Aigs - Asian Institute Of Gemological Sciences

What Aigs - Asian Institute Of Gemological Sciences does

AIGS (Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences), founded in 1978 in Bangkok, operates a dual-platform model combining professional gemological education with a commercial gem-testing laboratory. The education business delivers the flagship 15-week Accredited Gemologist (A.G.) Diploma (290,000 Baht), two Master Gemologist programs (11-month and 5-month), and a catalog of shorter courses spanning gem identification, synthetic and treatment detection, colored-stone grading, and diamond grading — delivered on-campus in the Jewelry Trade Center (JTC) on Silom Road and online via edu.aigsthailand.com. Students from 60+ countries train on a curated reference library of 6,500+ gemstone samples and participate in field trips to mines in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

The laboratory business issues tiered gemstone reports — Full Reports (3,000 Baht), Diamond Reports (1,500 Baht/carat), Master Gemstone Reports (35,000 Baht), Master Jade Reports, Brief Reports, and a high-throughput Melee Testing Service — at a disclosed volume of over 100 reports per day. Testing is conducted with advanced spectroscopic and analytical equipment: ED-XRF, FTIR, LIBS, DFI Mid-UV Laser for synthetic-diamond detection (up to 3,000 melee stones per hour), UV-VIS-NIR, and the Raman Spectrophotometer that AIGS was first in the world to deploy for gemology (1988). The lab operates Bangkok headquarters plus overseas branches in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou (opened 2020), a take-in window in Kofu, Japan, and a mail-in service routed through Malca-Amit and Brink's.

The revenue model blends professional-services education (one-time course fees), transactional lab reports (one-time fees with express premiums), prepaid VIP Membership tiers (Platinum, Gold, VIP — generating recurring engagement from high-volume dealers), publication sales through the AIGS Store, and the AIGS App / e-Reports digital platform. Customer segments split between individual aspiring gemologists and jewelry professionals (education), wholesale and retail gem and jewelry traders (lab reports), and academic partners. Distribution is direct (Bangkok campus + China offices), online (edu platform and store), and via mail-in. The company is privately held by the Ho family and operates as an independent institution with no disclosed parent, external investors, or public-market presence.

Name

Aigs - Asian Institute Of Gemological Sciences

Legal name

Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences Co., Ltd.

Website

https://aigsthailand.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Short description

AIGS (Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences), founded in 1978 in Bangkok, provides professional gemological education programs and commercial gemstone testing/certification services for aspiring gemologists, gem traders, and the global jewelry industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gemological Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Colored Gemstone Identification & Certification Laboratories (CRAKAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Diamond Grading & Certification Laboratories (CRAKAJAG)

Keywords

• Gemology education
• Gemstone testing
• Diamond grading
• Gem certification
• Jewelry training

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangkok Noi

HQ country

Thailand

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Gemological Education Programs: Revenue from teaching gemological courses including the Accredited Gemologist Diploma (A.G.) program, Master Gemologist programs, intensive courses, one-month courses, and short courses. The flagship A.G. program costs 290,000 Baht for 15 weeks. Individual courses range from 16,000 to 125,000 Baht.
2. Gem Testing and Certification Services: Laboratory services for gemstone identification, treatment detection, origin determination, and quality grading. Services include Full Reports (3,000 Baht), Diamond Reports (1,500 Baht/carat, min 3,000), Master Gemstone Reports (35,000 Baht), Master Jade Reports (10,000 Baht), and Brief Reports (2,000 Baht). Express services available at premium prices.
3. Book and Publication Sales: Sale of gemological books and publications through the AIGS Store including titles like 'Mogok: The Valley of Precious Stones', 'Gempedia', 'The Beauty of Diamond Fluorescence', and educational materials. Prices range from 60-200 USD per book.
4. VIP Membership Program: Prepaid membership cards (Platinum 1,000,000 Baht, Gold 500,000 Baht, VIP 100,000 Baht refills) providing discounts on all lab report services for volume users
5. Melee Testing Service: High-volume testing service for small gemstones (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Aquamarine, Amethyst, Tsavorite, Spinel, Diamonds) with lot pricing

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AIGS delivers professional gemological education programs and operates an independent gem testing and certification laboratory serving the global gem and jewelry industry. The education division offers tiered diploma programs, intensive courses, and short courses in gem identification, synthetic and treated gem identification, colored stone grading, and diamond grading. The laboratory division issues standardized gemstone reports covering identity, treatment history, geographical origin, and quality grading using advanced spectroscopic and analytical equipment, supported by the AIGS mobile application for digital report verification.

Product overview

AIGS (Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences) operates as a dual-platform organization offering both gemological laboratory testing/certification services and professional gemology education. The laboratory division provides multiple report tiers including Full Report (GF), Diamond Report (DF), Master Gemstone Report (MGR), Master Gemstone Report-S (MGRS), Master Jade Report (MJR), Brief Report (GB), and Melee Testing Service, all utilizing advanced analytical technologies (ED-XRF, FTIR, LIBS, DFI, UV-VIS-NIR). The education division offers the Accredited Gemologist Diploma (A.G.) program, Master Gemologist Programs (M.G. 101 and M.G. 102), and various intensive and short courses, available both on-campus and online. Supporting digital products include the AIGS App for report verification with AR functionality and e-Reports for QR-based digital certification. The organization also provides VIP Membership tiers for volume clients and maintains offices in Thailand, Japan, and China.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accredited Gemologist Diploma (A.G.) Comprehensive 15-week diploma program covering gem identification, synthetic and treated gem identification, colored stone grading and pricing, and diamond grading and pricing, designed for individuals seeking professional gemology credentials. Priced at 290,000 Baht.
• Master Gemologist Program M.G. 101 (Program A) 11-month advanced gemology program for professional gemologists seeking comprehensive expertise beyond the A.G. Diploma.
• Master Gemologist Program M.G. 102 (Program B) 5-month intensive program complementing Program A for comprehensive gemological education, targeting professional gemologists.
• AIGS Online Education Platform Online learning platform offering virtual gemology courses accessible globally, complementing on-campus programs at the Bangkok campus.
• AIGS Full Report (GF) Gemstone certification report providing identity, treatment history, confirmation of natural status, and most likely source locality when requested. Standard service priced at 3,000 Baht (Emerald Report at 4,000 Baht), targeting gem and jewelry traders needing third-party verification.
• AIGS Diamond Report (DF) Diamond grading report providing color and clarity grades for colorless diamonds, evaluating cutting quality (symmetry and polish), with dimensions via side-view diagram. Priced at 1,500 Baht per carat with 3,000 Baht minimum.
• AIGS Master Gemstone Report (MGR) Premium gemstone report providing identity, treatment history, most likely source locality, natural status confirmation, and AIGS Star Rating quality indication based on color, clarity, cutting, and carat weight. Priced at 35,000 Baht.
• AIGS Master Gemstone Report - S (MGRS) Simplified master gemstone report identifying the gemstone with a simple Star Rating for quality, derived from cut, clarity, symmetry, and sometimes rarity. Priced at 10,000 Baht.
• AIGS Master Jade Report (MJR) Specialized jadeite report identifying jade and detecting impregnation-based (B-jade) and dye-based (C-jade) enhancements, with quality judgment through body color, translucency, texture, and fashioning converted to AIGS Star Rating with optional Rarity Rating. Priced at 10,000 Baht.
• AIGS Brief Report (GB) Compact gemstone report printed on a credit card-sized plastic card, providing identity, treatment history, and natural status confirmation for retail display. Priced at 2,000 Baht.
• Melee Testing Service High-volume bulk testing service for small gemstones including Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Aquamarine, Amethyst, Tsavorite, Spinel, and Diamonds, with lot-based pricing for wholesale traders.
• AIGS VIP Membership Program Prepaid membership card providing discounts on all AIGS report services, available in Platinum (1,000,000 Baht), Gold (500,000 Baht), and VIP (100,000 Baht) refill tiers for high-volume lab clients.
• AIGS e-Reports Digital gemstone report delivered as a compact QR code, scannable via the AIGS App to view full digital details including 360-degree video for stones 1.00 carat and above, replacing traditional paper reports.
• AIGS Mobile Application Mobile application enabling secure verification of AIGS gemstone reports, protection against counterfeit reports, AR functionality to view gemstone reports in augmented reality, and 360-degree video viewing for stones 1.00 carat and above.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students trained from 60+ countries worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Gemstone Testing Center (NGTC) ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021AIGS signed cooperation agreement with China's NGTC to promote integration of Asia-Pacific jewelry standards under AGA (Asia-Pacific Gemstone and Technology Standardization Alliance). Signing ceremony attended by NGTC Director Ye Zhibin and AIGS Chairman Kennedy Ho.
• GGTL Laboratories (GemLab and GemTechLab)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017AIGS and GGTL (based in Geneva and Liechtenstein) announced the Gem Alliance partnership in 2017, joining forces for information and gemological data sharing. GGTL is a 20-year-old full-service independent gemological testing lab founded by renowned experts Franck Notari and Dr. Thomas Hainschwang. The alliance strengthens both labs' capabilities in diamond, gemstone, and pearl certification, with special focus on fancy colored diamonds and synthetic diamond detection.
• Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017AIGS partnered with GIT as one of the organizers of the World Ruby Forum in Bangkok, along with DITP, Ministry of Commerce, JTC, and AFG.
• Tongji University Zhejiang CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015AIGS Chairman Kennedy Ho and Dean Chen Xiaokong of Tongji University Zhejiang College signed MoU for Research, Education and Training Corporation collaboration.
• Jianqiao University (Shanghai)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Cooperation agreement signed to begin training programs taught by AIGS at Jianqiao University in Shanghai, China.
• China University of Geosciences, WuhanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Chairman Kennedy Ho and Dean Yang Mingxing signed MoU for Student Exchange Program and Gemological Collaboration Projects.
• Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013PIFD signed an MoU with AIGS establishing a formal collaborative framework for gemological education and training programs.
• Gubelin Lab SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005AIGS and Gubelin Lab Switzerland conducted joint research project to collect scientific data of gem samples from different localities. The gemstone database developed from this research became important in determining 'country of origin'.
• HRD AntwerpminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Opening of Asian Diamond Office with AIGS providing a diamond grading program in Thailand in cooperation with HRD, Belgium's leading gemological institute and laboratory.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SSEF Swiss Gemmological Institute: SSEF is a Swiss gem testing laboratory affiliated with gem trade organizations, specializing in colored stones, pearls, and origin determination. AIGS's colored stone focus places it in direct competition for high-end gemstone certification work.
• Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT): GIT is Thailand's national gem and jewelry institute, a direct local peer that co-organized the World Ruby Forum with AIGS. GIT provides gemological testing, training, and research services as a government-affiliated institution.
• HRD Antwerp: HRD Antwerp is Belgium's leading gemological institute offering diamond grading and education. AIGS partnered with HRD (1994) to launch diamond grading programs in Thailand, making HRD a direct peer in diamond education and certification.
• GRS (Gem Research Swisslab): GRS is an independent gemological laboratory specializing in colored gemstone identification, origin determination, and treatment detection. It competes directly with AIGS's Master Gemstone Report services in the premium colored stone segment.
• GGTL Laboratories (GemLab and GemTechLab): GGTL is a Geneva and Liechtenstein-based independent gemological testing lab founded by Franck Notari and Dr. Thomas Hainschwang. AIGS and GGTL formed the Gem Alliance (2017) for gemological data sharing, combining their diamond, gemstone, and pearl certification capabilities.
• Gübelin Gem Lab: Gübelin is a Swiss-based gem testing laboratory renowned for origin determination and treatment detection in colored stones. AIGS partnered with Gübelin (2005) for joint research on gem locality data, making them a direct peer in high-end colored stone certification.
• International Gemological Institute (IGI): IGI is a global gem certification and education organization with significant presence in Asia and diamond grading operations. It competes directly with AIGS in both diamond certification services and professional gemology education.

Emerging players

• Lotus Gemology: Lotus Gemology is an independent gem testing laboratory and gemological research center founded by former AIGS alumni (Richard Hughes). It specializes in colored stone research and competes as a boutique alternative for high-end colored stone reports.

Regional players

• National Gemstone Testing Center (NGTC) China: NGTC is China's national gemstone testing center and a partner of AIGS via the AGA alliance. While collaborating on standards, NGTC serves as China's dominant domestic gem certification authority and a regional competitor in the Chinese market.

Broad incumbents

• Gemological Institute of America (GIA): GIA is the world's leading gemological institute and laboratory, offering both education (Graduate Gemologist program) and diamond/colored stone certification. It is the dominant global brand in gem certification and AIGS's primary global competitor in both education and lab services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aigs-aigs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Aigs - Asian Institute Of Gemological Sciences