Authenticity.

In-house, then independent

Every piece that enters our catalog is first examined by our in-house gemologist under controlled light, with refractometry, polariscope, and spectroscope where relevant. We confirm species, variety, apparent treatment, and identify inclusions diagnostic of locality.

For any stone of material value or where the origin claim matters to pricing, we commission an independent laboratory report. The lab receives the stone blind — without our prior findings — and returns a report that confirms species, treatment status, and (for notable corridor stones like Kashmir sapphire or Mogok ruby) the country or region of origin.

Labs we work with

• GIA (Gemological Institute of America) — industry standard for diamonds and most colored stones.
• AIGS (Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences, Bangkok) — leading authority on Southeast Asian material.
• GRS (GemResearch Swisslab) — our preferred partner for high-end ruby and sapphire origin reports.
• SSEF (Swiss Gemmological Institute) — for museum-grade corridor stones.
• Gübelin — for the most prestigious and historically significant pieces.
• IGI (International Gemological Institute) — for diamonds and commercial colored stones.

Uncertified stones

Some pieces in the catalog are uncertified. This is not a hidden signal — it is a disclosed fact. Reasons vary: the cost of lab work exceeds a reasonable fraction of the stone's price; the material is a raw specimen for which no lab issues a report; or the piece is awaiting certification turnaround. In every case, the product page states plainly that no independent report is on file, and provides our own findings in its place.

Treatment disclosure

We disclose every treatment known to us: heat, oil, clarity enhancement, irradiation, diffusion, coating, and any combination thereof. We do not consider heat treatment on corundum a defect — it is industry-standard — but we state it clearly. We do not conceal treatments to boost price, and we terminate relationships with suppliers who misrepresent them.

Synthetic and lab-grown

We do not carry lab-grown material in the natural catalog. If we add a lab-grown section in the future, it will be clearly separated and labeled. Every piece sold through the natural catalog is, to our knowledge and after independent verification where performed, earth-mined.