The Assay Office regulates and controls the manufacture, sale, importation and display of jewellery made of precious metals and their alloys. It is also responsible to verify and identify gemstones.

The Assay Office operates two laboratories namely: the Assay Laboratory and the Gemmology Laboratory. Testing services are offered to the public and jewellers.

A. Assay Laboratory

The Assay Laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 since April 2008. It is the first public laboratory to receive accreditation to ISO/ IEC 17025 from MAURITAS. The Assay Laboratory offers the following assay services:

Cupellation Test (Fire Assay) - for gold alloys;

This is a destructive test method used to determine the amount of gold present in a sample by fire assay.

X-Ray Test - for gold & silver jewellery and their alloys;

This is a non-destructive method.

Touchstone Test - for gold and silver jewellery;

It is essentially a comparative test and is non-destructive.

Volumetric Test - for silver alloys;

This is a destructive test method to determine the amount of silver present in a sample.

Gravimetric Test - for platinum alloys;

This is a destructive test method to determine the amount of platinum present in a sample.

B. Gemmology Laboratory

The Gemmology laboratory is equipped with conventional gemstone testing instruments as well as high-tech instruments and is staffed by two gemmologists who have been trained overseas.

The aim is to provide the public and the jewellers with an independent objective opinion regarding the authenticity and quality of gemstones, thus ensuring public trust.

The laboratory is offering the following services:

(i) Certification of loose diamonds and coloured gemstones; and

(ii) Certification of diamonds and coloured gemstones set in jewellery where mounting permits.

There are two types of reports which the laboratory will issue upon request and are as follows:

(i) Gemstone Testing Report

This is a full report of all tests which has been carried out in order to identify the gemstone. Besides the identity of the gemstone, details such as refractive index, pleochroism, and specific gravity among others will be reported.

(ii) Gemstone Identification Report

It is an ID size plastic laminated report whereby only major details about the stone tested will be reported. The report includes security features such as an embosser and a hologram to prevent counterfeiting.