As
technological advances create
new techniques with intriguing
and baffling results in the
gem industry, researchers as
well as traders and customers
are looking at ways and means
of guaranteeing and ensuring
the authenticity of the gem
they deal with.
New technology has resulted
in the production of new synthetic
stones and stimulants very difficult
to be identified from the natural
and the original. In addition
there are several advanced enhancement
methods commonly applied in
the industry such as heart treatment
and irradiation to improve gem
color and the wide use of resins
and polymer to conceal natural
flaws and increase clarity.
Some of these techniques have
created a great degree of confusion
in the markets so that even
scientists have had divergent
opinions in certain instances.
As a result there is a growing
need for continued research
as well as authentic sources
for guaranteeing the true of
a gemstone and consequently
its value.
Sri Lanka being a major gem
producing country and widely
acknowledge with world over
for special qualities is facing
a serious marketing problem
in this context. There are only
a few reputed laboratories in
the world witch offer their
expertise to members of the
gemstone and jewellery trade
as well as to prevent individual.
All such facilities however
are available in either Europe
or USA and for local gem dealers
and the industry this is a tedious,
costly and time-consuming exercise.
Trade association and market
leaders have urged government
to provide a lab facility in
Sri Lanka. A few years back
the initiative was taken to
build a fund to wards this objective
with contributions from exporters
collected by the National Gem
and jewellery Authority.
To date all gem exporters are
making a contribution / levy
of 0.25% of the export value
to a special lab fund. Nearly
Rs50 Million has been collected
so far and the fund continues
to grow with more exporters.
In 2002, the them minister in
charge of the NGJA initiated
a MOU with the gem- testing
laboratory of the American Gem
Traders Association in USA.
A payment was made out of this
special lab fund amounting to
about $65,000 in consideration
of a interim arrangement to
facilitate gem testing pending
the setting up of a lab here.
The proposal however did not
materialize and the subject
remains dormant. Even a promise
by a previous government for
financial assistance from the
government to set up a lab has
not been fulfilled. The only
authentic lab facility the country
has is the one operated by the
NGJA. This is however in the
context of developments in gemology
not up to accepted international
standard.
Gemstone reports have become
an integral part of the gem
market. Although earlier this
area was confined to the professionals,
at present more and more customers
in all parts of the world are
becoming aware of the need foe
authenticating gems.
The modern gem report is not
merely an identification report.
In its comprehensive nature
it constitutes a guarantee for
the authenticity of a gem. Such
a facility is becoming a daily
requirement in the market.
A recent controversy that developed
in the global scenario regarding
the heart treatment practices
for sapphires followed in Sri
Lanka ended up with all leading
laboratories in the world jointly
engaged in a research programme
which is still continuing.
All these factors point to wards
a great need for a high standard
laboratory for Sri Lanka.
We have eminent scientists and
a dynamic private sector. We
have already built up a fund
that will continue to grow.
We have the right background
to collect research data.
The time is right for Sri Lanka
to have its own laboratory and
one of the ways is to get the
NGJA to provide funds for the
settings up of a lab pending
the collection of the amount
later. The other option is for
the private sector to float
a public Limited Liability Company
for this purpose. |
