Certification & Lab Reports

Most of the stones we sell are not certified, because a lab report on a $200 sapphire often costs more than it adds. But if you want independent confirmation of what you are buying — or an opinion on where it came from — we will send your stone to the laboratory of your choice before it ships to you.

Ruby and sapphire only.

Which laboratory should I choose?

Laboratory	Best for	Origin opinion	Turnaround	From
GBI Gem Lab Bangkok	Documenting a stone affordably. Natural vs. synthetic, treatments, photographs.	Yes, on the ID + Origin Report	Quickest of the three — usually a matter of days	$10
AGL Thai Lab Bangkok	The everyday standard in the Thai and regional trade. Strong on heat and treatment detection.	Yes, on the Full Report	Days rather than weeks	$20
GIA Gemological Institute of America	Stones you intend to hold, insure or resell. The name buyers and auction houses recognise.	Yes, on the Identification & Origin Report	Longest by some way — think weeks, not days	$98

Turnaround varies with each laboratory's workload, so treat the above as a guide rather than a promise. We confirm an estimate with you at the time we submit the stone.

The reports

GBI Gem Lab

Great Burma International, in Bangkok's Gem Tower. Fast and economical, with photographic documentation and a star rating for cut, clarity and symmetry.

Basic ID. Gemstone summary, photographs, and natural vs. synthetic identification.$10

ID + Origin. Full identification and photographs, plus country-of-origin determination.$20

AGL Thai Lab

Asian Gemmological Laboratory, Bangkok. Widely accepted across the Thai and regional trade, with reliable heat and treatment detection. Every report can be verified on their website.

Identification Report. Species and variety, plus treatment and enhancement detection. Stones of 0.20 ct and above.$25

Full Report + Origin. The detailed report with country-of-origin determination. Stones of 1.00 ct and above.$45

Add GBI or AGL certification

GIA

The most widely recognised gemstone report in the world. GIA prices by carat weight, so you choose the band your stone falls into — if you are not sure, pick the one you believe is right and we will confirm it with you before submitting.

Identification Report. Species, variety and detection of treatments.$98 – $240

Identification & Origin Report. All of the above, plus GIA's geographic origin opinion.$117 – $513

Stones of 20 ct and above are quoted individually — please get in touch first.

Add GIA certification

How it works

Add the certification service to your cart alongside the stone you are buying.
We submit the stone to your chosen laboratory on your behalf and keep you posted.
Once the report is issued, the stone ships to you together with its certificate.

Already bought from us and want a stone certified after the fact? Email info@thaigems.com and we will arrange it.

What a lab report does and doesn't tell you

A report is an independent statement of what a stone is — its species and variety, and whether it has been treated. That is genuinely useful, and it is the part we can rely on.

Two honest caveats:

Nobody can guarantee the result. We describe every stone as accurately as we can, but the laboratory reaches its own conclusion. If a report comes back differently from our listing, we will make it right.
Origin is an opinion, not a measurement. Geology does not respect borders, and two reputable labs can reach different conclusions on the same stone. A lab will sometimes decline to name an origin at all. That is a legitimate outcome, and the fee still applies.

Certification fees are non-refundable once a stone has been sent to the laboratory, since the work is done at that point.

Still not sure?

Tell us the stone you are looking at and what you plan to do with it, and we will tell you honestly whether a report is worth the money. For a great many stones it isn't. Reach us at info@thaigems.com or through our contact page.