PodcastsJan 12, 2026
The latest poscasttest
GradingFeb 01, 2017
SSEF Begins Offering Age-Dating of Pearls
The Swiss company said it is the first gem laboratory to introduce age-dating for natural pearls as a client service.
The oldest natural pearls examined using the carbon-14 age-dating method by SSEF were recovered in the Cirebon shipwreck off Java in Indonesia. They date back to the 11th century.
Basel, Switzerland--The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF said it has become the first gem laboratory in the world to introduce age dating of pearls using carbon-14 (14C) as a service to its clients.
The research and services are offered in partnership with the Ion Beam Physics Laboratory at leading university ETH Zurich.
According to the ETH Zurich website, the 14C method measures the ratio of radioactive carbon (14C) to normal carbon (12C) in the nacre to determine the true age of pearls.
It can be used to provide valuable information about both the age of loose pearls and pearls set in jewelry.
Age determination not only can help support evidence of historic provenance in the case of antique jewelry and iconic natural pearls, but also can also be used to identify fraud in cases where younger pearls are mounted in historic jewelry or have been treated to appear older than they actually are.
The 14C age also is helpful to decide whether a pearl is natural or cultured since cultivation methods for certain mollusk species only started in the 20th century.
Age-dating, especially when it comes to historic pearls, won’t give a single date of formation, the SSEF said, but rather a range of years in which the pearl formed. It still can confirm, however, that the pearl is not, in fact, a modern formation.
SSEF Director Michael S. Krzemnicki told National Jeweler that age dating of pearls has been a topic of research at the lab for years driven by scientific curiosity and interest in the trade in this new approach for pearl testing.
“Having analyzed a selected number of pearls of clients in the last few months, we have now decided to offer radiocarbon age-dating as a specialized service to our clients,” he said.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Grading
The Latest
Weekly QuizOct 03, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
PodcastsJan 12, 2026
Introducing My Next Question, the PodcastA monthly podcast series for jewelry professionals
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
PodcastsNov 27, 2025
Test Podcast With VideoTest Podcast With Video. New interview with Ada Lovelace.
PodcastsNov 25, 2025
Test New Podcast PostAbstract for tests. New Podcast interview with John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morison.
ColumnistsOct 09, 2024
Peter Smith: 7 Things to Know When Selling LuxuryAhead of the holiday season, Smith delves into the often subconscious reasons people buy luxury products for themselves or their loved ones.
AuctionsOct 09, 2024
Rolex Worn on Apollo 14 Mission Up for SaleThe GMT-Master “Pepsi” belonging to astronaut Edgar Mitchell is a standout in RR Auction’s online “Space Auction,” going on now.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
New Simon Campaign Invites Gen Z to ‘Meet Me At The Mall’The ads celebrate the mall culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
PGI Launches New Virtual Sales TrainingRetail sales associates can access the video series on mobile to refresh their selling skills.
Policies & IssuesOct 09, 2024
GJNRF: Reaching Out, Rebuilding Futures For 25 years, India’s Gem & Jewellery National Relief Foundation has provided aid in the wake of war, natural disasters, and global crises.
AuctionsOct 08, 2024
Sotheby’s Selling Jewelry That Belonged to a Bulgarian TsarThe November auction will feature a collection of jewels owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Rio Tinto Begins New Phase of Production That Will Extend Diavik’s LifeCommercial production has begun underground at the Canadian diamond mine’s A21 pipe.
SurveysOct 08, 2024
What to Know About Online Shopping This Holiday SeasonDeloitte and Adobe Analytics shared their insights on the season, from the retail sales forecast to the role of generative AI.
CollectionsOct 08, 2024
Sylvie Adds New Men’s BandsThe Texas-based jeweler collaborated with luxury clothing brand Uncommon Man on men’s bands designed with European influences.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Is Current Diamond Industry Turbulence Shaping a ‘New Normal’? Industry players have found ways to cope with market conditions while working to reshape themselves in the face of emerging realities.
SourcingOct 07, 2024
Rio Tinto to Offer 76 Diamonds in 2024 Beyond Rare Tender The sales event, in its second year, features a selection of rare diamonds from the miner’s Argyle and Diavik diamond mines.
CollectionsOct 07, 2024
Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi Partners With Heller Jewelers on New CollectionA portion of the proceeds from the “Always Dream” collection will go to Yamaguchi's foundation, supporting early childhood literacy.
