Gemfields and Fabergé have joined forces to create the world’s first laser-inscribed emerald, with traceability information and a personalised message

The 4.11 carat emerald-cut gemstone was mined at Gemfields’ Kagem emerald mine in Zambia. It acquired and mounted by Fabergé as a custom-crafted item for the successful winner of a charity auction held by the charity mothers2mothers at Salma Hayek Pinault’s London home in November.

The winners will also travel to Gemfields’ Kagem mine in Zambia to see for themselves the very source of their unique emerald, as well as the mine’s community projects in place in the area. They will also have the opportunity to visit the local mothers2mothers initiatives.

The girdle of the emerald is laser-engraved with a hidden message chosen by the winner, the reference number of the gemstone’s Gübelin laboratory certificate, a Gemfields reference number. The laser-inscription process has no effect on the colour, clarity or other characteristics of the gem.

"Gemfields is thrilled to unveil another exciting advance, simultaneously supporting both the traceability and the romance of precious coloured gemstones. Gemfields’ belief that there is ‘A story in every gemstone’ is taken to a new level by laser-engraving a personalised message on a gem. We wish to thank the dynamic team at the AnchorCert Gem Lab for their assistance with this project," said Sean Gilbertson, CEO of Gemfields.

In 2017, Gemfields and Gübelin unveiled a system whereby un-cut gemstones could be tagged at source with specially encoded nano-particles. This would allow the mine-of-origin of the gemstone to be determined years or decades later.