The Gem Lab

What The Gem Lab does

The Gem Lab (Pty) Ltd is a privately held gemological laboratory and jewellery appraisal firm founded in 1989, headquartered at 8 Penrith Road, Kenilworth, Cape Town, South Africa. The company provides gemstone identification and certification, coloured stone grading, jewellery valuation for insurance, probate, resale and personal record, rough gemstone assessment, and forensic gemstone analysis — the latter being unique in South Africa with reports admissible in court of law. The Gem Lab also sells niche gem-testing products (Tanzanite Filters, Refractive Index Liquid RI 1.78) and operates the Academy of Gemmology sub-brand, which delivers online courses on gemstone identification, grading, and pricing.

Core technology is centred on the proprietary ICSL (Independent Coloured Stone Laboratory) grading system, copyright-protected since 1982, which was the first system internationally to issue Final Grades that relate directly to trading price, using a 100-0 numeral scale with carefully designed deduction parameters. The system was developed by Ian Campbell FGA and revised by founder-owner Jeremy Rothon, who holds FGA (Gemmological Association of Great Britain) and GIA qualifications with nearly three decades of industry experience. Diamonds are graded by three staff members with final verification by a qualified gemmologist; coloured stone reports are issued in full passport-size and credit-card-size formats and are described by the firm as neutral documents without marketing-grade nomenclature.

Revenue is generated predominantly through unit-priced professional services billed in South African Rand (prices from R200 per credit-card-size identification certificate up to R800 per stone for rough assessment and R1,800 per hour for parcel assessments), supplemented by hardware sales of testing consumables and fees from Academy of Gemmology courses. Distribution is sales-led via appointment-based consultations at the Cape Town office (booking through Setmore), direct email/phone engagement, and inbound international shipments from clients in China, France, and Germany. Customer segments include individual jewellery owners (insurance, probate), mid-market jewellery retailers, and international gemstone traders.

Name

The Gem Lab

Legal name

The Gem Lab (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://gemlab.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Gem Lab is a Cape Town-based gemological laboratory providing gemstone identification, coloured stone grading under the proprietary ICSL system, jewellery valuations, and forensic gemstone analysis to individuals, jewellery retailers, and international traders, with education delivered through its Academy of Gemmology sub-brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gemological Laboratory Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Colored Gemstone Identification & Certification Laboratories (CRAKAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Diamond Grading & Certification Laboratories (CRAKAJAG)

Keywords

• Gemstone identification
• Coloured stone grading
• Jewellery valuation
• Gemmology training
• Forensic gem analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Gemstone Identification and Certification: Fees for identifying and certifying natural gemstones, including coloured stone reports and diamond grading services.
2. Coloured Stones Grading Reports: Full passport-size and mini coloured stone reports using ICSL system. Full reports include reference number, species, variety, weight, cut/shape, dimensions, colour description, colour grade, tone, clarity grade, brilliance, finish, final grade and image.
3. Jewellery Valuations: Professional jewellery valuations for insurance, probate, resale, or personal knowledge purposes. Valuations assess materials, craftsmanship, condition, and current market factors.
4. Forensic Analysis Services: Scientific gemstone analysis services, unique in South Africa. Reports can be used in court proceedings.
5. Rough Gemstone Assessment: Assessment services for rough gemstones and parcels of stones, requiring specialized knowledge and experience.
6. Gem Testing Products: Sale of gem testing tools including Tanzanite Filters (R650 each) and Refractive Index Liquid RI 1.78 (R1500 per 10ml bottle).
7. Gemstone Grading Courses: Training courses through Academy of Gemmology including gemstone identification, grading, and pricing courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Gem Lab operates a gemological laboratory offering gemstone identification and certification, coloured stone grading using the proprietary ICSL grading system, professional jewellery valuations for insurance/probate/resale, rough gemstone assessment, and forensic gemstone analysis (the only such service in South Africa). It also runs the Academy of Gemmology providing online training courses in gemstone identification, grading, and pricing, and retails accessory products such as Tanzanite Filters and Refractive Index Liquid.

Product overview

The Gem Lab is a gemological laboratory and jewellery appraisal service based in Cape Town, South Africa, offering a portfolio of specialist services centred on gemstone and jewellery analysis. The core offering consists of Jewellery Valuations, Coloured Stones Grading (using the proprietary ICSL grading system), Gemstone Identification, Gemstone Verification (online report lookup), Rough Gemstone Assessment, and Forensic Analysis. The company also sells accessory products including Tanzanite Filters and Refractive Index Liquids. Education is provided through the Academy of Gemmology sub-brand, which offers online courses in gemstone identification, grading, and pricing. Founded in 1989, The Gem Lab operates under the guidance of owner Jeremy Rothon (FGA, GIA trained) and General Manager Olivia Chiara Uliana (FGA, GIA AJP, Graduate Diamond Diploma).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Jewellery Valuations Professional jewellery valuation providing an accurate and independent assessment of jewellery value for insurance, probate, resale, or personal knowledge purposes. Each piece is examined by a qualified gemmologist to assess materials, craftsmanship, condition, and current market factors; the resulting report is suitable for insurance purposes.
• Coloured Stones Grading Full coloured stone grading service using the proprietary ICSL (Independent Coloured Stone Laboratory) system, producing passport-size reports (reference number, species, variety, weight, cut/shape, dimensions, colour description, colour grade, tone, clarity grade, brilliance, finish, final grade, image) and credit-card-size mini reports. Final Grade relates directly to price.
• Gemstone Identification Identification and certification service for all natural gemstones, including a unique report for laboratory-grown moissanite. Diamond grading is performed by three staff members with the final grade by a qualified gemmologist; reports include reference number, gemstone name, weight, cut/shape, dimensions, colour description, clarity grade, and finish.
• Gemstone Verification

Quantifiable outcome

• Diamonds graded by three staff members with final verification by qualified gemmologist, ensuring high accuracy
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ICSL (Independent Coloured Stone Laboratory)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1989The Gem Lab was founded in 1989 and was affiliated to Ian Campbell's ICSL lab until Ian's retirement in 2009. The company uses the ICSL grading system developed by Ian Campbell and later revised by Jeremy Rothon. The ICSL system was introduced to the trade in 1982 and was first published in the USA in 1985 by the Accredited Gemologists Association.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• HRD Antwerp: A leading European diamond grading and certification authority headquartered in Antwerp. Comparable in diamond grading services offered to The Gem Lab's diamond grading operation.
• IGI (International Gemological Institute): One of the world's largest gem-grading laboratories, with international operations offering diamond, colored stone, and jewelry reports as well as educational programs. Comparable as a competitor for both grading services and education revenue.
• GIA (Gemological Institute of America): The world's largest gemological institute, operating global gem-grading laboratories, research, and education. Directly comparable as a gem-certification and education provider with significantly broader scale and brand reach.

Direct peers

• SSEF Swiss Gemmological Institute: An independent Swiss lab specializing in colored stones, pearls, and country-of-origin determination, frequently used by auction houses. Comparable to The Gem Lab as a high-trust international colored stone grading laboratory.
• American Gemological Laboratories (AGL): An independent US-based laboratory focused on colored stone grading and gemstone origin reports for the North American fine jewelry trade. Comparable mid-scale peer operating a Final Grade-style reports model.
• GRS (Gem Research Swisslab): A leading Swiss independent gemological laboratory focused on colored stone grading, origin reporting, and treatment detection. Direct peer in colored stone certification serving international trade.
• Gübelin Gem Lab: A prestigious Swiss gem laboratory renowned for colored stone grading and gemstone origin determination, serving top jewelers, auction houses, and collectors. Closest analog to The Gem Lab's boutique colored-stone grading model and Final Grade methodology.
• European Gemological Laboratory (EGL): The Cape Town office of EGL was previously run by founder Jeremy Rothon, and EGL operates a network of gem-grading laboratories internationally. Direct historical peer and one of the few competitors in the same niche.

Emerging players

• Lotus Gemology: A boutique Thailand-based gemological laboratory and publisher focused on colored stones, treatments, and origin reporting. Similar scale and mindset peer to The Gem Lab — independent, research-driven, and tracking global trade.
• AIGS (Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences): Bangkok-based gemological laboratory and school offering colored stone and diamond grading plus gemology education. Comparable as both a certification lab and an education provider competing for the same international trader audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-gem-lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The Gem Lab