GJ Town India

  From ancient Egypt to Hollywood, the engagement ring embodied    Each autumn, as the season turns colder and cosier, the jewellery world enters what retailers call, engagement season – a period stretching until Valentine’s Day when proposals peak and demand for diamond rings rises.    Earlier this year, two high-profile engagements captured the public imagination and galvanised the market: Cristiano Ronaldo’s fiancée was gifted a very large brilliant-cut diamond, while Taylor Swift’s partner opted for an old mine cut. Same tradition, different expressions.    To explore both the symbolism and the substance, we sat down with historian and jewellery specialist Kathia Pinckernelle. Kathia teaches the Advanced History of Jewellery Course held at SSEF in Basel.    Already the ancient Egyptians wore amulets and rings as symbols of protection and affection. Jewellery accompanied both daily life and spiritual belief. In Greece, too, jewellery carri...

  SSEF contributes to CIBJO Congress by participating actively    As part of a Swiss non-profit foundation, the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF recognises its responsibility to go beyond laboratory services and to actively contribute to the integrity, transparency, and advancement of the gem and jewellery sector.    The 99th CIBJO Congress is currently taking place in Paris (27-29 October), marking a momentous gathering for the global jewellery industry as the World Jewellery Confederation enters its centenary year. With dynamic discussions on sustainability, standards, and transparency, this year’s congress highlights CIBJO’s enduring importance as the industry’s leading forum for collaboration and progress.  SSEF is proud to contribute actively through its participation in several commissions , reinforcing our shared commitment to scientific excellence, integrity, and responsible practices across the gem and jewellery sector.    Some e...

  Applications open until November 15 th 2025    The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF is proud to offer two annual education scholarships designed to support aspiring gemmologists worldwide.  Each scholarship gives one winner the opportunity to take an SSEF course in Switzerland completely free of charge, including economy flights and hotel accommodation.    Our goal is to make high-level gemmological education accessible to passionate individuals who may not have the financial resources to pursue their studies. These scholarships reflect SSEF’s commitment to fostering excellence and sharing knowledge within the jewellery and gemstone industry – a mission we’ve upheld since 1972.    These scholarships are named in honour of two esteemed gemmologists and former SSEF directors: Prof. Dr. Henry A. Hänni and George Bosshart, whose contributions to the field continue to inspire future generations of gemmologists.  SSEF is delighted to...

Scholarships that will each be awarded once annually   SSEF is launching two educational scholarships in gemmology that will each be awarded once annually. They allow the scholarship winner to take a course at SSEF for free. SSEF will also cover the necessary economy flights and hotel costs required for the candidate’s participation (1 person) in the course. The SSEF Foundation aims to make gemmological education more accessible to students with a passion for the subject but with limited financial resources. These two scholarships also align with the SSEF Foundation’s commitment to fostering excellence and knowledge within the jewellery and gemstone industry since 1972.    The two scholarships have been named in honour of Henry A. Hänni and George Bosshart, both past directors of SSEF who significantly contributed to gemmological research and education.    The deadline for applications is November 15th 2024, winners will be announced December 16th 2024. ...

A service linking cut stones to the rough stones SSEF originated, using gemmological techniques The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF has announced the launch 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 GemT...

Studies methods of detecting low-temperature heated rubies from Mozambique Since their discovery in early 2009, the ruby deposits near Montepuez in Mozambique have produced an impressive number of exceptional-quality stones, including iconic gems such as the Rhino Ruby (22.04 cts), the Scarlet Drop (15.95 cts) and the Eyes of the Dragon (a pair of rubies pair weighing 11.23 cts and 10.70 cts), all of which were analysed by the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF. But from the very beginning, there has been evidence in the market of lower-quality rubies from Mozambique that have been heated with or without a flux (borax), resulting in healed fissures with residue, and in some cases heavily-fractured material that has been lead-glass filled. In more recent years, an increasing number of fine quality rubies from Mozambique have come onto the market, after having undergone so-called "low-temperature heating" (below 1000 °C). Presumably, the aim of this treatment ...