Valley Gems

 Many buyers of coloured gemstones  want to buy a certified stone. This is especially wise if you are buying an expensive gem. A proper gem certificate will give you the assurance that you are getting what you paid for. And should you decide to sell your gemstone in the future, a certificate of authenticity will simplify the transaction.

  However, not all certifications are equal. In fact some are more or less worthless. So here is some information about gemstone certification that every savvy gemstone buyer should know.

There are two kinds of certification that should be avoided at all costs. One is not really a form of certification at all, but rather a verbal assurance that the gemstone is, say, a natural untreated sapphire 

Whether this assurance is provided by the seller or some third party, it is really of no value to you. It doesn't matter if the person providing the assurance is an experienced jeweler or even a graduate gemologist, a verbal assurance is simply an opinion, with no verifiable record of what has been tested.

A certificate provided by the seller is somewhat better, particularly if the seller is reputable and has trained gemologists on staff. But a seller-issued certificate is not an accepted practice in the gem trade. Certification should be done by an independent third party who has no financial stake in the transaction. Beware especially of appraisals provided by the seller, that claim that the gemstone you purchased is worth much more than you paid for it.

Many trained gemologists can do gemstone identification, but it is always best to have a gemstone certified at a gemological laboratory that specializes in gemstone testing. The reason is that a gem lab usually can afford to invest in the latest diagnostic equipment, and they have a strong incentive to issue only correct and reliable test reports, since they have a reputation in the marketplace to protect.

In South Africa we have a limited number of accredited gemologists and laboratories the 2 that we recommend and who,s certification we accept are the GIA Gemological Institute of America 

http://www.gia.edu/about-gia/index.html

and the European Gemological Laboratory 

http://www.gia.edu/about-gia/index.html

Private and World recognized gemologists that we recommend. 

Arthur Thomas

Arthur Thomas is a gemmologist and gem dealer based in Sandton, Johannesburg. He has more than 50 years' experience in the gem trade, both as a dealer and educator. He is a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, a Graduate Gemologist of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and founder of the Gemmological Association of South Africa

Take a look at Arthur Thomas website: http://www.arthurthomasgems.co.za/bookreview.html

Johanalie Snyman:

Johanalie is a GIA qualified gemologist and Geologist who works for the EGL as well as runs a private paractice in Pretoria she can be contacted on            0829569318      

Certification and Evaluations not recognized by Valley Gems. 

Valley Gems does not recognize  the following certificates or valuations. 

(GISA) Gemological Institute of Southern Africa

Certificates produced by the sellers of gemstones unless done by a professional in-house gemologist

Jewelery Stores unless produced by a qualified in-house gemologist 

All certificates must be compiled by gemologists with contactable and verifiable references