Gübelin Gem Lab has started offering its new Gem Passport service at its existing labs in Lucerne, Hong Kong and New York, as it prepares to establish a permanent presence in Thailand this September. 

Powered by the lab’s AI-driven platform Gemtelligence, the Gem Passport provides country-of-origin determination and a simplified form of treatment detection for rubies, blue sapphires and emeralds of up to 3 carats for CHF 200 (around US$218). Turnaround time is around two weeks or 10 working days.

Since the gemstones need to be big enough to fit the sample holders of the various analytical instruments, the streamlined document will only be available for stones of at least 0.50 carat in size.

Daniel Nyfeler, managing director of Gübelin Gem Lab, told JNA, “Thanks to our Gemtelligence system, dealers of smaller gemstones of lower commercial value now have the chance to get a Gübelin document for their stones. This will be particularly welcomed by brands, which need confirmation on the authenticity and origin of their stone, issued by a trustworthy lab for an affordable price.”

Gübelin Gem Lab (Thailand) will process Gem Passports onsite when it opens in September on the 29^th floor of the Jewelry Trade Center Building in Bangkok. Stones above 3 carats and those requiring traditional Gübelin Gem Lab reports will be shipped internally to either Hong Kong or Lucerne for processing. These reports will take longer to process than Gem Passports.

“Bangkok has proven to be one of the most important trading centres of coloured gemstones, and we have an established and loyal customer base in Thailand,” noted Nyfeler.

The Bangkok lab will start with a small team of two local employees, supported by colleagues from the Hong Kong and Lucerne labs. It will initially be able to process hundreds of stones per week. 

According to Nyfeler, Gübelin Gem Lab is also exploring more visibility and easier access to its services in China and India. It already operates a permanent take-in window in Shanghai.