Gemlab Phils.

Congratulations to JA17 Batch 03 – 2025—Ms. Faye, Ms. Tes, and Ms. Marty—on successfully completing the program! Your dedication, perseverance, and commitment to learning have truly paid off. We are proud to have guided you through this journey and are confident that you will excel as trusted professionals in the jewelry and pawnshop industry.

Ready to begin your own journey? Enroll in our JA17 Program and gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed. Message us today to learn more and reserve your slot.

❤️🔥 July Birthstone Spotlight: RUBY 🔥❤️

July babies, the stage is yours! Few gems rival ruby’s fiery red—symbol of passion, vitality, and unwavering love. Whether set in a sleek modern ring or a vintage heirloom, a well-cut ruby commands attention from across the room.

Want to be sure your ruby’s brilliance runs skin-deep? Look for an IGI report to understand its quality, color, and origins—because true fire never hides.

Looking to pick an exceptional Round Brilliant Cut diamond? Save these tips on diamond anatomy!

- 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞: This is the largest facet at the top of a diamond. It allows light to shine into the diamond and reflect back out. A large table facet can make a diamond appear larger, but too large of a table facet can reduce the crown facets’ ability to disperse light. The ideal table size is between 52-62% of a diamond’s diameter.
- 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧: The crown facets at the top of the diamond consist of 8 bezels, 8 stars, and 16 upper halves. They gather and disperse light to create brightness, fire, and a scintillating pattern of light and dark. The crown angle – the angle between the bezel facet plane an the table plane – should be between 31.5 to 36.5 degrees.
- 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐞: The girdle surrounds the middle portion of a diamond like a “belt,” Separating the crown from the pavilion. It should not be too thick, which can hide weight, or too thin, which may make the diamond vulnerable to chipping.
- 𝐏𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧: The pavilion or bottom facets consist of 16 lower halves and 8 mains. They reflect light back through the crown into the viewer’s eye. The pavilion, angle, the average angle made by the diamond’s pavilion facets and girdle plane, is a key dimension relating to the stone’s brightness, and ideally falls between 40.6 – 41.8 degrees.
- 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐭: The culet is an optional facet at the very bottom of the diamond. It can reduce the chance of the bottom tip chipping. An overly large culet can look like a distracting dark circle through the table facet.

Importantly, GIA considers how a diamond’s proportions relate to each other, rather than considering individual proportions in isolation.

Learn more saveable tips about the 4Cs of diamond quality on our blog: https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/blog/how-to-select-round-diamond-engagement-ring/?utm_campaign=consumer-education&utm_content=1751299321&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=facebook

Pearls are timeless classics and are prized for their luminous glow. ⚪️ Whether you’re drawn to large South Seas, dramatic Tahitians, bright akoyas or colorful freshwater pearls, here are key factors to consider when choosing a pearl:

Size: South Sea and freshwater pearls are typically the largest, reaching 15mm or more. Akoyas over 9mm are considered large.
Shape: While round pearls are the most valuable, off-round strands can look round from a distance and baroque strands can make for affordable statement pieces.
Color: Overtone, orient and popular bodycolors such as deep gold can increase the beauty and value of pearls.
Luster: This is a pearl’s most important value factor. South Seas are known for their soft, satiny glow, while akoyas are known for their bright, mirror-like shine.
Surface: This refers to whether the pearl has any surface blemishes such as dimples and scratches. High surface quality pearls should be smooth and clean.
Nacre: Consider the continuity, thickness, and condition of a pearl’s nacre when evaluating pearl quality. Avoid pearls that appear dull or chalky, or where the nucleus is visible beneath the nacre.
Matching: In a well-matched strand, pearls should be consistent in key quality factors—especially luster, shape and surface. Designers may occasionally mix colors or use graduated sizes for artistic or unique effects.

Learn how to choose the best pearls for you on our website: https://www.gia.edu/pearl-quality-factor?utm_campaign=consumer-education&utm_content=1750693743&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=facebook

A big congratulations to JA17 Batch 1 – 2025 for completing the program last April! You’ve started the year strong with focus, grit, and excellence. We’re proud to have been part of your journey and can’t wait to see the impact you'll make in the jewelry and pawnshop field.

Congratulations to our JA17 Batch 2 – 2024, who successfully completed their training last February! Your hard work, discipline, and passion for learning have truly paid off. We’re excited to see you bring your skills to the industry and continue Gemlab’s legacy of trusted professionals in gemology and jewelry appraisal.

As we commemorate Philippine National Flag Days from May 28 to June 12, we honor the symbol of our nation's pride, unity, and history. At Gemlab Philippines, we celebrate not only our heritage in education and craftsmanship but also our shared commitment to excellence as proud Filipinos. 🇵🇭 Let the flag remind us of our values—integrity, service, and dedication to nation-building.

Looking for expert training in jewelry appraisal and gemology? Visit us at Unit 405, Tower A, Wack Wack Twin Towers, Wack Wack Road, Mandaluyong City. We're right at the heart of the metro—easy to find, ready to guide. Drop by or message us to learn more about our classes and services!

At Gemlab Philippines, our students aren’t just learners but future leaders of the jewelry and pawnshop industry. Whether beginners or seasoned professionals, we guide them through hands-on training with real specimens, industry-standard techniques, and personalized instruction. Ready to start your own journey in gemology and jewelry appraisal? Message us today to learn how you can enroll!

A first for GIA researchers! These cat’s eye and star emeralds are the first phenomenal emeralds GIA researchers have seen from Pakistan. 🌏

Cat’s eye emeralds are relatively rare, and most are found in Brazil and Colombia. Their cat’s eye effect occurs when an emerald contains many fine parallel tubes. Star emeralds are even more rare, the rare faint star effect in emerald can be related to small hexagonal thin film inclusions.

In order for their phenomenon to show, both gems must be properly oriented, cut and polished, making these two gemstones special indeed!

Have you ever seen a cat’s eye or star emerald?

Learn more about this exciting first in this article from G&G: https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/spring-2024-gemnews-phenomenal-emeralds-from-pakistan?utm_campaign=g-g&utm_content=1746521460&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=facebook

Courtesy of Mohammed Ayub; Pretty Little Gem Co, Ltd, Bangkok. Photo: Lhapsin Nillapat