Gemmology Lab
Certification
Discover the Birmingham Assay Office Gemmology Lab – a trusted centre of excellence for identifying diamonds, gemstones, and pearls. Our expert Gemmologists, supported by state-of-the-art equipment, deliver precise reports and laser inscription services for industry professionals and consumers alike. Whether screening for treatments or verifying laboratory-grown stones, your gemstones are in safe, skilled hands.
Our services
Why choose Birmingham Assay Office Gemmology lab?
- Trusted Experts: Our team of highly skilled Gemmologists ensures your gemstones are in the best hands.
- Cutting-Edge Technology: We use advanced equipment to accurately identify natural, treated, and lab-grown stones.
- Comprehensive Services: From expert reports to laser inscriptions, we’ve got all your gemstone needs covered.
- Here for Everyone: Whether you’re in the industry or a jewellery lover, we provide reliable, straightforward support.
- A Legacy You Can Rely On: As part of the Birmingham Assay Office, we’re known for our long-standing expertise and quality.
How to submit a item
If you are a new customer, please first download and complete the new customer form to provide us with all your details:
DOWNLOAD NEW CUSTOMER FORM HERE
All items must be submitted with a form, failure to do so may result in delays.
Items can be sent via mail or courier or dropped off at our customer services counter.
Please ensure that you have read and agreed to the Terms and Conditions.
If you are an existing customer or private customer, please complete the submission form and send it along with your items.
All items must be submitted with a form, failure to do so may result in delays.
Items can be sent via mail or courier or dropped off at our customer services counter.
Please ensure that you have read and agreed to the Terms and Conditions.
Charges for the services we provide can be found on our price list. If you are a trade customer please contact us and we can provide a trade price list along with further details on our turnaround times.
We do offer three services levels, standard (ten working days), five working days and same day. Items submitted on a standard service can be posted or dropped in to us during our opening hours without any pre-booking necessary.
Our two express services (five days and same day) are run on an appointment basis, please contact us to discuss this further.
Please note that our express services are subject to availability and may be not be possible on complex items.
Equipment we use
DiamondSure™
SYNTHDetect
DiamondView™
EXA™
Sarine DiaMension™
Raman Spectrometer
UV-Vis-NIR Spectrophotometer
FTIR Spectrometer
Laser Inscription
Pearl X-Ray Machine
FAQ
- Standard turnaround is 5-6 working days.
- We offer a same day / next day service for natural diamond mini reports (up to 6 stones), natural diamond short and full reports, diamond screening, tanzanite mini report, gem id mini report. Additional charges apply for express service 100% same day 50% next day.
- Pearls, coloured diamonds, and gemstones requiring treatment/ origin determination have a longer lead time.
- If you are a new customer, please first download and complete the new customer form to provide us with all your details.
- You can then download a submission form. Please complete this form, print it and send it along with your items.
- Items can be sent via mail or courier or dropped off at our customer services counter.
- We outsource from a local reliable jeweller for un-setting and re-setting stones if the mounting permits, this carries an additional charge.
- Yes, we can confidently identify laboratory grown diamonds with our advanced laboratory equipment.
- A synthetic gemstone is a lab-created gemstone that has the same chemical, optical, and physical properties as its natural counterpart
- We use GIA certified natural diamond colour comparison Master Set.
- Payment options include BACS and Card payment only. We do not use American Express.
- It would be preferable if jewellery items were cleaned prior to submitting for testing, however we do offer a cleaning service for additional charge £6 per item.
- Please note not all gemstones are suitable for ultrasonic cleaning such as opals, emeralds, tanzanite, pearls. Please take advice on the suitability of cleaning your jewellery before submitting.
