Gemresearch Swisslab

Name

Gemresearch Swisslab

Legal name

GRS Gemresearch Swisslab AG

Website

https://gemresearch.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gemological Laboratory Services

akta.pro primary industry

Colored Gemstone Identification & Certification Laboratories (CRAKAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Traceability, Provenance & Compliance Services (e.g., origin, AML/KYC, sanctions) (CRAKAJAL), Diamond Grading & Certification Laboratories (CRAKAJAG)

Keywords

• Gemstone authentication services
• Colored gemstone reports
• Gemological laboratory testing
• Gemstone origin determination
• Precious stone certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Meggen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Gemstone Testing and Certification Services: Core revenue from physical inspection, analytical testing, and issuance of gemstone identification reports for rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and other colored gems. Reports issued for loose gemstones, pairs, sets, and mounted jewelry. Pricing varies by service level (regular vs express) and is provided upon request.
2. Publications and Books Sales: Sale of 'Contributions to Gemology' journal publications (ranging from $30-$80 per issue), 'Pigeon Blood Valley' books ($100), 'Magnificent Green' book ($100), and various poster/merchandise items. Shop includes 15+ publication titles.
3. Platinum Rarity Award Services: Premium report services for exceptional gemstones featuring augmented reality technology, enlarged photos, and 360-degree video clips. Offered at GRS discretion for qualifying stones only, with pricing by inquiry.
4. AR Gemstone Report Add-on: 2-fold appendix report with enlarged photo and 360-degree video clip accessible via QR code scanning. Available for all gemstones submitted to GRS as an add-on to standard report.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GRS GemResearch Swisslab AG is an independent gemological research laboratory that issues origin determination and authenticity reports for colored gemstones including rubies, sapphires, emeralds, spinel, tourmaline, and garnet. Services span loose stones, pairs, sets, and mounted jewelry, performed using advanced spectroscopic instruments and a proprietary 40,000+ sample reference collection. The company operates six international laboratories (Switzerland, Hong Kong, Thailand, France, USA) and additionally sells gemological publications and books via its online shop.

Product overview

GRS GemResearch Swisslab AG operates a multi-product portfolio centered on independent gemological research and authentication services for colored gemstones. The core offering consists of GRS Gemstone Reports (The Original) providing identification, authenticity, treatment, and origin determination for rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and other colored gems. Premium tiers include the GRS AR Gemstone Report with 360-degree video integration and the GRS Platinum Rarity Gemstone Award/Award Book for exceptional specimens featuring augmented reality technology. The company has developed proprietary color terminology systems including trademarked GRS-type 'pigeon blood' and 'royal blue' terms that have become industry standards. Supporting services include online report verification, color stability testing, and treatment classification. The company also publishes the 'Contributions to Gemology' series and specialty books like 'Magnificent Green' and 'Pigeon Blood Valley'. Six international laboratories are located in Switzerland, France, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GRS Gemstone Report (The Original) Standard gemological identification and authentication report issued by GRS for individual loose gemstones, gemstone pairs, gemstone sets, and mounted jewelry including rings, ear clips, and necklaces. The report covers rubies, sapphires, emeralds, spinel, tourmaline, garnet, and other colored gems, providing identification, origin determination, treatment detection, and color grading.
• GRS AR Gemstone Report 2-fold appendix add-on to the standard GRS Gemstone Report that features an enlarged photo and a 360-degree video clip of the gemstone accessible by scanning a QR code with a mobile device. Available for all gemstones submitted to GRS.
• GRS Platinum Rarity Gemstone Award Premium 3-fold report for exceptional gemstones featuring a descriptive portrait elaborating rarity, an appendix page, and a 360-degree augmented reality video accessible via the GRS AR mobile app. Offered at GRS discretion for qualifying stones only.
• GRS Platinum Rarity Gemstone Award Book 40-50 page premium award folio for the most valuable gemstones, featuring historical, technical, and supplementary interpretations, augmented reality technology with 360-degree video clips. Available for exceptional rubies and sapphires from Burma/Sri Lanka and emeralds from Colombia.
• Contributions to Gemology Publications In-house publication series documenting GRS research on gemstone identification, treatments, origin determination, and discoveries. Available as hard copies through the online shop and as digital downloads. Topics include synthetic diamonds, new treatment methods, and origin studies.
• Magnificent Green Coffee table book documenting the journey into Colombian emeralds told by miners, patrons, cutters, brokers, and jewelers, combining photo-journalism with gemological expertise. Sold via the GRS online shop at $100.
• Pigeon Blood Valley Coffee table book dedicated to Burmese rubies from the Mogok valley, available in multiple languages (English, Chinese, Burmese, French) at $100 each. Special fundraiser edition supports children affected by HIV/AIDS in Mogok.

Quantifiable outcome

• First to introduce 'pigeon blood' and 'royal blue' terminology in auction catalogues (Sotheby's June 1998)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Peretti Museum FoundationsupportingOthers · 1 January 2020Foundation established in 2020 by Dr. A. Peretti to operate a museum featuring exhibitions on paleontology, mineralogy, and earth sciences. Houses extensive amber collection with inclusions of lifeforms for public display and scientific research. Supports research into describing new minerals and lifeforms.
• ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)coreTechnology or IntegrationLA-ICP-MS (Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) analysis facility strategically located at ETH Zurich. Prof. Günther from the laboratory of inorganic chemistry conducts analyses. Partnership provides access to advanced mass spectrometry capabilities for gemstone constituent analysis including very light elements.
• Prof. Detlef Günther (ETH Zurich)coreTechnology or IntegrationVice President for Research and Corporate Relations of ETH Zurich serves on GRS Board of Directors. Provides academic oversight and research collaboration for advanced analytical methods.
• University of Basel, Fribourg, Bern, Zurich (Academic Advisory Board)supportingTechnology or IntegrationAcademic board members including Prof. em. Dr. Josef Mullis (University of Basel), Prof. Dr. Bernard Grobéty (University of Fribourg), Prof. Dr. Eric Reusser (ETH Zurich), Prof. em. Dr. Thomas Armbruster (University of Bern) participate in GRS general assembly and provide academic oversight.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AGL American Gemological Laboratories: US-based independent gemological laboratory specializing in colored gemstone reports including origin and treatment determination; directly comparable to GRS in service offering and customer base of dealers, jewelers, and collectors.
• AnchorCert Gem Lab: UK-based gemological laboratory affiliated with the Assay Office providing gemstone identification and certification services; competes in the European market for independent colored gemstone reports.
• SSEF Swiss Gemmological Institute: Swiss non-profit gemological laboratory offering independent gemstone testing, origin determination, and treatment detection for colored stones; serves the same auction houses, dealers, and jewelers as GRS with directly comparable scientific methodology.
• Gübelin Gem Lab: Swiss-based independent gemological laboratory providing origin determination, treatment detection, and colored gemstone certification — historically the most direct competitor to GRS in the high-end colored stone report market, with overlapping auction house adoption.
• Lotus Gemology: Independent colored gemstone laboratory founded by former GRS staff, offering origin and treatment reports for ruby, sapphire, spinel; competes head-to-head with GRS in the high-end colored stone space with published gemological research.
• DSEF German Gem Lab: German-based gemological testing laboratory offering colored gemstone identification and origin reports; competes for European dealer and auction business with comparable scientific testing approach to GRS.

Broad incumbents

• Gemological Institute of America (GIA): The largest and most recognized gemological institution globally; competes with GRS across diamond and colored stone grading but with a much broader portfolio including education, instruments, and lab-grown diamond services rather than GRS's colored-stone focus.
• IGI International Gemological Institute: Global gemological laboratory with broad diamond and gemstone grading services, and a more retail/jewelry-store-oriented customer base than GRS; partial overlap in colored stone work but focused on higher-volume, lower-priced reports.

Emerging players

• C. Dunaigre Consulting: Switzerland-based independent gemological consulting firm providing colored gemstone certification and origin reports; smaller and more boutique than GRS but operating in the same high-end niche with overlapping scientific methodology.

Regional players

• AIGS Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences: Thailand-based gemological institute focused on the Bangkok colored stone trade; provides gemstone identification and grading services with regional emphasis rather than GRS's globally distributed model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Gemresearch
• Xx.com/grsgemresearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grslab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gemresearch Swisslab