The Gübelin Gem Lab has updated its classification system used to identify clarity enhancements in emeralds. 

As a result, the category “insignificant” will no longer appear in Gübelin's gemstone reports. Emeralds that were previously described as showing “indications of insignificant clarity enhancement” will instead be classified as showing “no indications of clarity enhancement.”

The change took effect on November 1, 2025.

According to the company, the adjustment was made to harmonise the terminology in Gübelin gemstone reports with those of other major gemmological laboratories, particularly within the Laboratory Manual Harmonisation Committee (LMHC), of which Gübelin Gem Lab is a member.

“By aligning our system with other LMHC laboratories, we aim to increase consistency across the global gemstone trade, supporting transparent communication and comparability between reports issued by different gem labs,” it noted.