Gem Group Clarifies Sapphire Color Requirement

RAPAPORT... Stones must have a stable color to qualify as padparadschasapphires, according to a ruling by the Laboratory Manual HarmonisationCommittee (LMHC), a global alliance of gemological groups.Gemstones that turn pink during a color-stability test donot meet the requirements for the term, LMHC concluded at a meeting in Lucerne,Switzerland, last month. The committee comprises representatives from Japan's CentralGem Laboratory, the Swiss-based G? 1/4 belin Gem Lab, the GemologicalInstitute of America, the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand, and the SwissGemmological Institute. Attendees at the gathering also launched a projectto harmonize color descriptions and trade terms at the various participatinglaboratories, the group added. "We are very pleased to see that all laboratories represented atLMHC are constructively working together for a harmonization on issues that areimportant for the trade and consumers," said Lore Kiefert, chief gemologist at G? 1/4 belinGem Lab and co-chair of LMHC. Image: A padparadscha sapphire. (Omi Priv?(C))