Every now and again, we find ourselves mesmerized by miniature masterpiece laden with the treasures of nature. Let's take a glimpse into the busy workshops that create some of the world's most timeless artworks.

Historical jewelry pieces have always been a forte of the well known design houses. Graff, Van Cleef & Arpels, De Grisogono, and other heritage-run maisons have been producing high jewelry for decades, spanning the cumulative tastes of many different markets, while always finding time to create that special aesthetic wonder we've all come to appreciate.

The particular aspects of each house's visual style vary greatly with personal beliefs and preferences. De Grisogono's vibrant use of colored stones (such as Colombian emeralds) plays off beautifully against the seamless, asymmetrical elements of their design sequences.

Nothing starts out grandiose and alive. We've all been born out of love and passion. The world of fine jewelry is no different.

From the tiniest idea, the simplest sketch, to the actual wax sculpting by time-honored artisans, the creation process for high jewelry is a tedious yet rewarding endeavor. Audiences from around the globe partake in the festive unveiling of new collections. Museum curators gather at exhibits to learn as much as they can about artists and their indescribable regalia pieces.



Gemstones play a very intimate part of most revered jewelry suites. From the brilliance and dazzling allure of diamonds to the fiery passionate reds of rubies, the rarity and exclusive indulgence of precious gems cannot simply be ignored within the realm of fine luxury.

It takes years to master the art of gemstone-setting, the precision and care needed for a beautiful result matches only the ageless dedication possessed by the greatest smiths in history. Their jewelry benches are the birthplace of majesty and opulence. Every intricate swirl of platinum, gold and silver, began as ore to be smelted and re-formed. Metal matched with mettle, artisans breathed life into the minerals from deep below the earth's crust.



For anyone wanting to delve deeper into the artful finality created by the jewelry maisons, you're not alone. Gemology and jewelry go hand-in-hand, the journey of learning is never over, and the world's taste for wonder never ceases.

There are many jewelry-making institutes to choose from, including Van Cleef and Arpel's L'ecole School of Jewelry and Arts. If you'd like to learn on your own, you can follow in the steps of pioneers and gain an apprenticeship with your local jeweler.



But, if you'd like to learn more about the other half of the masterpiece; the gems that no one else can replicate perfectly- then you won't have to look far. Our laboratory will be offering gemological classes and workshops beginning mid-2018 to connoisseurs, jewelry aficionados and future-gemologists from the Philippines. We look forward to having you with us.

All images belong to their corresponding brand companies, Van Cleef & Arpels, De Grisogono and Graff Jewelers. We are neither affiliated with, nor endorse any one company, however the purpose of this editorial post, was to simply appreciate the art of fine jewelry craftsmanship.

When jewelry stores, gemstone dealers, or even your friends talk about these documents, what do they mean exactly? Here's a little bit of knowledge for you to familiarize yourself with one of the gem trade's most commonly used terminologies.



The term diamond certificate commonly refers to a specific gemological report that illustrates and defines the species, variety, grading and characteristics of a particular stone. For diamonds, laboratories like Gemcamp employ graduate gemologists from some of the world's top gemological schools, in order to properly identify and evaluate a stone. This is important because aside from influencing the monetary value equivalent of a diamond, gemological report grades also help you identify your stone and separate it from others.

Diamond reports contain particular information sections like the exact carat weight of a stone, down to one or two decimal places. A carat is one fifth of a gram, so this measurement is precise enough to serve as a good means for ID'ing your diamond. In light of frequent reports about jewelry theft, especially in Metro Manila, it always helps to have anything that can add more support to the identification of your property. Gemological reports can also describe and plot the specific 'inclusions' and blemishes' on a diamond, which are sort of like its fingerprints in terms of uniqueness. Many diamonds can be matched to their reports simply by checking the plot drawing against their actual appearance under a 10x loupe or microscope.

A diamond certificate or report, serves as a gemstone's ID card, to help buyers, sellers and jewelry owners to gain assurance and security against possible item fraud.

Laboratories must be properly equipped with the right instrumentation to properly identify and grade stones. Diamonds are compared against calibrated 'master stones' to determine a color grade. Likewise, only an experienced gemologist who has seen several hundred stones can efficiently determine grades for clarity and cut.

Note that there is a distinct difference in gemological reports issued by professional laboratories versus fancy-clad certificates that come free with the purchase of a jewelry item from a store. Laboratories conduct thorough testing without any motivational gain from the type of results that are given, making them immune to bias and completely objective. They do not sell you gemstones or try to convince you to buy something from their owners. Everything is about honest and open disclosure, for the client's knowledge and benefit only.



Software and instrumentation that measures reactions to photoluminescence are also needed to separate natural diamonds from man-made or 'cultured' diamonds, which are atomically same, but grown artificially in a lab. Man-made diamonds, despite their chemistry, do not possess the same value as natural diamonds. As of 2017, man-made diamonds produced by chemical vapor deposition sell for about 40% of a natural diamond's value (assuming the same grades). This data was taken from international jewelry trade fairs by the Gemcamp laboratory's gemological research team.

If you want to be certain about your gemstone's identity and value, find a reputable gemology lab and schedule a visit. Having reports made for your gemstones also gives them a 'report card', with grades similar to the ones we used to receive in school. This document can help you sell or liquidate your stones by providing clients with an essential third-party documentation of your item, dismissing bias and promoting a fair and ethical transaction. Gemcamp laboratories serves the Philippine public as one of the most modern laboratory facilities that helps people identify, grade and document their jewelry possessions today.

Note that diamond certificates and gemological reports are products of private institutions subject to limitations and restrictions. Each laboratory or institution may abide by a different set of policies and requirements.