International News
Kagem to recommence focused open-pit mining
Gemfields is pleased to announce that Kagem Mining Limited (‘Kagem’), the emerald mine in Zambia which is 75% owned by Gemfields and 25% owned by the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia (‘IDC’), will shortly recommence a programme of focused open-pit mining to recover more premium emeralds.
As announced on 23 December 2024, alongside other cost cutting measures, Kagem suspended all mining from 1 January 2025 to focus on processing ore from Kagem’s significant ore stockpile utilising the upgraded processing plant.
Emerald production from the processing plant in 2025 so far, in terms of carats recovered, has been in-line with the Company’s expectations, producing a lower proportion of higher-quality or premium emeralds than direct open-pit mining methods.
Kagem’s recent auction results, including the encouraging commercial-quality auction results released on 30 April 2025, has increased management confidence in the current emerald market and the decision has therefore been taken to recommence mining of two key production points in the Chama pit, with minimal waste mining, to recover premium emeralds for Kagem’s future higher-quality auctions. The decision to recommence full scale mining will continue to be assessed as market conditions develop.
International News
Swiss International Gemlab Launches with Proprietary AI for Precise Colored Gemstone Grading
Swiss International Gemlab promises Faster, More Accurate Certification, Ensures Report Consistency
Three veteran gemologists today announced the opening of Swiss International Gemlab (SIG), a cutting-edge facility leveraging proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance grading accuracy and consistency for colored gemstones.
Founded by Willy Bieri, Lawrence Hahn, and Matthias Alessandri—senior experts who have collaborated for over a decade—SIG will operate from state-of-the-art locations in Lucerne, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. The lab promises faster results, unmatched transparency, and scientific rigor, insulated from external influences.
SIG delivers a full spectrum of services, including gemstone identification, origin determination, treatment analysis, and advanced color grading. At its core is SIG-AI Assistance, a proprietary system that cross-references analytical data against structured databases to detect anomalies, ensure report consistency, and slash interpretation time.
With a standard turnaround of five business days—plus expedited options for urgent needs—and real-time status tracking, SIG sets a new benchmark for efficiency and reliability in gem certification. The lab will make its global debut at this year’s GemGenève in May, offering on-site services to industry professionals.
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