Who We Are
Far East Gem Lab was established in 1988. The company’s range of services includes gemstone identification (gem testing), diamond grading and jewellery appraisal (jewelry appraisal). Besides the basic gemological services, the company also specialised in identification of B-jade (treated jadeite-jade – bleached and polymer impregnated), fracture-filled diamond, and some of the modern day treatment on gemstones. To keep up with the changes, since 1985 the company has been doing advanced joint gem research with the Physics department, National University of Singapore (NUS) and Chemical Process and Biotechnology department, Singapore Polytechnic (SP). Using cutting edge technology like the Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) (at NUS), to separate natural from synthetic ruby or even Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) (at SP) to identify treated B-jade from natural untreated jadeite-jade.
In the light of the advancement, the company set a high standard in the area of research and development on gemstone in the Southeast Asian region. The quality report produced by the company gave confidence to the trade and as well as the public, thus generating a trust among them.
The first gem lab to be awarded in Singapore. As a sign of the company commitment to provide excellent services to its customers, the company implemented the ISO/IEC Guide 25 from 15 May 1998 to 14 November 2002. More recently 15 November 2002, the quality system of the company was upgraded to ISO/IEC 17025. The laboratory officers from the Singapore Accreditation Council audited the whole exercise. The company is determined to continuously update operational capability in terms of both technology and capacity.
In the jewellery appraisal services, the company provide professional and unbiased appraisal report for court cases. Earning a good reputation among some of the lawyers who use our services.
Mission
Why Choose Us
Our President
Mr Tay Thye Sun has been practicing gemology after he graduated from the Gemological Institute of America since 1980. Before he went full time on gem testing lab work and instructor, he was an experienced gem dealer and doing wholesale and retail jewellery business.
In 1985, he came across some of the natural rubies with very little inclusions and very difficult to authenticate the nature of the rubies. This prompts him to find out more and in doing so had slowly drawn him into the world of gem research.
To date, he and together with his many co-authors published many articles (see Research) in the gemological journals around the world. He was invited to speak in APEC Melbourne 2000, APEC Beijing 2000, 60th Anniversary of the German Gemmological Association 1992 (click to view pictures), Germany; and the prestigious meeting by invitation only of the International Gemmological Conference held in Spain 2001, India 1999, Germany 1997, Thailand 1995, etc.
In 2013, the Fellowship of Diploma in Gemmology’ (Honorary) awarded to Tay Thye Sun during the 100th Anniversary of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain.
Education Background
In 2013, he received the Fellowship of Diploma from the British Gemmological Association of Great Britain. The Gemmological Association of Great Britain celebrated their 100th anniversary and also they have student graduation ceremony. He is the only Asian to receive this honourary award that year.
Mr. Harry Levy, president of the Gem-A presenting Mr. Tay the award
From left to right, Martin Rapaport (USA), Ronnie Bauer (Australia), Cally Aldershaw (Chair person of Gem-A), Prof. Emmanuel Fritsch (Franch), Brendan Laurs (USA) and Tay Thye Sun (Singapore).
100th anniversary of Gemmological Association of Great Britain and student graduation ceremony
Contribution
Mr. Tay operating the Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXRF) for chemical analysis of gemstone
Advanced instrument - from L to R - UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and EDXRF
Mr. Tay working on a gemstone using binocular microscope at his gem lab office