Stamp for satisfaction

ACCESSORIES: At last, a way to ensure authenticity of gemstones.

At last, a way to ensure authenticity of gemstones.

At least part of the fascination mankind has had for gemstones, bestowed with mystical powers down the ages, is the fact that nobody can say what they're really worth.

Make that nobody could say. In a land full of synthetic gemstones, mass-produced lucky charms and assorted fakes, some sort of hallmark testing for gems was just waiting to come about. And now it has.

Chandigarh-based Sethi Sons Jewellers claims to have introduced a gemstone certification process that has global recognition "" in collaboration with the Institute of Diamond Trade Laboratory (IDTL), as part of a government-sponsored project.

Each gem is put under a test to identify authenticity, after which it is sealed with a photo and data capsule specifying the size of the stone, weight, dimension, specific gravity, refractive index and microscopic observation details.

"As a central location, the Chandigarh laboratory will cater to the requirements of jewellers and traders from Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana," says Gaurav Issar, founder member, IDTL, adding that labs in Pune and Bangalore are due next.

The certification should boost gemstone sales. "There are a number of gems which people are not purchasing from the region because of no certification or standard of authenticity. But now, we will be bringing such gems as old Burmese ruby, Kashmiri sapphire, Colombian emerald and Burmese sapphire to the market," says Soli Sethi of Sethi Sons Jewellers.

The typical gemstone wearer is very sensitive to authenticity; it's for some specific purpose, mostly, that won't be trifled with, and without faith in the gem's very authenticity, the wearer may get no satisfaction of any sort, material or psychic.