General Terms & Conditions
Scope
These General Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) apply to all services provided by G-ID Laboratories Co., Ltd. (“G-ID”) to its clients (the “Client”), including gemmological analyses and related services (the “Services”). By submitting items for analysis, the Client agrees to be bound by these Terms.
Transportation and Insurance
Clients are responsible for the safe transport of their diamonds, gemstones, pearls, jewellery, or other items (collectively, the “Items”) to and from G-ID’s facilities. Items may be delivered using a courier, registered mail, or any other method selected by the Client, at their own risk. Clients must ensure that their Items are fully insured for transit, while they are with G-ID, and for return shipping. All customs, import, and export regulations and duties are the sole responsibility of the Client, and G-ID will not process any Items where these requirements have not been fulfilled.
Fees and Payment Terms
Fees for G-ID’s Services are determined by the pricing schedule in effect at the time the Client’s order is confirmed. A copy of this schedule is available upon request. Invoices are payable within 30 days from the invoice date via bank transfer to the following account:
G-ID reserves the right to require payment before delivering any “Reports” or completing any analysis, particularly for new clients, who may be required to pay in advance for services.
Turnaround Time
While G-ID strives to complete analyses promptly, specific deadlines cannot be guaranteed. Under typical conditions, orders will be processed within 5 business days of receipt. If delays occur, G-ID will inform the Client of the revised timeline. For more detailed information on our service commitments and delivery timelines, please refer to our Service Level Agreement (“SLA”) by visiting [Insert Link].
Reports and Analysis
Upon completion of the analysis, G-ID will provide the Client with a formal “Report” detailing the findings of the examination. Only the original Report should be considered as representing the final results. Signatures on the Report may be digital facsimiles. All analyses are based on the gemmological standards in place at the time of examination, and future advancements in scientific knowledge may alter interpretations.
At the Client’s request, G-ID may include the Client’s name on the Reports. This does not indicate ownership or prove the provenance of the stone.
Preliminary Examination and Gemfolio™
For some Items, G-ID can offer a “Preliminary Examination”, which provides a verbal opinion based on a limited analysis. This verbal opinion is informal, non-binding, and may differ from the final Report. If the Client chooses to stop the full analysis after receiving the Preliminary Examination, they will still be charged for the entire service. Additionally, G-ID offers a “Gemfolio™”, a brief summary of the examination results. The Gemfolio™ is intended only as an initial, high-level overview and may not include the full details or depth of analysis that are found in the formal Report. It is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for any significant financial transactions, legal matters, or decisions concerning the Item’s value, authenticity, or origin. G-ID shall not be held liable for any actions taken based on the information contained in the Gemfolio™, as it does not replace the thorough, comprehensive analysis reflected in the full Report.
Geographic Origin Determination
Upon request, G-ID can perform a geographic origin determination for gemstones. This process involves a detailed comparison of the gemstone’s internal characteristics, physical properties, and chemical composition with reference materials from known geographic sources. G-ID uses advanced scientific methods and proprietary data collected from various gemstone deposits worldwide to make this determination.
It is essential to understand that G-ID’s origin determination is an expert scientific opinion, based on the best available technology and research at the time of analysis. While G-ID takes every precaution to ensure accuracy, this determination cannot be guaranteed as definitive. Factors such as overlapping characteristics between gemstones from different regions and ongoing advancements in gemmological research mean that origin determinations may evolve. In some cases, the data may not be sufficient to provide a confident origin determination, and G-ID reserves the right to decline providing an origin assessment when the evidence is inconclusive.
For this reason, G-ID advises that origin determinations be considered as educated, probable conclusions rather than absolute certainties, and should not be solely relied upon for critical decisions without further verification.
Gemstone Treatment Disclosure
In its analysis and reports, G-ID will disclose the presence of gemstone treatments based on its findings at the time of examination. However, it is important to note that not all types of treatments may be identified or mentioned in the report. The ability to detect treatments depends on the current scientific knowledge, available testing techniques, and the nature of the treatments themselves. Some treatments may be undetectable or difficult to identify with existing methods.
If no treatment is specifically mentioned in the report, this does not imply that the gemstone is untreated or that no treatments were applied. The omission of a treatment from the report simply reflects that G-ID either did not detect it during the analysis or that the treatment is beyond the scope of current detection capabilities.
The statements regarding treatments in the report are based on G-ID’s findings, using internationally accepted standards and methods that are current at the time of examination. As scientific techniques evolve and new treatment methods emerge, future analyses could reveal additional treatments that were not detectable or recognised at the time the original report was issued.
It is also possible that certain treatments, especially those that are subtle or new to the industry, may remain undiscovered. Therefore, G-ID makes no warranties that all treatments have been identified in any gemstone, and the report should not be taken as a complete guarantee of the stone’s treatment history.
Diamond Grading and Identification
G-ID offers grading services exclusively for natural diamonds. Diamonds submitted for analysis will undergo rigorous testing to determine whether they are natural or lab-grown. Any diamond identified as lab-grown will be clearly labelled as such in the report, but no quality grading will be provided for synthetic diamonds.
In terms of natural diamonds, G-ID uses internationally recognised standards to grade characteristics such as carat weight, colour, clarity, and cut. The diagrams included in the report to represent inclusions and other internal or external features are approximations and may not capture all minor details. These diagrams are intended to highlight significant characteristics but are not a comprehensive map of every imperfection.
If a diamond has undergone any enhancements to improve its clarity or colour (e.g., laser drilling or fracture filling), these will be noted in the report. However, it is important to recognise that not all treatments may be fully detectable, particularly if advanced or subtle methods of enhancement have been used. As scientific methods and detection capabilities improve, future assessments may provide further insight into these treatments.
Precious Metal Testing
At the Client’s request, G-ID performs precious metals analysis on items like jewellery using advanced techniques such as Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (“EDXRF”). This non-destructive method accurately identifies and quantifies elements such as gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), and other metals commonly found in jewellery alloys.
The results provide a detailed breakdown of the metal composition, and the alloys are classified in accordance with international standards, including ISO 23345:2021. The standard outlines specific requirements for determining the content of precious metals, ensuring that the purity and composition align with globally recognised quality benchmarks.
G-ID’s analysis is focused solely on identifying metal composition and does not include grading or value assessment of the precious metals.
Use of Data for Research
All gemmological and chemical data collected during the analysis remain the exclusive property of G-ID and may be used for research or commercial purposes without the Client’s consent.
Acceptance of Services
The Client must review and inspect all reports and services provided by G-ID within five (5) business days of delivery. If no concerns are raised within this period, the services will be considered accepted.
G-ID employs both non-destructive and destructive testing methods depending on the nature of the analysis required. Non-destructive methods, such as Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (“EDXRF”) and Raman Spectroscopy, are used whenever possible to preserve the integrity of the item. In some cases, destructive methods may be necessary, such as Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (“LIBS”), which involves removing a very small portion of the material for detailed analysis. This removal is typically from a less visible area, such as the girdle of a gemstone. The process does not affect the visual appearance of the item and is hardly noticeable under 10x magnification. The loss of material is minimal and will not affect the overall quality or weight of the gemstone.
With the acceptance of the service, the Client acknowledges and agrees to the methods used, whether non-destructive or destructive, as part of the analytical process.
Use of Subcontractors
G-ID may, at its discretion, outsource tasks related to the analysis, handling, or testing of items to third-party subcontractors, including affiliated companies. This may involve the shipment of Items between different G-ID locations. The Client agrees to this arrangement as part of the service process.
Limitation of Liability
G-ID is not liable for any damage, loss, or misrepresentation of results, except in cases of gross negligence or wilful misconduct. G-ID will not be held responsible for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including but not limited to loss of value, revenue, or goodwill.
In the event of a dispute, G-ID’s liability is strictly limited to the reasonable fees paid for the specific service in question. Under no circumstances will G-ID be liable for any amount beyond the fee paid for the service, ensuring that the liability remains fair and proportional to the scope of the services provided.
Intellectual Property Rights
All intellectual property, including Reports, methodologies, and data generated by G-ID, remain the exclusive property of G-ID. Clients are granted a limited, non-transferable right to use the Reports for personal purposes only.
Late Payments
Invoices not paid by the due date will accrue interest at a rate of five (5) percent per year. G-ID may withhold further Services or Reports until outstanding balances are settled.
Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms are governed by the laws of Thailand. Any disputes arising from these Terms will be resolved exclusively in the courts of Thailand.
Amendments
G-ID reserves the right to revise these Terms and Conditions at any time. Any changes will be communicated to Clients and will apply to all future services, but will not affect orders already in progress.
Entire Agreement
These Terms constitute the entire agreement between G-ID and the Client, superseding all previous agreements, whether written or oral, related to the Services provided by G-ID.
© G-ID Laboratories Co., Ltd.
428 Chong Nonsi, Yan Nawa, Bangkok 10120 Thailand
October 2024
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