The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF has announced the launch today of GemTrack?,,?, a new service providing expert scientific opinion linking a cut gemstone to the rough stone from which it originated, thus enabling gemmologically the documentation of part of the stone's journey from mine to market.
The GemTrack?,,? service involves the combination of crystallographic, structural, chemical and microscopic analyses, which allow for a detailed and potentially unique characterisation and fingerprinting of a rough stone. These same features can later be later be identified during the investigation of a resultant cut stone, following the cutting and polishing process, and documented on a GemTrack?,,? report.
A GemTrack?,,? document may also be issued if a gem is later mounted in jewellery, in order to document the stone all the way from the rough state to an item of jewellery.
A GemTrack?,,? report will not make any specific claims of mine of origin. However, when credible documentation is provided (such as transparent sales receipts from a rough auction), it may state that, based on provided documentation, a gemstone was sourced from a specific company or auction.