What the report states
The report covers what cannot be judged by eye: the species, whether the stone is natural or synthetic, any treatment, plus weight, dimensions, cut and colour. A good report also says what was not determined — for example, when the origin was not established.
| Report line | Meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Mineral and variety, e.g. corundum, variety ruby | Look-alike stones differ in price many times over |
| Natural or synthetic | Grown in the earth or in a laboratory | A synthetic of the same species costs tens of times less |
| Treatment | Heating, oiling, fracture filling | Affects price and care: a glass-filled ruby must not see ultrasound or heat |
| Weight and dimensions | Carats and millimetres | Identify the stone and match it to the document |
| Cut and colour | Cut shape and colour description | Drive the price and the choice of setting |
Stones set in jewelry
A stone can usually be tested without removing it: species, natural origin and treatment can mostly be established in the setting, while the weight is calculated from the dimensions. If the report is needed for a sale or insurance, it is better to unset the stone — our workshop will set it back afterwards.
Stones bought elsewhere
Testing is not tied to buying from us: we test stones from other shops, markets, private sellers and trips abroad. Typical substitutes are glass and doublets sold as emerald, synthetic ruby and sapphire, cubic zirconia and moissanite sold as diamond, and garnet or spinel sold as ruby.
Our report or an international certificate
To decide what a stone is and whether to buy it, our report is usually enough — it answers the core questions here in Bishkek without shipping the stone abroad. Large stones bought as an investment or sold internationally are expected to carry a certificate from a lab such as GIA, SSEF or Gübelin; we will tell you whether your stone needs one and help arrange it.
Price, timing and who does the testing
The price is quoted before work starts and depends on the number of stones, the tests required and whether a stone has to be unset; basic identification costs less than a full report with treatment details. The laboratory is LLC "Bishkek Gemological Laboratory", headed by gemologist Karina Mambetrizina; the Gems of Solomon workshop and marketplace operate alongside it. We are open 24/7 — visits outside regular hours are arranged in advance.