GSI Begins Issuing Pigeon Blood, Royal Blue and Padparadscha Reports in India

Gemological Science International (GSI) has begun issuing coloured gemstone reports carrying recognised colour trade names Pigeon Blood for ruby, and Royal Blue and Padparadscha for sapphire through its laboratories in Jaipur and Mumbai. GSI describes the move as the first time these colour trade-name reports have been issued in India.

The designations are available only for untreated stones. According to GSI, heated, diffused or otherwise enhanced material is not eligible for the classifications, irrespective of its colour.

GSI says each colour designation is determined using defined criteria covering hue, tone and saturation. Assessments are conducted under standardised lighting and supported by spectroscopic and colorimetric analysis.

The laboratory says the criteria are standardised across its locations through shared master reference sets, calibrated instrumentation and proficiency testing for gemologists. As a result, a qualifying stone assessed in Jaipur is intended to receive the same colour determination at another GSI laboratory using the same assessment system.

For India’s coloured gemstone trade, the development brings these GSI colour designations closer to the domestic market. Until now, according to GSI, traders seeking such reports for eligible material could have had to send stones overseas, adding transit, cost and turnaround considerations.

The service is currently available at GSI laboratories in Jaipur, Mumbai, New York and Bangkok.

The development is particularly relevant to Jaipur, one of India’s established centres for coloured gemstone cutting and trading, where the availability of specialised colour reporting can provide another layer of documentation for high-quality rubies and sapphires.