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This standard is developed in accordance with the rules given in GB/T 1.1-2009.
This standard replaces GB/T 16552-2010 Gems—Nomenclature.
There have been some significant changes in this standard over GB/T 16552-2010 in the following aspects:
——Scope of application was modified. (see Chapter 1)
——Definitions of natural organic materials, synthetic stone and reconstructed stone are modified. (refer to 3.1.1 and 3.1.2)
——In the chapter of terms and definitions, "classic names of gems", "trade names of gems", "heating", "bleaching", "laser drilling", "filling or impregnation", "coating", "high-pressure high-temperature(HPHT)treatment", "dyeing", "irradiation" and "diffusion" are added (refer to 3.6, 3.7 and 3.4).
——Gems varieties testing standards in GB/T 16553 are added (refer to Chapter 4).
——Gems nomenclature rules are modified (refer to 5.1).
——Enhancement and treatment method and category are added (refer to 5.4.1).
——Enhancement expression methods are modified (refer to 5.4.2.1).
——Nomenclature rules for multi-component gems material are added (refer to 5.5).
——In Annex A, names of some varieties and subvarieties are added or deleted (see Annex A).
——Enhancement and treatment method and category of some varieties are added or deleted in Annex B (refer to Annex B).
This standard was proposed by the Ministry of Land and Resources.
This standard is under the jurisdiction of National Technical Committee on Gems of Standardization Administration of China (SAC/TC 298).
The previous versions of the standards replaced by this standard are as follows:
——GB/T 16552-1996, GB/T 16552-2003, GB/T 16552-2010.
Gems—Nomenclature
1 Scope
This standard specifies terms and definitions, nomenclature rule and expression methods of gems.
This standard is applicable to gems nomenclature.
2 Normative Reference
The following documents for the application of this document are essential. For dated reference, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the normative document (including any amendments) applies.
GB 11887 Jewellery—Fineness of Precious Metal Alloys and Designation
GB/T 16553 Gems—Testing
QB/T 1689 Terms of Precious Metal Adornment
QB/T 2997 Adornment with Precious Metal Coating
3 Terms and Definitions
For the purpose of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
gems
a general term of natural gems and manufactured gems.
3.1.1
natural gems
mineral or organic substance from the natural world, which is aesthetic, durable and rare, has technology value and may be manufactured into adornment. It is classified into natural gemstone, natural jades and natural organic materials.
3.1.1.1
natural gemstones
Monocrystal (bicrystal) mineral from the natural world, which is aesthetic, durable and rare and may be manufactured into adornment.
3.1.1.2
natural jades
Mineral aggregate coming from the natural world, which is aesthetic, durable and rare, has technology value and may be manufactured into adornment, few of which is amorphous body.
3.1.1.3
natural organic materials
material directly generated from the natural organism, composed of organic substance partially or totally, and used in adornment.
Note: cultured pearl (pearl for short) is included into this type.
3.1.2
manufactured products
materials, other than pure metal material, partially or totally produced or manufactured for the purpose of adornment. They are classified into synthetic stone, artificial stones, composite stones and reconstructed stones.
3.1.2.1
synthetic stones
crystalloid, amorphous body or aggregate, partially or totally manufactured and known to have counterpart in the nature, both of which share basically consistent physical property, chemical composition and crystal structure. The synthetic stones also include that which is regenerated on the gems surface into a thin layer and almost the same as raw materials in terms of component and structure, also known as synthetic gemstone overgrowth.
3.1.2.2
artificial stones
crystalloid, amorphous body or aggregate which is manufactured and has no known counterpart in the nature.
3.1.2.3
composite stones
gems, spliced by two or more pieces of above materials, giving an integral impression.
3.1.2.4
reconstructed stones
Gems, formed by manually welding or pressing the fragment or debris of natural gems into an overall appearance, possibly added with cementing materials.
3.2
imitation stones
Gems or other materials which imitate a kind of natural gems in terms of color and phenomena and other appearance feature.
Note: the imitation stones do not represent any category of gems.
3.3
phenomena
special optical phenomena seen under visible light when the gems are under the refraction, reflection, interference and diffraction of light due to the structure.
3.3.1
chatoyancy
a bright light strip taken on the cambered surface of some germs when irradiated under parallel rays, which will move with the gems or light rays.
3.3.2
asterism
Two or more intersecting bright lines take on the cambered surface of some gems when irradiated under parallel rays.
Note: the four-pointed or six-pointed star lines are referred to as four-pointed or six-pointed star.
3.3.3
color change
Color of gems changes obviously under irradiation of different visible light sources.
Note: common light sources include daylight lamp and incandescent lamp.
3.4
enhancement and treatment
All means, other than cutting and polishing, to enhance the gems appearance, durability or usability in terms of color purity, transparence, luster or phenomena, including enhancement and treatment.
3.4.1
enhancement
a traditional and widely known method, by which the gems can show their potential beauty.
3.4.2
treatment
a method which is nontraditional and has not been widely accepted.
3.4.3
heating
heating of gems whiling manually controlling temperature and oxidation reduction conditions to improve or change gems color, purity and/or phenomena.
3.4.4
bleaching
immerse the gems into chemical solution to decolour gems or remove impurities.
3.4.5
laser drilling
Pipe-shaped, funnel or other shapes of laser marks are left while removing dark-color inclusion with laser beam and chemicals.
Note: pipe-shaped or crateriform laser marks are also referred to as laser hole.
3.4.6
filling or impregnation
filling of gems gap, (open) cracks, cavity or impregnation of multi-holes and multi-cracks with water-white oil, wax, glass or resin and the like to improve or change gems purity, appearance and durability.
3.4.7
coating
gems are given a thin film on the surface by coating, plating, etc. for the purpose of changing gems luster and color and bringing special effect or protecting the gems.
3.4.8
high-pressure high-temperature(HPHT)treatment
treatment of gems under high pressure and high temperature to improve or change the gems color.
3.4.9
dyeing
infiltrate color oil and dyestuff into the gems to improve or change the gems color.
3.4.10
irradiation
Make gems exposed at high energy radiation to change gems color.
Note: the irradiation is often accompanied with heating.
3.4.11
diffusion
Combine extraneous elements into the gems at certain temperature to change gems color or bring phenomena.
3.5
gems ornaments
ornaments, which is made of gems and manufactured by cutting, dressing and mounting, etc.
3.6
classic names of gems
names of gems varieties, including mineralogy, geognosy, materials science and traditional gemology.
3.7
trade names of gems
names of gems, other than classic names, which are widely used and accepted in the circulation field.
Note: one example is the alternative name of gems concerned in provincial standards.
4 Testing
Refer to GB/T 16553 for gems varieties testing standard.
5 Nomenclature Rule and Expression Methods
5.1 Gems
5.1.1 General
Gems nomenclature shall comply with the following rules:
a) Gems nomenclature is determined according to classic name of Annex A, nomenclature rule specified in this standard and Annex B and shall be marked visibly in the relevant quality documents.
b) Names of mineral (rock) and materials science not listed in Annex A may be used as gems names.
c) Trade names of gems shall not be used independently but noted with "trade name: ×××" in the quality documents. For example, the Taishan jade, called in Shandong provincial standard shall be denominated as serpentine and noted in relevant quality document with "trade name: Taishan jade".
d) "Gems", "gemstones", "jade" and "stone" shall not be denominated as specific names.
5.1.2 Natural Gems
5.1.2.1 Natural Gemstones
Nomenclature of natural gemstone shall comply with the following rules:
a) Use classic name or mineral name of natural gemstone only.
b) Nomenclature excludes the origin of production, such as "South Africa Diamond" and "Myanmar Sapphire".
c) Never use names of two or more natural gemstones to denominate one gemstone, such as "Ruby Spinel" and "Alexandrite Sapphire". But "Alexandrite Cat's-eye" is an exception.
d) Never denominate it with easily-confused or unclear names, such as "Kyanite", "Chrysoberyl and "Semi-gemstone".
Foreword i
1 Scope
2 Normative Reference
3 Terms and Definitions
4 Testing
5 Nomenclature Rule and Expression Methods
5.1 Gems
5.1.1 General
5.1.2 Natural Gems
5.1.2.1 Natural Gemstones
5.1.2.2 Natural Jades
5.1.2.3 Natural Organic Materials
5.1.3 Manufactured Products
5.1.3.1 Synthetic Stone
5.1.3.2 Artificial Stones
5.1.3.3 Composite Stones
5.1.3.4 Reconstructed Stone
5.2 Imitation stones
5.3 Gems with Optical Phenomena
5.3.1 Gems with Chatoyancy
5.3.2 Gems with Asterism
5.3.3 Gems with Color Change
5.3.4 Gems with Other Optical Phenomena
5.4 Enhancement and Treatment
5.4.1 Enhancement and Treatment Method and Category
5.4.2 Expression Methods of Enhancement and Treatment
5.4.2.1 Enhancement
5.4.2.2 Treatment
5.5 Gems Ornament
Annex A (Normative) Names of Gems
Annex B (Normative) Enhancement and Treatment of Gems
