GIA’s laboratories in Hong Kong and Tokyo will expand on-site offerings to include the same colored stone services currently offered by GIA in Bangkok, Carlsbad and New York, from June 30 onwards. Both locations are equipped with highly-trained staff having extensive scientific backgrounds, in addition to a full range of analytical instrumentation, to support the additional services.
GIA’s colored stone services offered in Hong Kong and Tokyo will include identification reports as well as origin determinations, for which the GIA Gem Passbook™ provides an affordable alternative.
“Both Hong Kong and Tokyo are significant global centers for colored stones, and by increasing our offerings in these locations we can better serve our clients and the trade,” said Kenneth Scarratt, GIA’s managing director of South East Asia. “GIA is committed to expanding our capacity to meet the demand for our services, and this is one of the many initiatives we are taking to further ensure the public trust in gems and jewelry.”
In addition to adding laboratories that perform colored stone services, several new services will also be introduced in all five locations. These services include red spinel origin services; ruby and sapphire inscription services for faceted stones weighing 0.50 carats or more; the Portrait Report, which sets out all of the supporting data that underlies the conclusions reached in an Identification or Identification & Origin Report; and the Notable Letter, which accompanies a GIA report and details the attributes of especially noteworthy or unique gemstones vetted by senior gemological staff.