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LMHC unifies gems colour descriptions and new treatment issues
The world leading laboratories, such as the Central Gem Laboratory (CGL), CISGEM Laboratory, DSEF German Gem Lab, Gübelin Gem Lab, GIA Gem Laboratory, the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT) and the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF took part in the meeting.
Image credit: LMHC
"We are very pleased to see that all laboratories represented at LMHC are constructively working together for a harmonisation on issues that are important for the trade and consumers," said Dr Lore Kiefert, host of LMHC, summarising the achievements made during the meeting in Lucerne.
The participants of the event agreed to amend the “infosheet #4”. In the modified version the term “padparadscha”, which describes an orange-pink sapphire, is not applicable if the colour of the stone is unstable and shifts to pink when exposed to a colour stability test. The LMHC members also approved new infosheets about organic fissure-filling in any gemstone and about hydrophane opal.
At the meeting the issues of new gem treatment methods were raised, such as low-temperature heating of corundum and sapphire heat treatment, which is often mistaken for High Pressure-High Temperature, HPHT. The new heat treatment method does not require any specification in the lab reports as it is one of heating techniques.
Moreover, committee members discussed the launch of the project on harmonisation of the use of colour descriptions and colour trade terms at the various LMHC laboratories.
Victoria Quiri, Correspondent of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished, Strasbourg