Guild Gem Laboratories started in Los Angeles, California 44 years ago. Today it is one of the most important gem laboratories in Asia especially the Chinese market for colored gemstones and pearls. Guild has had a close working relationship with the Sri Lankan gem industry for many years and now that cooperation has taken a much-anticipated advancement. Guild will open a fully equipped state-of-the-art gemological laboratory in China Fort, Beruwala. Right in the heart of this global gem trading center. Guild has a long history of serving the Sri Lankan gem trade in China and Bangkok with gemological reports to provide confidence and assurance in gem trading throughout the supply chain.
Ms. Ruby Liu Interview Video
Now Guild is proud to bring advanced scientific equipment, an extensive database, and global standards to their new laboratory in Beruwala. With Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) that has been customized to detect minute levels of beryllium used in diffusion treatment of ruby and sapphire as well as numerous other advanced scientific gemological instruments, Guild will serve both the local industry and global customers. Through strict standards of grading and trade terms, Guild provides information that buyers demand and protects the interests of all. Guild believes gemology must protect, serve, and promote the industry and gemstones, as well as provide consumers the knowledge to buy.
Many issues face the colored gemstone industry. While post covid has seen a period of the greatest demand for colored gemstones and pearls in general some issues threaten the stability and continued growth of colored gemstone consumption. Social media has proven to be a great vehicle for promoting colored gemstones. The Guild Aurora Contest of 2023 in China saw over 72 million original viewers join in for the celebration of excellence in colored gemstones, pearls, and jewelry with audience participation of over 2 million votes to decide each category winner. But along with all the awareness that New Media has provided for colored gemstones comes the potential for large-scale misunderstanding and misrepresentation that can take away the confidence of consumers to buy.
Mr. Andy Lucas Interview Video:
A Gemological Laboratory and organization must be committed to strict and fair standards. For accurate nomenclature. For science and research. For investment in technology and field gemology sample collection. For ethics above all. Consumers and even industry buyers find a confusing world of treatments, nomenclature, and trade grades. Examples include the use of terms like “new heat” for what is beryllium diffusion. For lead glass filling in ruby is being described as Not just a commercial gemological laboratory residue from heat treatment. For “no heat” ruby without disclosing organic filling material in fractures. And new treatments are not disclosed or even fully researched and understood.
Trade grades such as Pigeon Blood, Cornflower, Verdant, Neon, Mint, Sunrise, and others can be used for promoting color ranges of gems when independent third-party gemological laboratories apply them with strict standards on reports. When this responsibility is taken seriously by the laboratory it enhances the desire for the gemstone while protecting misuse of the term. Terms that otherwise can be thrown about to consumers create many questions in social media.
Guild monitors the questions by consumers across the major social media platforms and produces articles, documentaries, and short videos to explain treatments, quality grading trade terms, and other questions consumers have when purchasing gemstones. Guild also promotes colored gemstones by telling the mine-to-market story. The journey of colored gemstones from around the world from the mine to the consumer. Guild believes a gemological organization must have three pillars: Laboratory, Education, and Research.
Guild has long worked with the Sri Lankan industry in all three pillars of gemology and through our extensive field gemology program. Guild field gemology has worked with the Sri Lankan industry for extensive sample collection directly from mines around the world, field gemology expeditions including bringing a group from China to visit mines, cutting, and trading, and to create documentaries, articles, short videos, and books telling the journey and story of gems.
Mr. Rizwan Nayeem
In addition to gemological services, education, and promotional cooperation with the Sri Lankan gem industry Guild is proud to have been the Platinum Sponsor of the “GEM SRI LANKA” gem show which was a very successful event and Guild worked closely with Chinafort Gem and Jewellery Traders Association (CGJTA). This event exceeded our most optimistic expectations in all aspects including exhibitors and inventory, buyer turnout, percentage of serious buyers, global participation, interest from China, Government support, and overall satisfaction with the show. Unheard of for a first-time gem show. In the end, the proof of success was the smiling faces of exhibitors and buyers alike. Now the next step in our cooperation with the gem industry in Sri Lanka has been completed with the opening of the China Fort, Beruwala laboratory. A major development to better serve not only the Sri Lankan gem trade but also the global gem trade.
Mr. Hilmy Cassim
Guild Gem Laboratories collaborates closely with the China Fort Gem and Jewellery Traders Association (CGJTA) to enhance Sri Lanka’s gem industry. Moreover, as the platinum sponsor of the prestigious “Gem Sri Lanka” exhibition held at Cinnamon Bentota Beach in Bentota, Sri Lanka, we play a pivotal role in showcasing Sri Lanka’s exquisite gemstones to the world.
The Guild’s vision is to further build Sri Lanka as a global center for colored gemstone scientific and market research. A center of gem research and the outlet of knowledge to the world. The center of the story of colored gemstones. A primary example of the Guild motto is “Take China to the Source and Bring the Source to China”.
Guild Gem Laboratory Sri Lanka Contact Information
Sri Lanka Address
Guild Gem Laboratory,
No. 44/1,
4/5/6th Floor, Zam Gem Building,
China Fort Road,
Beruwala, Sri Lanka (12070)
Phone Number
(+94) 34-221-4443
Official Website
Social Media Platforms
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GuildGemLaboratory
Instagram: www.instagram.com/guild_gemlaboratories