Gübelin is not only known for its fine gems across the world, but also the Gübelin Lab and Academy. The Academy in Hong Kong offers educational training to existing gemologists as well as interested member of the public who have a keen interest in gem stones.
Level 1 is a two-day course covering an introduction to Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire stones, classed to the standards of Gübelin Gems. I participated in this class recently and was fortunate to count among my class colleagues’ members of the industry from Columbia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Singapore, Hong Kong and the USA.
Eurosia Ng is the Hong Kong based Gübelin Training Manager. Euroasia comes from a family herself of gemologist trainers, so she has been fortunate to have this language as part of her upbringing.
Gübelin Academy Colored Gem Professional Level 1
Day 1, Scratching The Surface was a brief introduction to colored gemstones and the main emotional and practical concepts intrinsic to understanding, appreciating and valuing these marvelous wonder of the nature. This module covered what gemstones are, why they are valuable and how do we assess this value.
Understanding and assessing the 4’c’s of Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat. Viewing examples of Gemological Reports they Gübelin offers their clients. How Eduard J. Gübelin was a pioneer in gemological research, his own passion for origin of gemstones, with his relentless study, examination and analysis built the foundations to many of the principles of origin identification we know today.
At the end of this module a recap test on the 4’c’s, what do you understand by the term ‘asterism’, countries that produce certain gem stones.
Day 1, Emerald an introduction to emeralds and the main emotional and practical concepts intrinsic to understanding their value and uniqueness. What are emeralds, why are emeralds valuable and how do we assess this value? were the topics covered in this module. The chemical composition, the coloring elements. Famous emeralds and the women who wore them, some beautiful examples of art using these gemstones.
A very interesting part of this module was the types of inclusions you find in emeralds. Emeralds have more inclusions than rubies, sapphires and other colored gemstones.
The treatment of emeralds is extremely interesting, for all buyers this is so interesting. Understanding the level of treatments that are used, emeralds treated with either fillers, oils or resins.
At the end of the module a recap test on emerald producing areas in the world, visual looks of emeralds compared to diamonds, features of the emerald-cut.
Day 2, Ruby an introduction to rubies and the main emotional and practical concepts intrinsic to understanding their value and uniqueness. What are rubies, why are rubies valuable and how do we assess this value? The Ruby is the most valuable of all precious stones throughout history. The red color of the ruby, the primary color must be red for corundum to be a ruby.
Pigeon blood rubies are, the most highly sought-after color in rubies, and they are most associated with rubies from Burma. Pigeon blood rubies are very rare and very valuable. As for clarity, rubies tend to have a better clarity then emeralds. As for inclusions, the best know is ‘silk’ these are minute crystalline needles that run through the corundum crystal.
Rubies can be cut into several shapes, the most common being cushion-shapes and oval-shapes. The most famous area in the world is Burma (Myanmar) and their famous mines of Mogok commanding the highest ruby prices.
At the end of the module a recap test on ruby, what type of treatments are conducted on rubies, why rubies are valuable, ruby producing areas beside Burma.
Day 2, Sapphire an introduction to Sapphire and the main emotional and practical concepts intrinsic to understanding their value and uniqueness. What are sapphires, why are sapphires valuable and how do we assess this value? The historical significance of sapphires and the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2012 strengthen the popularized the western association with engagement and royalty, reviving the popularity of sapphires worldwide.
Sapphire is traditionally associated with blue, however there is one very important and exceptional color combination: Padparadscha which can vary in color from pinkish-orange and an orangy-pink. Padparadscha sapphires are very rare and very highly valued.
Sapphires tend to have a better clarity than both emeralds and rubies. Unsurprisingly both sapphires and rubies often occur in the same location, Kashmir, Burma and Sri Lanka. Sapphires are valuable because they are hard tough and stable, they have a timeless historic value and they are rare.
At the end of the module a recap test on sapphire, natural inclusions in sapphires from Burma and Sri Lanka, the types of treatment that can be conducted of sapphires, the hardness of the Sapphire.
Gübelin Academy Colored Gem Professional Level 1
Gübelin Academy Colored Gem Professional Level 1
Gübelin Academy, Room 3405-3406, 34/F, Gloucester Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong.
Contact: T: +852 2477 8686 F: +852 2440 4040 [email protected]
