Independent Lab.

[MingmehDorji]

How much do you believe that labs are independent of the gem trade and not influenced ?

1) Independent, Not influenced.

2) Independent but influenced.

3) None of the above.

Which are the Labs being really Independent ??? Name them.

Which are the Labs that are not independent ??? Name them.

Dorji.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

I would say this question is interesting, but next to impossible to answer.

Labs are like human beings. They run the full gamut of integrity. To name who is and who isn''t would be presumptuous, judgmental and possibly libelous.

 

[MingmehDorji]

Hi Richard,

Hhhhhmmmm.... Noted Libelous, a very familiar word indeed.

Then why not name only those that one truely knows 100% being Independent and leave out those that one has doubt and are NOT Independent then.

By the way what if one has the Company registration of share holders and partners, then will the Libelous issue still applies.

Dorji.

 

[rubydick]

MingmehDorji,

I like the Tibetan name. Never been to Tibet or Bhutan, but I have spent quite a bit of time in the Nepal Himalaya and have loved every second of it.

Let me take a stab at your question. In my opinion, there is no such thing as true "independence." This includes every major lab in the world, all the big boys, as well as the small. In my opinion, there is not a single completely "independent" lab in the world, anymore than there is an "independent" politician.

Neither politicians nor labs exist in isolation. They exist solely because there is a demand for their services. Each one is to some degree or another beholden to their customers, their board of directors, those that pay their bills.

For an example of this, we need look no further than the 2001-2002 beryllium diffusion crisis, where the decisions made by various labs around the world were strongly influenced not by simple questions of science, but by pressures put on them by their various constituencies (customers/investors/directors, etc.). In many cases, labs whose consituencies had no major financial stake in the outcome came to entirely different conclusions from those whose constituents were up to their eyeballs in the stuff. That says more than a little.

Thus, if you want to "test" a lab, get a report on a gem heavily traded in the local market from the local lab (say, a flux-healed ruby) and then send the same stone to another lab halfway around the world that has no vested interest in that particular type of stone. Any understanding of human nature would suggest that the first report would more likely be sweeter to the stone than the latter, given equal qualifications from each lab.

And if you do the test in the reverse direction, you might find a similar discrepency.

That said, like any field, over the years, certain gemologists have established reputations for being "more independent," others for being less so. As a result, certain labs associated with those individuals have developed stronger followings/better reputations. But anyone who tells you that a particular lab or gemologist is "completely independent" is, in my opinion, stretching the boundaries of reason.

None of us can claim to have a monopoly on truth, each of us dressed in this human skin is prone to error, but we all offer up our opinions with the hopes that a greater collective understanding will be the result. I think that's a noble goal. Feel free to give us your slant on the subject and your version of truth. This forum is devoted to education. The idea is to share ideas in an open manner, without fear. Please continue to share your opinions/concerns in a free manner.

 

[MingmehDorji]

Hi Dick,

That's a good one indeed. I give you five (5)

. I concur that no Lab are totally independent.

Dorji.

 

[strmrdr]

Define "Independent" as you mean it.

To me an independent lab or appraiser is one that has no stake in the sale one way or the other beyond the appraisal fee.
They provide an opinion of what the facts of the item are and provide the data for the parties involved to make a decision.
They draw no conclusions beyond accurately as possible describing the item.

For example for an appraiser/lab to say this gemstone is crap its created is not being independent they are drawing conclusions not stating an opinion on the facts.
Maybe the person wants a created gemstone maybe they don''t but its the appraisers/labs job to say in my opinion this stone is created.
Thats it nothing more.
If an appraiser is ask and they often are what is the market value of said item is and they are working for the buyer then that should be provided also.
A lab should never give an opinion of market value in my opinion.
They can not know the local market conditions it is being sold in therefor their numbers are often used for borderline fraud or worse in my opinion.