GIA Enhances its Emerald Reports: Filler Identification Now Available as an Option

GIA Enhances its Emerald Reports: Filler Identification Now Available as an Option

It was announced earlier this past week that GIA is adding “filler identification” to emerald reports, upon request.

GIA Press Release –

“Recognizing the industry’s interest in more information about the nature of fillers in emeralds, GIA will offer filler identification with its emerald reports beginning December 15.  The optional filler identification service will initially be offered at no cost.” 

No, GIA will not identify the actual product, e.g. Opticon, Cedarwood oil, etc.. GIA will identify the “type” of filler, e.g. oil, resin, etc… – gr

“GIA is making this change in response to the needs of the market,” said Tom Moses, GIA executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer. “As trade concerns about the degree and composition of filler in emerald have evolved, we have adapted our reports to those changes.”

Twenty Years Ago
GIA offered the identification of fillers in emeralds more than 20 years ago but changed the service to focus on identifying the degree of filler. This was in part due to the recognition that fillers can be removed, changed and mixed.*

In addition to identifying the stone as emerald and evaluating the degree of filler* in the emerald, clients may request the new filler identification service. If filler is present, the report will offer one of the following conclusions:

• Filler Type: A (may include oil, wax and/or natural resin)

• Filler Type: B (artificial resin)

• The clarity enhancing material present cannot currently be identified.

*Degree of Filler: “Due to their growth conditions in nature and recovery methods, most emeralds contain surface reaching features. For this reason, clarity enhancement is a common trade practice.”

*Laboratory Manual Harmonization Committee (LMHC)
The Laboratory Harmonization Committee, of which GIA is a member, weighs in on the way in which laboratories should note emerald fillers on a gemological report, “to harmonize the language used in their gemmological reports.” But it does not appear that the LMHC has approached the issue of type identification. It does however note the challenges of whether or not to identify oils and resins that may have been only partially removed in cleaning. (See GIA’s note above.)
Tap here to learn more about the LMHC.

GIA laboratory clients should contact their GIA laboratory client service representative or email [email protected] with any questions.