1. About us and scope

These terms apply to every item submitted to the Cyprus Gemological Laboratory (CGL) and to every certificate, report and assessment we issue.

CGL is operated by Aris Tsiropoulos Ltd, 3 John Kennedy Avenue, 1075 Nicosia, Cyprus. In these terms, “we”, “us” and “the laboratory” mean CGL, and “you” means the person or business submitting an item.

By leaving an item with us and signing the receipt, you accept these terms. If these terms differ from the terms printed on a CGL certificate or report, the printed terms apply to that document.

2. Our services

We provide the following services, by appointment:

• Diamond Certificate. A gemological report on a loose natural or laboratory-grown diamond.
• Gemstone Certificate. Identification of a loose coloured gemstone, with a report of any treatments detected and where possible, an opinion on geographic origin.
• Jewellery Appraisal Report. A signed valuation document for diamonds, gemstones and mounted jewellery.
• Verbal Assessment. An examination with the findings given verbally. No written report is issued and treatments are not assessed.
• Laser Inscription. On request, inscription on the girdle of a loose diamond or gemstone.

Certificates are issued for loose stones only. We do not remove stones from their settings. A certificate describes a stone and does not state a price or value. A valuation is given only in a Jewellery Appraisal Report.

3. Submitting items

Items are submitted in person at the laboratory, by appointment. When you leave an item, we list it and give you a written receipt. Please check the receipt before you leave, and keep it: you will need it to collect your item.

By submitting an item, you confirm that:

• the item is lawfully in your possession, and you own it or are authorised by its owner to submit it;
• the information you give us about the item is accurate to the best of your knowledge;
• you have told us about any damage, repair or treatment you are aware of.

Any description of an item on the receipt is for identification only. It is based on what you tell us and on a visual check at the counter and it is not a finding of the laboratory.

We may decline to accept any item. We will not accept an item that we reasonably suspect is connected to illicit trade, money laundering or a breach of sanctions, in line with Cyprus and EU law.

4. Examination and turnaround

Items remain at the laboratory while they are examined. Documents are normally ready within 10 working days of the date we receive the item. This period is an estimate and not a guarantee.

If an item needs further examination, we will contact you to explain before going ahead.

If testing shows that a stone submitted for a certificate is synthetic or an imitation, we will inform you before any certificate is prepared. You may then choose whether to proceed. If you choose not to proceed, the verbal assessment fee applies.

5. Nature of our findings

All grading, identification, treatment, geographic origin and valuation findings are the professional opinion of our gemologist at the time of examination. They are not a guarantee or warranty.

Results from other laboratories may differ because of differences in equipment, methods and examination conditions. Gemological knowledge and testing methods also develop over time and a later examination may reach a different result.

A certificate or report describes the item only as it was presented on the date of examination. Any later alteration, repair, repolishing, resetting or stone replacement means the document no longer applies to the item.

For mounted jewellery, stones are examined without being removed from their settings. Weights and measurements of mounted stones are therefore estimates and testing is limited to what the mounting allows. Valuations reflect market conditions on the date of the report.

A Jewellery Appraisal Report states an estimated retail replacement value: the estimated cost of replacing the item with a comparable new item at the date of the report. It is not an offer to buy or sell the item and it is not a guaranteed selling price.

6. Fees and payment

A Jewellery Appraisal Report costs from €80 per piece and a Verbal Assessment from €30 per piece. Fees for certificates and laser inscription are available on request. We give you an estimated price range before work begins. The final fee depends on the time needed to examine your item.

• All prices include VAT at 19%.
• Payment is due in full when you receive your documents. We may keep an item and its documents until the fees for it have been paid.
• If further examination is needed and involves an additional fee, we will agree the fee with you before going ahead.

Gemological services are carried out specifically for your item. Once an examination has been carried out, the fee for it is not refundable.

7. Collection and uncollected items

Items and documents are collected in person from the laboratory. Please bring your receipt. If you do not have the receipt, or if someone else collects on your behalf, we will ask for proof of identity and where relevant, your written authorisation.

We will contact you when your item is ready, using the contact details you gave us. Please tell us if those details change.

We do not charge a storage fee for items that are collected late. If an item is not collected within 3 months, we will contact you. Items remain at your own risk until collected.

8. Care of items, insurance and liability

We handle every item with professional care and keep items securely while they are at the laboratory.

Gemological examination is non-destructive. Even so, stones and settings can have existing weaknesses, such as fractures, inclusions, worn claws or earlier repairs, that are not visible when an item is submitted. We are not responsible for damage that results from such a weakness during normal handling and examination.

Items are left with the laboratory at the client’s own risk and are not covered by the laboratory’s insurance. As stated on the receipt you sign, we bear no responsibility or liability for loss of or damage to an item caused by theft, burglary, robbery, act of God or war. We recommend that you keep your own insurance in place for any item you leave with us.

We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, including loss of profit or loss on resale.

A certificate, report or assessment is issued for the client who submitted the item. We accept no liability to any other person who relies on it, including a buyer of the item.

We are not responsible for delays or failures caused by events outside our reasonable control, such as natural disasters, power or utility failures, cyber incidents or government restrictions. In such cases, turnaround times are extended accordingly.

Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law, or affects the statutory rights of consumers under Cyprus and EU consumer protection law.

9. Certificates, verification and other laboratories

Only an original document signed by our gemologist is a valid CGL certificate or report. Photocopies, photographs and scans are for reference only.

• A CGL document must not be altered. It may be reproduced only in full. It must not be used with any stone or item other than the one it was issued for.
• A CGL document is issued for the use of the client who submitted the item. It may not be used in advertising or published without our written consent.

Every certificate is recorded in our laboratory database and can be checked on the Verify Certificate page of this website. Certificate records are kept permanently. We are not liable for temporary unavailability of the online service or for clerical errors in the online records. If the details shown online differ from a document you hold, please contact us and we will correct any error promptly.

Findings are expert opinions, and results from other laboratories may differ in identification, treatment, geographic origin or grading. If you disagree with a finding, you may have the item examined by another laboratory at your own expense. A re-examination by CGL is charged at our standard fee. A different result from another laboratory does not entitle you to a refund or compensation.

The CGL name and logo may be used only with our written permission.

10. Personal data, governing law and contact

We use the personal details you give us to carry out the service, to contact you about your item and to keep our certificate records. Details are set out in our Privacy Policy.

These terms are governed by the law of the Republic of Cyprus. The courts of Cyprus have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising from them. These terms are available in English and on request, in Greek.

We may update these terms from time to time. The version in force on the date you submit an item applies to that item.

Cyprus Gemological Laboratory (CGL)
Operated by Aris Tsiropoulos Ltd
3 John Kennedy Avenue, 1075 Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel: +357 22 518130 · Email: [email protected]

Last updated: 9 October 2026