For consumers who lack specialized gemological knowledge, a gemological certificate is an important factor in making purchasing decisions and maintaining consumer confidence. We recommend that consumers ask jewelers for the corresponding gemological certificates when buying jewelry. However, in many cases, especially with lower-priced fashion jewelry, merchants typically do not provide certificates due to product costs and other reasons. Additionally, for jewelry received as gifts from others or passed down through families, we may not be certain whether the stones are natural gems. In such situations, we can turn to professional gemological laboratories to resolve any doubts we might have.

Currently, China’s most authoritative jewelry laboratory is the National Gem and Jewelry Quality Supervision and Inspection Center (NGTC), which is accredited by the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO). It has three laboratories located in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. Authorized by China’s relevant government authorities in accordance with the law, NGTC is a national-level professional quality inspection institution specializing in gems and jewelry, and it is the leading authority in China’s gem and jewelry testing field.

If you’re not in these three cities, you can also look for other jewelry appraisal laboratories that are accredited for certification. The required qualifications include:
1. The metrological qualifications of the CMA mean that all approved and used measuring instruments comply with national metrological regulations.
2. The laboratory qualifications of CNAL—the recognized laboratory environment—comply with national laboratory standards.
3. AL’s national quality supervision qualification recognizes that its overall capabilities meet the national standards. In fact, this qualification is the most important—and also the hardest to obtain—because the first two qualifications only recognize hardware conditions, which are relatively easy to achieve. Only the AL qualification takes into account the institution’s overall competence and reputation.


Generally speaking, each province has a provincial-level gold and jewelry quality inspection center. Usually, we can find the location of our province’s gold and jewelry quality inspection center by checking via telephone or the internet. In some cities with well-developed economies or thriving jewelry trade, there are often also municipal-level gold and jewelry quality inspection centers.


In addition to the jewelry appraisal centers mentioned above, universities such as China University of Geosciences in Beijing and Wuhan, and East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai offer majors in jewelry appraisal and provide certain appraisal services to consumers.


In addition, there are also institutions and organizations such as geological and mineral institutes in various regions. If they are nearby, you can also contact them by phone to arrange for sample submission.