The Gem Lab Podcast

 Today’s consumers are more informed than ever—and in the world of jewelry retail, that changes everything. In this episode, we explore why gem education is no longer a “nice to have,” but a critical driver of sales, trust, and long-term customer relationships. From understanding treatments and sourcing to confidently communicating value, we unpack how knowledgeable sales teams don’t just sell mor...

Everyone stumbles. It’s how we pick ourselves up that defines us. Mistakes are stepping stones, not stumbling blocks. Failure is not your enemy; it’s your secret weapon. Learn from it, grow from it. Don’t repeat mistakes, and avoid the pitfalls others have conquered. Learn from others’ errors, too, and you’ll save yourself a lot of time and trouble. Keep the faith, stay persistent, and you’ll find...

This podcast is about hundreds of counsellors volunteering their time free of charge to help our communities cope with day-to-day challenges through Hope House Counselling Centre in Cape Town. Online counselling is also available to anywhere in the world. The cost is a donation of only R150 and if you can't afford it then it's free. The founder Judy Strickland who founded Hope House 20 y...

Those in authority who rant and rave for hours because a mistake has been made may be ‘servicing their own frustration’, but they’re harming those on the receiving end of their tirades. Breaking someone’s spirit will never bring out the best in anyone. Some of us get lambasted in the ‘nicest possible way,’ only realizing hours later that we were being told we messed up badly. Mahatma Gandhi said i...

A hand shake in the diamond industry has been the way of sealing a deal for many years. It is known as Mazal u Bracha. Sadly some people in our industry don't keep their word, commit to taking a gemstone and then going back on their word. This is unacceptable in the gem and jewellery industry. 

It is essential that all artificially treated stones are disclosed to customers. Failure to disclose a treatment can be considered a misrepresentation by law. 

Last last couple of years have been difficult for bossiness and we need to change if  what we are doing isn't working. 

This podcast is about grading diamonds and coloured stones. 

Have a Heart for Gemmology The gem testing labs in SA should be extremely busy but alas, we battle to stay afloat. Worse, we continue to see loads of gemstones sold as something they’re not. As I have mentioned before, in a survey done some years ago, 80% of gemstones passing through our lab were synthetic, artificially treated, or imitations. In other words, they had been sold fraudulently. Overs...

“Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfilment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them.” - Jack Canfield Are you seeing the truth of the above words? Many...

Without question, your quality jewellery items are as precious to you as the Crown Jewels are to England. With so many stories out there about people being swindled and blindsided to their huge disappointment, trustworthy valuation is critical. Please know that we feel for you.   There’s no question that one needs to be equipped to do jewellery valuations correctly, especially with the sheer volum...

Running a gem testing lab is not a money-making business. Most won’t give us a passing thought till there is a need for a precious or semi-precious stone appraisal. Well put is the saying from ‘Oh, my bad… I forgot I only exist when you need me for something.’ Not that we’re blaming you, but understand that just because we deal with prized gems, doesn’t bring us equal fiscal reward.  Spare a Thoug...

“As long as greed is stronger than compassion, there will always be suffering” Rusty Eric  Greed is a global disease that continues to cost people dearly, and one that has – sadly - been around since the beginning of time. The problem is that so many people are in a desperate situation right now, many through no fault of their own. But these tough times aren’t an excuse to cheat or scam people out...

“There’s no reward without work, no victory without effort, no battle won without risk.” The risk versus reward debate is familiar to us all. From dabbling in the stock market to choosing a life partner, the premise is the same. I have tried to find this balance in business, and in fact, life in general. Is the reward worth the risk? Just how risky is it? What do I need to know to mitigate the ris...

Gem Alert – Misrepresentation! We have come across several colour-changing synthetic sapphires doing the rounds that are being sold as alexandrite. These synthetics have been around since 1902 so people are being told they are alexandrite and believe they must be natural because they belonged to their grandparents.   Most of the “alexandrite” we see are these synthetic sapphires which, unfortunate...

Please DON’T EVER buy a diamond set in jewellery without a report from a reputable lab that has graded the stone out of the setting . Stones are graded in the setting, and the colour of the metal can affect the colour of the stone considerably.  Colour is the most difficult element to grade in a setting, and that is why is it acceptable to be at least two colour grades out when graded in a piece o...

“What simple action could you take today to produce a new momentum toward success in your life?” ~ Tony Robbins  There are so many parts in a steam train and every single one of them must work together with the other parts in order for the train to function efficiently. Yet, a single damaged nut or bolt could bring these massive powerful trains to a halt. This tells me that if we all pull together...

I have forwarded Peter Carruthers email below. Peter has inspired me for many years and offers priceless advise on running a small business. He, like many of us has been through hard times and even lost his business many years ago. Since then he has dedicated his life to helping small business. I have attended some of his seminars when he has been in SA and I have always left inspired. Take a list...

Gemology is the science dealing with natural and artificial gemstone materials dating back to the 19th Century. It is a geoscience and a branch of mineralogy.  The first qualifications were initiated when the National Association of Goldsmiths of Great Britain set up a gemological committee in 1908. The committee matured into the Gemological Association of Great Britain, also known as Gem-A. The f...

February 2021 feels a little anti-climactic don’t you think?   2020 is, thankfully, behind us. The holiday season is over, and we’ve taken the decorations down. Our collective New Year’s hangovers have abated.    So many people are looking at the ravages of this tremendously difficult time and wondering where to go from here. TERS has stopped, debt holidays are over, and debit orders are bouncing...

 “Isn't it wonderful to be alive? You know, you can forget all about it. Then suddenly you remember and think of all the things you can do. I am alive. How wonderful!” ~ Sophia Loren.   Are you living or merely existing?   The C-word certainly has done a number on us and many people have come into the new year still feeling lost, aimless, and perhaps looking for some higher purpose.   The fac...

As I turned the calendar over from December 2020 to January 2021, I did so with a sense of relief. I’m sure many of you feel the same. But really, what has changed? Yes, there is the symbolic distance between the old year and the new year, but our lives remain exactly as they were 24 short hours ago. Chances are, many of us feel uncertain and anxious about the future. It’s only natural after the y...

Coloured gemstones are can be incredibly complex to evaluate and understand.  It’s with this in mind that Gübelin chose to launch their own gemstone grading system known as Gübelin Points. This rating service takes into account a stone’s beauty, rarity, and attractiveness and refers to the three domains as quality, rarity, and salience. They feel that this system provides a better orientation for...

Avoiding sales blunders can be tricky, especially when your staff are not equipped with the knowledge they need to sell well.  Simply that we need to be trained at our job, and we need to constantly work on our skills and knowledge to be effective. To connect or for more information, articles and content visit www.gemlab.co.za , you can connect with Jeremy on social media as well: Facebook Instagr...