INFO@IJGC-WORLDWIDE.COM
+32 3 500 90 13
VESTINGSTRAAT 16b
2018 ANTWERP
BELGIUM
VAT BE0683.480.014
RPR. ANTWERP
As the founder of Adin Antique Jewellery, a renowned jewellery shop based in Antwerp, Elkan Wijnberg has long been aware of the need for traders to obtain independent, expert certification for any gemstones, diamonds, jewellery or watches they wish to sell. However, in an industry where presentation and style often take precedence over value for money, this service is usually very expensive.
Elkan wanted to set up a very different kind of certification company. He saw a gap in the market that could be filled by applying an honest and open approach to certification fees. With IJGC, he has created a company that is set to buck the current certification trend.
Inspired by the business model used by budget airlines, Elkan put his mind to creating a budget certification company, which would provide all the essentials of certification at the lowest possible price. After all, the success of budget airlines has proven that value for money does not mean compromising on essentials. Safety, reliability, security and expertise are not affected and of course, the basic service remains the same: Budget airlines still transport their passengers safely and reliably from A to B. Budget certification still provides authentication of an item by an independent expert.
When booking a flight with a budget airline, customers know in advance that non-essential luxuries such as extra leg-room or baggage allowance will incur an additional charge. IJGC has taken this open and honest approach on board and is committed to transparent communication with its own customers. IJGC ensures its customers are fully aware of what items are eligible for budget certification from the outset and how much the examination of each item is likely to cost. IJGC has even gone so far as to devise a Gem Acceptance Table for their customers to use as a guide when compiling a batch of items for submission. This collaborative and transparent approach can save both parties time and money. Basic certification is charged at a low, fixed price and optional extras that add real value to the service can be purchased separately.
With online gemstone and jewellery trading becoming increasingly common, reliable, professional certification is not only essential to prove an item’s quality and authenticity, it must also be available at the click of a button. Therefore, with its customers in mind, IJGC has developed a time-saving tool in the form of our optional digital package. This optional extra includes standardised photos and report information in digital format.
With this digital package, it has never been easier to list and sell gemstones, diamonds, jewellery or watches online. Furthermore, if you order the digital package at the same time as submitting your items for certification, it costs just 50% of the standard digital package price, thus saving you a lot of time for very little money.
So how has IJGC managed to reduce the cost of certification?
These measures serve to reduce the amount of time required to identify all the items in a batch and to provide reliable certification for each individual item.
We also refuse to make any claims that cannot be substantiated. Anyone working in the industry will know that with some items it is not possible to arrive at a definitive end conclusion. Consequently, every item we receive goes through preliminary screening following registration in our system, so that its eligibility for budget certification can be verified. Our work is also governed by a duty of best efforts (as opposed to a duty of results), which means we are legally entitled to return any ineligible items without certification. Moreover, we believe we have a moral obligation to do so if we cannot conduct a conclusive examination. But, we do try to limit the number of ineligible items we receive, by working in partnership with our customers and encouraging them to use the Gem Acceptance Table to compile their batch.
With a view to further reducing certification fees, we then considered the additional costs associated with providing the results of the examination. This usually involves producing a fancy, printed report and a luxury presentation box, but we’ve developed an equally-attractive yet secure, low-cost and ecologically sound solution: the IJGC-SecurCase.
The IJGC-SecurCase is a beautiful, tamper-proof, presentation box which provides a 360° view of the item it contains and also serves as your report of authenticity. All the information you need is available at a glance on the label used to secure and seal the box. The bespoke IJGC-SecurCase is more environmentally friendly than traditional certification because the report is provided as an online document. You simply use the report number and QR code printed on your IJGC-SecurCase to view your e-report online, which you can then choose to print if you wish. Our service is secure, efficient and won’t cost the earth: we’ll look after your product, your planet and your profit margins.
Gemstones have an undeniable timeless beauty that inspires awe and wonder; and (for man and magpies alike) a strong desire to possess them. These natural treasures, formed below the earth’s crust millions of years ago, cover a full spectrum of colour and come in a wide range of different hues.
The fact that precious gems are often as valuable as they are beautiful has encouraged people to collect, gift and trade them for centuries. However, when trading in gemstones, people need to have confidence in their quality and identity. A report is the only way to prove a gemstone’s identity and authenticity. Reliable certification, issued by an independent, expert gemmologist is therefore essential for buyers and sellers alike.
A gemmologist can identify a gemstone and evaluate characteristics such as clarity, colour, quality, rarity and cut. By conducting specific tests, a gemmologist can determine whether a stone has been treated using heat or chemicals and whether its properties are derived naturally or created in a lab. Nowadays, specific expertise and the knowledge required to interpret a gem’s characteristics are more necessary than ever to determine a gem’s identity reliably.
Certification has been a lucrative business for some time, with many companies charging over the odds for unnecessary extras. But, IJGC may well be as unique as the gemstones we examine. We aim to make certification as affordable as possible and we have taken the necessary steps to achieve this. Inspired by the fair and open approach to pricing used by budget airlines we have taken measures to create a budget certification service.
- We work with batches of over 20 gemstones.
- We charge a set price based on the amount of work required rather than the size of the stone.
- Our pricing structure is transparent from the outset; and
- Our budget service covers the essential elements of certification, namely identification.
However, it is a well-known fact within our sector that a definitive end conclusion regarding all aspects of a gem’s identity, specifically whether it is natural or synthetic and whether it has been treated cannot always be reached within a reasonable time limit.
To guarantee the reliability of our service, IJGC will not make any statements that cannot be fully supported. We therefore only accept gemstones that can be assessed thoroughly and conclusively within the timeframe permissible for budget certification. If it won’t be possible to reach a definitive conclusion within this timeframe, we believe it is our moral duty to return the gemstone in question without certification. However, we will always provide reasons for a gem’s refusal. Consequently, our work is governed by a duty of efforts rather than a duty of results, which gives us a legal entitlement to fulfil our moral obligation.
To ensure our customers have a clear idea of what gemstones are and are not eligible for budget certification prior to submission, we have also drawn up our own Gem Acceptance Table, which customers can use to compile their batch. This limits the number of gemstones we must return without certification following the initial screening and registration process. This cooperative approach also helps our customers to avoid paying administration fees for ineligible stones.
Furthermore, we’ve designed the IJGC-SecurCase, with our customers in mind. It provides a 360° view of the stone so this understated presentation box won’t detract from the beauty of the gem. And, with the report number and QR code printed on the tamper-proof labels used to seal the box, the SecurCase doubles as the report; making it both practical and secure. Reducing documentation in this way, serves to reduce costs and it’s kinder to the environment.
Identification of each gem is conducted in our own laboratory under the guidance and supervision of expert gemmologist Eddy Vleeschdrager who has over 50 years’ experience working with diamonds and precious stones. Working alongside jewellery expert Elkan Wijnberg, you’d be hard-pushed to find a team with a higher level of skill or a greater depth of knowledge in the gemstones and jewellery sector.
INFO@IJGC-WORLDWIDE.COM
+32 3 500 90 13
VESTINGSTRAAT 16b
2018 ANTWERP
BELGIUM
VAT BE0683.480.014
RPR. ANTWERP