Emerald Services
The AGTA GTC offers a number of services with regard to emeralds, as follows:
Emerald Identification Report
This report includes the identification of a gemstone as an emerald and its nature…
- [natural/synthetic], as well as its enhancement status, as follows…
- No indications of clarity enhancement
or… - [Minor/moderate/significant] clarity enhancement
- No indications of clarity enhancement
Emerald Origin Report
In addition to the information included in the Emerald Identification Report, the probable origin of the gemstone is indicated:
- No indications of clarity enhancement
or… - [Minor/moderate/significant] clarity enhancement
- Origin: Colombia, Zambia, Brazil, etc.
Filler Identification
For an additional fee, clients can request identification of the filler substance, which is indicated in the comments section of the report as follows:
- The identity of the enhancement substance was determined to be an… [oil/wax/resin]
Treatment Slips
These are designed for clients who wish to have a clean gemstone without any enhancement, or wish to replace one enhancing substance with another before having an identification or origin report issued. These Treatment Slips do not identify the nature of the gemstone, only the enhancement. This means that the gemstone submitted is not tested for its identity.
There are two types of treatment slips:
- T1: States only the degree of enhancement, without identifying the substance.
- T2: States the degree of enhancement, as well as the identity of the filler.
Fees apply every time a gemstone comes back for recheck.
Sample AGTA GTC Emerald Identification Report with Filler ID. Click on the report for a larger PDF image. |
Jagged-edged cavities in an emerald from Colombia. These microscopic negative crystals are typically filled with a liquid, gas and solid (halite) and their appearance is distinctive for Colombian emeralds. Unfortunately, emeralds from other localities often share features that make origin determination far more difficult. Photo: Richard Hughes/AGTA GTC |
Amphibole needles scattered through the interior of an emerald from Sandawana, Zimbabwe. Photo: Richard Hughes/AGTA GTC |
Amphibole needles can be found in emeralds from a variety of sources, as evidenced by this photomicrograph of a gem from Russia's Ural Mountain mines at Malysheva. Photo: John Koivula/AGTA GTC |
Sample AGTA GTC Emerald Origin Report with Filler ID. Click on the report for a larger PDF image. |
Trapped air bubbles surrounded by a filler in the fissure of a clarity-enhanced emerald. Fillers are commonly used to mask fissures in emerald. By replacing air with a filler (typically an oil or resin), fissures are masked. The extent to which an emerald is filled is noted on all AGTA GTC emerald reports, on a scale ranging from minor through moderate to significant clarity enhancement. Photo: Richard Hughes/AGTA GTC |
