Swiss lab pens pearl agreement

[Caitlin]

There must be a longer version of this story


Swiss lab pens pearl agreement

A Basel-area laboratory is hoping to help stem the spread of cultured or manufactured pearls by signing up to common standards with the world?s top pearl country, Bahrain.
The Swiss Gemological Institute is already one of the world?s few high-tech testing sites to tell if a pearl has grown within a wild oyster or has been harvested by man.
Director of the Swiss Gemological Institute Michael Krzemnicki says Bahrain is a place where only natural pearls can be sold, making an agreement with the country very important.
With the Bahrain agreement, Krzemnicki hopes to standardize testing and certification for pearls.

 

[SteveM]

SSEF's website provides the official press release, under 'News/Current News.'

Serves to further publicize the continuing encroachment of BSWP (beadless saltwater pearls) into the natural market.

As a side note, I find these statements by the World Radio Switzerland reporter pretty funny:

A Basel-area laboratory is hoping to help stem the spread of cultured or manufactured pearls…

…if a pearl has grown within a wild oyster or has been harvested by man.

 

[Amrita]

Would this mean that importing FWPs into Switzerland is subject to restrictions for the importer? Or is subject to higher duties, taxes? Does anybody have a clue? Thanks for any insights.