Press Release

GCAL Expands ISO Scope

GCAL PASSES ISO 17025 SCOPE EXPANSION FOR CERTIFICATION
OF FANCY COLOR DIAMONDS AND PRECIOUS METAL ANALYSIS

New York City, NY (May 24, 2010) Gem Certification & Assurance Lab, Inc. (GCAL™) passed its third annual ISO 17025 Audit in April 2010, and has expanded its ISO Scope for certification of Fancy Color Diamonds and Precious Metal Analysis, according to Angelo Palmieri, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

ISO 17025 is certification of both management and technical requirements of a laboratory and requires rigorous annual testing by the certifying body; in this case, L-A-B (Laboratory Accreditation Bureau). The GCAL Management and superb staff experts have built systems and procedures for accurate and consistent grading results for fancy color diamonds and precious metal and base metal analysis, culminating in additional ISO Scope Certification.

Laboratories are judged and reputed for their level of consistency, accuracy, and customer service. ISO 17025 Accreditation confirms our competence and dedication to Integrity and Excellence in the diamonds, gems, and jewelry certification business” according to Palmieri.

As we embrace this new decade, GCAL will continue to expand its ISO accredited services to the global markets. Many of these markets demand and respect the ISO Laboratory Accreditation, and how it best serves the needs of the legitimate supply pipeline, as well as, discriminating consumers” stated GCAL’s President, Donald A. Palmieri.

GCAL Fancy Color Diamond Certificate GCAL Precious Metal Analysis Report



Click to open the full size report

(PDF format)


Click to open the full size report

(PDF format)

Contact:
Donald A. Palmieri
dap@gemfacts.com
212-869-8985

About Gem Certification and Assurance Lab
Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL) provides guaranteed diamond certification with bundled services including Gemprint and Direct Light Performance analysis (www.DiamondID.com). It is recognized as the first U.S. diamond and gemstone grading lab to earn ISO 17025:2005 accreditation, meaning that it conforms to recognized international standards for accurate and reliable grading. GCAL is a New York Corporation affiliated with the Palmieri Group of Companies, headquartered in the World Diamond Tower on Fifth Avenue and 47th Street.

About Donald A. Palmieri
Donald A. Palmieri, GG, ASA, Master Gemologist Appraiser®. Is President and founder of Gem Certification & Assurance Lab, Inc. (2001), and Gemological Appraisal Association, Inc. (1982). As an appraiser, Palmieri was instrumental in developing and teaching the Master Gemologist Appraiser program in the early to mid 80’s, and authoring its first manual of instruction. As a forensic expert, Palmieri has testified in dozens of court cases internationally, in Singapore, Canada, the Bahamas, and throughout the US. Palmieri has been a paid consultant to the Federal Trade Commission for 18 years, and worked for most government agencies, including a current appointment as a Chapter 11 Trustee, and a court appointed expert. As a publisher, he produces “Palmieri’s Market Monitor,” a 112 page monthly compendium of diamond, gemstone, and auction results, with subscribers distribution worldwide. Palmieri also published the “GAA Appraisal Manual.” Palmieri pioneered the “Guaranteed Diamond Grading Certificate” in 1981, and made it a Zero Tolerance 4C’s Grading Guarantee when he founded GCAL. GCAL is the only ISO 17025 Accredited Laboratory in the United States. Its scope is now certified to include Diamonds, Gemstones, Fancy Colored Diamonds, and Precious Metal Analysis. He serves as a research associate since 1983 for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and continues as a Trustee since 1996.

About Angelo W. Palmieri
Angelo Palmieri joined the family businesses, GCAL and GAA, in 2005. A 2002 Graduate of Cornell University, he majored in business and played football (Sprint) for 4 years, his last as captain of the team. He most recently received his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at New York University, the Stern School of Business, while working full time at GCAL, and playing rugby for the NYU Rugby Club for 2 ½ years, his last as captain of the team. Angelo is Vice President of both Corporations, is Chief Operating Officer of GCAL, and is its ISO Management Representative.

About ISO 17025 Laboratory Accreditation
ISO/IEC 17025 is the main standard used by testing and calibration laboratories. There are two main sections in ISO/IEC 17025 - Management Requirements and Technical Requirements. Management requirements are primarily related to the operation and effectiveness of the quality management system within the laboratory. Technical requirements address the competence of staff, methodology and test/calibration equipment. Laboratories use ISO/IEC 17025 to implement a quality system aimed at improving their ability to consistently produce valid results. Since the standard is about competence, accreditation is formal recognition of a demonstration of that competence.

About L-A-B
Laboratory Accreditation Bureau was established to provide laboratory accreditation services to independent and captive, testing and calibration laboratories across North America. Laboratory Accreditation Bureau is a signatory to the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) effective December 6, 2007. L-A-B is a full member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) whereby L-A-B will recognize, and be fully recognized by, the 58 ILAC signatories worldwide. L-A-B has achieved full recognition through NACLA (National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation) for testing and calibration.