Universal Gemological Laboratories (GCI) is a gemological laboratory and a
college
A college ( Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering ...
for educational services founded in 1998. The laboratory's main headquarters is in the
Israel Diamond Exchange in
Ramat Gan
Ramat Gan ( he, רָמַת גַּן or , ) is a city in the Tel Aviv District of Israel, located east of the municipality of Tel Aviv and part of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. It is home to one of the world's major diamond exchanges, and man ...
. The GCI has regional labs and educational centers equipped with local and Israeli staff in Russia and, since June 2006, in
India
India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...
—a disposition of four branches in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata. GCI is the only western laboratory that is officially permitted by the Russian government to operate in
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eigh ...
.
As a licensed member of the Association of Gemological Laboratories of
Japan (AGL), the gemological
laboratory
A laboratory (; ; colloquially lab) is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. Laboratory services are provided in a variety of settings: physici ...
TGL Israel is officially registered and recognized by JJA /AGL Master Stones (color) administrative committee. The AGL was established in 1981 for the purpose of standardization of diamond grading based on the method used at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and on the nomenclature of color in diamonds as used by the association of Gemological Laboratories in Japan (AGL). This assures that each certificate issued conforms to the highest Japanese standards. GCI is working under the strict standard institution of ISO – International Organization for Standardization.
Research
GCI contributes to the knowledge base of the gemological world by publishing and conducting research and experiments on an array of gemstones: from simple crystals to
synthetic diamond
Lab-grown diamond (LGD; also called laboratory-grown, laboratory-created, man-made, artisan-created, artificial, synthetic, or cultured diamond) is diamond that is produced in a controlled technological process (in contrast to naturally formed ...
s. All publications are free to access via the GCI website (English/Hebrew). GCI research laboratory is a pioneer in research of new
gemstone cutting shapes and supplying the scientific aspect of patent applications.
Education
Various courses are offered by the college, and the curriculum for each course is designed to train the student in each technical aspect of
diamond
Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Another solid form of carbon known as graphite is the chemically stable form of carbon at room temperature and pressure, ...
grading, gem identification and practical work. The educational level is of GIA standards and the classes are fitted with gemological testing equipment.
Services
GCI offers the following services according to
GIA and AGL standards.
• Gem identification
• Guiding, sorting and consultation for manufacturers throughout the entire manufacturing process.
• Guiding and consulting regarding repairs.
• Sorting for color, clarity, polish and symmetry.
• Certificate for mounted jewelry.
• Laser inscription services.
• Fancy color identification, authenticity check of color and certification.
• Identification of HPHT
treatments and bombardments with FTIR and SPECTROPHOTOMETER.
• Identification of clarity enhancements, laser drillings and internal drillings (KM).
• Identification of man-made diamond (CVD-HPHT) and imitations.
• GCI is qualified for Insurance companies and in the court of law as an expert opinion.
References
Further reading
*''Rapaport's global guide to gemological laboratories'' vol.28 no.41 November 2005
*''IGC changes name and strengthens status as education provider'' IDEX MAGAZINE NO 226: POLISHED - February 9 Page 76
*''Making the diamond education grade'' IDEX MAGAZINE NO 228: POLISHED - April 9 pages 94–97
*''Organization profile gci gemological centers inc'' IDEX MAGAZINE NO 228: POLISHED - April 9 page 113
*Yakar, Ben-Zion (August 2010) ''The impact of HPHT on a diamond's colour'' Solitaire Magazine pages 95–98
*''Pelerinaj stralucitor'' The One Magazine: pages 84–85
External links
GCI - Official site SSEF FACETTE, International Issue No. 12, January 2005Israelidiamond.co.il Israeli Labs Vie Internationally Diamonds.netDaphne Iodovic "TO turn every stone" globes 2004 Globes.co.il
THE IMPACT OF HPHT ON A DIAMOND'S COLOR Gemological Laboratory group - IGC expands and changes its name into GCI GSI offers a computerized certificateWorld News Gemological
Official site
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722145205/http://www.gci.li/ , date=2011-07-22
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Cubic Zirconia
Gemological laboratories
Diamond cutting
Synthetic diamond