PALLADIOLAB SRL

PALLADIOLAB SRL, operating under the brand LabiGem — Laboratorio Italiano di Gemmologia (Italian Laboratory of Gemology) — is an advanced gemological testing and certification laboratory headquartered in Vicenza, Italy, located within the prestigious Voice of Gold (Voce d'Oro) complex adjacent to the Orafo Center, a district synonymous with Italy's gold and jewelry industry. The laboratory operates around the clock under continuous private security monitoring, reflecting the high value of the materials it handles. As the commercial and analytical arm of PALLADIOLAB SRL (VAT number IT 03097470243), LabiGem has established itself as one of Italy's premier independent references for the analysis, identification, and certification of gemstones, precious metals, and related materials, serving both domestic and international clients.

LabiGem offers a comprehensive suite of gemological analysis services covering the full spectrum of precious and semi-precious materials. Analyses are conducted on diamonds — including grading for cut, color, clarity, and carat weight — colored gemstones (gemme di colore) such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and a wide range of others, natural and cultured pearls, assembled jewelry pieces, and entire mineral collection lots. The laboratory also undertakes lot selection (selezione lotti), assisting wholesalers and dealers in evaluating and grading bulk parcels of stones for commercial purposes. Each gemological report details the identity, quality characteristics, origin indicators where possible, and any evidence of treatments or enhancements, providing buyers and sellers with reliable, impartial documentation.

The analytical power of LabiGem is built on a suite of state-of-the-art scientific instruments. The laboratory employs micro-Raman spectroscopy for the non-destructive identification of mineral species, inclusions, and filler materials within stones. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is used to detect treatment signatures such as fracture filling and polymer impregnation, as well as to distinguish natural from synthetic materials. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) allows for high-resolution imaging and precise elemental composition mapping of gems and precious metals. The laboratory also uses UV-VIS-NIR spectrometry to characterize optical absorption profiles, a key tool for identifying the cause of color in colored gemstones and distinguishing treated stones from untreated ones.

Beyond gemstones, LabiGem performs detailed analysis of precious metal alloys (analisi di leghe preziose), examining the composition and purity of gold, silver, and platinum alloys used in jewelry manufacturing. This service is conducted in convention with the Precious Metals Laboratory (Laboratorio Metalli Preziosi) of the Chamber of Commerce of Vicenza, reinforcing the laboratory's official standing within the Italian jewelry supply chain. Additionally, the laboratory offers mineralogical and chemical instrumental analyses (analisi mineralogiche e chimiche strumentali) for mineral collectors, researchers, and industry professionals who require scientifically rigorous characterization of natural mineral specimens. Appraisal and valuation services (perizie e valutazioni) for precious estates, inheritance purposes, insurance, or legal proceedings round out the commercial offering, accompanied by formal blister packaging and sealing of certified stones for secure chain-of-custody handling.

LabiGem holds accreditation from Accredia, the Italian National Accreditation Body and a signatory of the European Accreditation Multilateral Agreement (EA MLA), which certifies the laboratory's technical competence under the ISO/IEC 17025 framework. Every analysis is conducted in strict accordance with Italian national standards (UNI), European standards (EN), and international standards (ISO). The laboratory further aligns its methodologies and reporting with the guidelines established by CIBJO (The World Jewellery Confederation) and the LMHC (Laboratory Manual Harmonisation Committee), ensuring that LabiGem reports are recognized and respected across global gemological and trade communities. The laboratory actively participates in the UNI technical commission dedicated to "Gemme e Metalli Preziosi" (Gems and Precious Metals), contributing to the development and revision of Italian and European normative standards in this field.

The scientific leadership of LabiGem comprises geologists and gemologists holding diplomas and certifications from the world's most respected gemmological institutions, including the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the HRD Antwerp (Hoge Raad voor Diamant), and IGI Antwerp (International Gemological Institute). Staff bring decades of combined experience in gemstone identification, grading, and research. The laboratory also maintains an active collaboration with the Department of Geosciences (Dipartimento di Geoscienze) at the University of Padua, one of Italy's leading research universities, ensuring that methodologies remain current with the latest advances in mineralogical and gemmological science. This academic partnership supports the laboratory's commitment to ongoing research, technique development, and normative updating.

LabiGem's client base spans the full value chain of the jewelry and precious materials industry. The laboratory regularly serves diamond and colored gemstone wholesalers, retail jewelers, other gemological laboratories, mineral collectors, professional goldsmiths (orefici), and private individuals seeking independent assessments of inherited or purchased pieces. Reports issued by LabiGem are designed for impartiality, speed, and scientific accuracy, making them suitable for use in commercial transactions, insurance assessments, legal disputes, and customs documentation. A public digital report-check system (Report Check) is available on the laboratory's website, allowing clients to verify and download their reports online. The laboratory maintains a visible public presence at Vicenzaoro, Italy's flagship international jewelry trade fair, where it participates as both an exhibitor and event co-organizer, including hosting the design competition "Il Gioiello del Faraone" (The Pharaoh's Jewel).

As a testing partner, PALLADIOLAB SRL / LabiGem combines the rigor of Accredia-accredited analytical protocols with deep domain expertise in gemmology, mineralogy, and precious materials science. Its position within Vicenza's jewelry district, its institutional ties to the local Chamber of Commerce, and its academic links to the University of Padua place it at the intersection of industry practice and scientific research. The laboratory's investment in advanced multi-technique instrumentation — Raman, FTIR, SEM/EDS, UV-VIS-NIR — and its adherence to international standards from UNI, EN, ISO, CIBJO, and LMHC make it a credible and authoritative choice for any organization or individual requiring independent, scientifically defensible certification of gemstones, precious metals, or mineral materials.