• To provide reliable and consistent gemological testing services
  • Total commitment to our profession
  • Excellence
  • Invest in gem research
  • Stay at the cutting edge of technology
  • To provide basic gemological training to all level of jewellery trade and public
  • To keep up with latest knowledge and information
Far East Gem Lab was established in 1988. The company's range of services includes gem identification, diamond grading and jewellery appraisal. Besides the basic gemological services, the company also specialised in identification of B-jade (treated jadeite-jade - bleached and polymer impregnated), fracture-filled diamond, and some of the modern day treatment on gemstones. To keep up with the changes, since 1985 the company has been doing advanced joint gem research with the Physics department, National University of Singapore (NUS) and Chemical Process and Biotechnology department, Singapore Polytechnic (SP).
Using cutting edge technology like the Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) (at NUS), to separate natural from synthetic ruby or even Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) (at SP) to identify treated B-jade from natural untreated jadeite-jade.
In the light of the advancement, the company set a high standard in the area of research and development on gemstone in the Southeast Asian region. The quality report produced by the company gave confidence to the trade and as well as the public, thus generating a trust among them.

The first gem lab to be awarded in Singapore. [>>]
As a sign of the company commitment to provide excellent services to its customers, the company implemented the ISO/IEC Guide 25 from 15 May 1998 to 14 November 2002. More recently 15 November 2002, the quality system of the company was upgraded to ISO/IEC 17025. The laboratory officers from the Singapore Accreditation Council audited the whole exercise. The company is determined to continuously update operational capability in terms of both technology and capacity.
In the jewellery appraisal services, the company provide professional and unbiase appraisal report for court cases. Earning a good reputation among some of the lawyers who use our services.
  • Continue to provide reliable and consistent gemological testing services
  • Total commitment to our profession
  • Excellence
  • Invest in gem research
  • Stay at the cutting edge of technology
  • Expert witness in court cases
Tay Thye Sun has been practicing gemology after he graduated from the Gemological Institute of America since 1980. Before he went full time on gem testing lab work and instructor, he was an experienced gem dealer and doing wholesale and retail jewellery business. In 1985, he came across some of the natural rubies with very little inclusions and very difficult to authenticate the nature of the rubies. This prompts him to find out more and in doing so had slowly drawn him into the world of gem research. To date, he and together with his many co-authors published many articles (see Research) in the gemological journals around the world. He was invited to speak in APEC Melbourne 2000, APEC Beijing 2000, 60th Anniversary of the German Gemmological Association 1992 (click to view pictures), Germany; and the prestigious meeting by invitation only of the International Gemmological Conference held in Spain 2001, India 1999, Germany 1997, Thailand 1995, etc.
Educational background:
  • Graduated with a Bachelor of Science - Geology (1976) University of London.
  • Master of Science - Social and Psychological Aspects of Science and Technology in Industry (1977), Imperial College of Science and Technology, London.
  • Diploma of Membership of Imperial College (1978), London.
  • Graduate Gemologist, Gemological Institute of America, (1980), Santa Monica, U.S.A.
His contribution to the world of gemology:
  • President of Singapore Gemologist Society from 1993 to 2003, one of the founding member of the society since 1983.
  • Appointed Expert of United Nation of Organisation of Expert since 1994.
  • Technical Committee Member of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) 1989 to 1993 - 37 nations.
  • Member of International Gemmological Conference (IGC) since 1993 - member by invitation only - 30 nations.