SSEF Facette No 11, January 2004
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SSEF FACETTE SWISS GEMMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE SCHWEIZERISCHES GEMMOLOGISCHES INSTITUT INSTITUT SUISSE DE GEMMOLOGIE International Issue No. 11, January 2004 Reproduction permitted with reference to SSEF Swiss Gemmological Institute
Editorial:
Table of Contents:
Dear Reader,
in Focus: Magic and Science of Pearls
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Gemmology: Pezzottaite, a new mineral and gemstone
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The last year passed without a silver line at the horizon, business was still difficult. We did have some success looking for profitable niches, especially with our extended offer of courses. As the better one succeeds in hard times, it is your chance now to follow the example of the big ones (Chopard, Cartier etc.) in receiving a thorough education. A less positive experience was, however, that in spite of our best abilities in research, the offers we can give are hardly being used. SSEF was the first (and still one of very few) laboratory which identifies HPHT treated diamonds. But nobody wants to know. SSEF is among the first who are able to detect beryllium diffusion in corundum, but the offer is not used. Is the problem that the position of the lab is far away from the major gemstone markets? Now we will try to find the demand for our services there, in order to separate the wheat from the chaff with our new method. An absolute highlight for me as pearl researcher was the visit of a pearl farm in the Tuamotu Atoll in Tahiti. Thanks to the invitation of Mrs. Dora Fourcade, Director of Pacific Perles I had the chance, to directly follow numerous situations in the production of cultured pearls. This knowledge is of profit to the SSEF pearl research, the SSEF pearl courses, and the SGG Swiss Gemmological Society, and therefore the whole jewellery trade of Switzerland. The identification of cultured pearls (saltwater or freshwater, with or without bead, natural colour or treated colour) is becoming an increasingly important task. Although the tariffs for pearl certificates have been the same for over 10 years now, we have to perform more and more work-intensive analyses to reach a conclusive result. New techniques have to be found, and new instruments are necessary. Being the laboratory of the Swiss jewellery trade we are not left alone when we need financial support from the trade. It is only through this support that we can guarantee for the genuine, the rare and the precious. We wish you not only a silver line at the horizon, but a platinum one. Good luck in 2004.
Prof.Dr. H.A.Hänni, Director of SSEF
Current research: CVD synthetic diamonds HPHT treatment of diamonds New sapphires from Sri Lanka: diffusion treated or not? Tahiti black pearl cultivation
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Gemmological Courses: Course program 2004 7 Excursion to Djeva SA, producer of synthetic stones 7 Chopard Diamond Course 7 Congratulations to new SSEF Basic Gemmologists 7 Scientific and special courses 7 Seminar in Königstein, Germany 8 News from the SSEF laboratory: New: SSEF arrived in the European Community Detection of beryllium diffusion treated corundum Golay supports SSEF research Colloquium to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Prof. H.A. Hänni in 2005 Social event: SSEF Membership Dinner in Geneva in May 2004 SSEF in New York 2004 J-P. Chalain finishing his CIBJO mandate The use of a harmonized language on certificates starts
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Show time for SSEF: Basel Fair 2004: Use our 24h Express Service Meet us in 2004 for On-Site Certificates SSEF travelling Close up: The SSEF Foundation Board SSEF publications in 2004 Thanks to donors Products for sale at SSEF
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SSEF Miscellaneous:
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Did you already know that.... The SSEF membership fee is due on February 28, and a reduction of approx. 30% on the normal tariff list is granted to registered members only? Annual newsletter, published by: SSEF Swiss Gemmological Institute Falknerstrasse 9, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland tel: +41-61-262 06 40, fax: +41-61-262 06 41 e-mail: gemlab@ssef.ch website: www.ssef.ch