gem Reports: USD $920
Gem Research Swiss Lab (GRS)
Established: 1996
Reputation: International
Staff: Experienced staff of trained gemologists - But all reports are vetted by Dr. A Peretti.
Equipment: Latest gemological equipment
Color-Grading Criteria: Limited to “Hue” - Trade names listed
Geographic Origin: Provides information about where the gem formed
Gemological Labs:New York City, New York / Paris, France / Meggen, Switzerland / Hong Kong, China / Colombo, Sri Lanka / Bangkok, Thailand
Gemological Education: None
Price for 2ct Full Gem Reports: USD $150
Gemological Association of All Japan (GAAJ)
Established: 1965 ~ Tentative - This lab has technically been around since 1965, but their accredited research only goes back 40 years.
Reputation: Regional
Staff: Experienced staff of trained gemologists
Equipment: Latest gemological equipment
Color-Grading Criteria: Limited to “Hue” - Trade names listed
Geographic Origin: Provides information about where the gem formed
Gemological Labs: Tokyo, Japan / Ramat Gan, Israel
Gemological Education: None
Price for 2ct Full Gem Reports: Not available in USD
Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS)
Established: 1978
Reputation: Regional
Staff: Experienced staff of trained gemologists
Equipment: Latest gemological equipment
Color-Grading Criteria: Limited to “Hue” - Trade names listed
Geographic Origin: Provides information about where the gem formed
Gemological Labs: Bangkok, Thailand
Gemological Education: Offers courses in Bangkok, Thailand
Price for 2ct Full Gem Reports: USD $100
Gem & Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT)
Established: 2004
Reputation: Regional
Staff: Experienced staff of trained gemologists, but limited staff
Equipment: Latest gemological equipment
Color-Grading Criteria: Limited to “Hue” - Trade names listed
Geographic Origin: Provides information about where the gem formed
Gemological Labs: Bangkok, Thailand
Gemological Education: Offers courses in Bangkok, Thailand
Price for 2ct Full Gem Reports: USD $50
C. Dunaigre (C. D.)
Established: 2008
Reputation: International
Staff: Experienced staff of trained gemologists, but all lab reports go through Mr. Dunaigre
Equipment: Latest gemological equipment
Color-Grading Criteria: Lists “Hue”, “Saturation”, and trade terms
Geographic Origin: Provides information about where the gem formed, as well as Mr. Dunaigre’s personal, highly-educated opinion
Gemological Labs: Switzerland
Gemological Education: None
Price for 2ct Full Gem Reports: USD $175
Lotus Gemology (LG)
Established: 2014
Reputation: Regional - Evaluations Limited, only review Sapphires, Rubies, and Spinel
Staff: Experienced staff of trained gemologists, but there are only two people
Equipment: Latest gemological equipment
Color-Grading Criteria: Evaluates gems based on “Hue”, “Tone”, and “Saturation”, which also helps to standardize appearances of gems using trade terms.
Geographic Origin: Provides information about where the gem formed
Gemological Labs: Bangkok, Thailand
Gemological Education: None
Price for 2ct Full Gem Reports: USD $110
About Laboratory Locations
Many of these labs appear in the same locations like New York, Switzerland, and Bangkok, Thailand. This is because more gems go through these locations than anywhere else in the world, especially Thailand’s historic markets. Sri Lanka might lay claim to the titles of “Island of Gems” and have a “City of Gems”, but Bangkok is regarded as the “Gemstone Capital of the World”. Also note that Thailand has problems with gems being illegally smuggled into the country and sold.