Happy hour with soda and lime: glass imitating coral
Recently, a necklace was submitted to SSEF for coral testing. Already a first microscopic inspection revealed that this item in fact consisted of numerous tiny glass beads, visually imitating coral very well (e.g. corallium rubrum). The most obvious microscopic feature was the presence of air bubbles in these g
Novel Coral-ID method used on samples seized by swiss customs
In 2022, an international research group led by scientists from the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF and the University of Zurich’s Institute of Forensic Medicine (IRM) reported a breakthrough in precious coral jewellery traceability, through the use of a novel forensically validated genetic technique called
Coral-ID: A forensically validated genetic test to identify precious coral material and its application to objects seized from illegal traffic
Coral-ID: A forensically validated genetic test to identify precious coral material and its application to objects seized from illegal traffic. Forensic Science International: Genetics 58 (2022), 102663
DNA fingerprinting and age dating of pearls and corals at SSEF
Pearl testing was long limited to determining whether a pearl is natural or cultured, and whether a pearl has been treated or not. As we have considerably invested in pearl research in recent years, we have achieved significant breakthroughs, namely DNA fingerprinting for species identification and radiocarbon
Age dating of coral
by Dr. M.S. Krzemnicki, first published in Facette 26 (May 2020) Since 2017, the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF offers radiocarbon dating of pearls as a service. To further expand our knowledge about this method and its applicability to other biogenic gem materials, we were happy to receive a number of smal
Genetic identification of ivory species: research and testing
DNA fingerprinting of ivory involves a scientific method that can provide valuable information about the species of ivory being used in jewellery and ornamental objects, in order to determine whether it is CITES- listed elephant ivory or non-listed mammoth ivory. DNA fingerprinting, together with a morphologica
DNA Fingerprinting of Pearls, Corals and Ivory: Research Update
SSEF pioneered DNA fingerprinting of pearls in 2013, in collaboration with scientists from ETH Zürich. This was the first published report of oyster DNA extraction from a pearl, allowing us to trace and fingerprint pearls of unknown origin and match them to the specific oyster species in which they formed.
Precious coral in jewelry: new discoveries
Precious coral in jewelry: new discoveries. Published in GemGuide, November / December 2020, 1-4.
A Case Study of Ivory Species Identification Using a Combination of Morphological, Gemmological and Genetic Methods
A Case Study of Ivory Species Identification: Using a Combination of Morphological, Gemmological and Genetic Methods. Published in Journal of Gemmology, 2020, 37 (3), 282-297.
DNA fingerprinting: an effective tool for taxonomic identification of precious corals in jewelry
DNA fingerprinting: an effective tool for taxonomic identification of precious corals in jewelry. Published in Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-12.