Swindling is not new for the
field of Gemstones and Jewellery. Treatments on gemstones are usually done for
enhancing their colour, clarity and beauty, ultimately to get their price hike.
Such activities elevates the necessity of laboratories in the trade, which can
bring pellucidity in the market to maintain fair and unbiased business
standards.
Such enhancements are acceptable
as far as these are disclosed while selling the gemstone. Motive of fetching
undue monetary profit from gemstone, without ethical discloser, demands the
deal to be stated as fraudulent. Now cheaters are not mere focusing on the
treatments, which are limited to the gemstones but are keen to encash the name
of renowned laboratories fraudulently. Notorious people are doctoring gemological
laboratory’s gemstone reports as per their whims. Also found to be doing laser
inscription of renowned laboratory’s logo with original report numbers on
synthetic materials to earn money fraudulently.
Few of such scams were witnessed
in IGI-GTL, Delhi.
IGI-GTL, Delhi received a red
color stone in routine testing, which was identified as Synthetic Ruby after
gemological analysis. At receiving the report customer owning that stone furiously
created scene and threatened to complaint about the laboratory in the police
for releasing false report of a Natural Ruby which is worth lakhs. In support
of his statement, he showed a report of GTL, Jaipur (GJEPC’s Jaipur lab),
according to which the stone was certified to be a Natural Ruby. As per the
photograph and other details stone was appearing to be same, which was reported
to be synthetic from IGI-GTL, Delhi. Next day GTL, Jaipur was contacted and
copy of the certificate presented by the customer was shared, to know its
authenticity. It was found that the report was released from GTL, Jaipur but
conclusion and comments were not the same as were claimed by the client. After
getting the original report’s copy from GTL, Jaipur, it was noticed that doctoring/tempering
has been done in the conclusion and comment section of the stated report.
 |
| Report presented by Client claiming its stone to be reported as Natural from GTL, Jaipur |
 |
| Copy of Genuine report received from GTL, Jaipur |
In other instance, IGI-GTL
received two tinted white stones in routine testing, which were identified as Synthetic
Moissanite after gemmological analysis. Under the magnification it was observed
that both of the stones were having laser inscription on their girdle. Laser
inscriptions were found to be resembling GIA laser inscription. Report numbers
mentioned in the laser inscription were GIA6202358429 and GIA2207434207. When
further these GIA report number were verified from GIA site, they were found to
be pertaining to Natural Diamonds weighing almost same to these Synthetic
Moissanites. With ill motive seller got these Synthetic Moissanites to be laser
inscribed with the report number of GIA (Gemological Institute of America), to
misrepresent them as Natural Diamonds.
 |
| Laser inscription on Synthetic Moissanite |
 |
| Laser inscription on Synthetic Moissanite |
 |
| Laser inscription done on Natural Diamond by GIA (Photo taken from GIA website) |
In next instance, IGI-GTL
laboratory got a call from a customer to verify a report of a Natural Sapphire
released from IGI-GTL, Delhi. Customer send a photograph of the report for
verification. It was observed that someone has done doctoring in comment
section of the report. As per the IGI-GTL, Delhi record, original report
released from the laboratory has commented “Indications of heating are observed”.
But the report furnished by the customer was having comment that “Indications
no heating are observed”. It was observed that Hologram of IGI-GTL was also
detrimental. Gemstones having no indications of heating are expensive with
comparison to the gemstones with heating indications, to get increase in its
market value owner of the gemstone got the report tempered.
 |
| Copy of report presented by client to check its authenticity |
 |
| Genuine report issued by IGI-GTL, Delhi |
Author:
Meenakshi Chauhan
meenakshi@gjepcindia.com
Indian Gemological Institute - Gem Testing Laboratory
Jhandewalan, Delhi
(Project of GJEPC)
