High Tech and the Grading of Gemstones

by Kurt Teeters, GG

© 2003 Gottlieb Brothers, Inc.

As GBI’s in-house graduate gemologist, I have studied the grading of gemstones with the best of the best. So why does Gottlieb Brothers need "machinery" when they have me? Fair question.

What I like best is the "sez who?" factor. I'm not shy about making the final call on quality. I do that every day. But--to use a software marketing term--"the end user" (meaning the retail customer) gets a real boost of confidence when they see the diamond paper marked with these labels. That boost may be the difference between selling a good stone and a great stone, or making any sale at all.

The colorimeter is especially useful for round goods. And so accurate that we can show gradations as small as one-third of a grade (which we call "plus" or "minus," for example a stone might be a "G+")--or even what we call a "split grade" (e.g., "F/G").

The Megascope analyzes the make of a diamond. This high-tech imaging system measures stones as small as .45ct in all its aspects--table percentage, depth percentage, girdle width, crown and pavilion angles are analyzed to GIA specs. The printed readings give you great "talking points" when showing one or a couple of stones. It's so accurate it can be used to "fingerprint” a stone. Your customers will be able to identify their stones in the future. (Divorce attorneys are gonna love this one!)

Call me or send an email to kurt@gottliebbrothers.com if you have other questions about grading.

For further information, contact
Gottlieb Brothers, Inc.
55 E. Washington, Suite 745
Chicago, IL 60602

Tel: 800-767-2220
FAX: 312-609-2444