Jaipur: The Gem Testing Laboratory (GTL), Jaipur being operated by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) for 48 years at Rajasthan Chamber Bhawan, M.I. Road has taken a leap, turning into a world-class laboratory, with infrastructure at par with most of the internationally established and renowned gemmological laboratories.

The laboratory is now housed in a sprawling 10,000 sq ft area, located in the premises of Indian Institute of Gem & Jewellery, Sitapura, Jaipur.

Mr. Colin Shah, Chairman, GJPEC said, “Keeping in step with India’s ambition of becoming the world’s jewellery manufacturing centre of choice, the Council has upgraded GTL Jaipur with state-of-the-art infrastructure, thereby ensuring in-house testing and grading capabilities of the highest standards for our manufacturers. The broadening of the portfolio of services will enable us to keep building consumer trust and confidence in the jewellery category.”

The Gem Testing Laboratory, Jaipur has now emerged as the largest facility in the country for certification of coloured gemstones, diamonds and their jewellery. Laboratory infrastructure now includes few highly sophisticated, sensitive and state-of-the-art instruments, such as Laser Ablation- In Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometer (LA-ICPMS) for chemical fingerprinting, x-ray microCT for 2D/3D x-ray imaging, automated screening machines for loose and mounted diamonds, in addition to other spectrometers such as Laser Raman, Infra-red, X-ray fluorescence, etc.

The laboratory has plans to introduce a bouquet of new services for the trade once the database on these instruments is created and put into routine operations. The most important services in the pipeline are as follows:

1. Certification of origin of rubies, sapphires and emeralds
2. Testing and Certification of Pearls
3. Low-cost certification of melee-sized diamond packets, separating natural and synthetic diamonds (CVD and HPHT)
4. Low-cost certification of packets of polki-cut diamonds, separating natural and synthetic (CVD)

In addition to the new services in the pipeline, the laboratory will however continue to provide the following existing services:

1. Certification of coloured gemstones – loose and mounted in jewellery or bead string necklaces
2. Diamond identification and grading – loose and mounted in jewellery
3. Special certification packages for retailers
4. Certification for sellers on e-commerce platforms

Introduction of these new laboratory services in Jaipur, with world-class infrastructure will not only have advantage to the Jaipur’s Gem & Jewellery Industry but the entire country. The laboratory has already arranged to serve the manufacturers, dealers and retailers in other parts of the country by empanelling experienced and affordable logistics partner.