298 gemstone samples inspected by ministry in first quarter of 2019

Business Saturday 24/August/2019 17:29 PM
By: Times News Service
298 gemstone samples inspected by ministry in first quarter of 2019

Muscat: Gemstone samples inspected in the first quarter of 2019 amounted to 298 compared to 220 in the same period in 2018, Oman’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.
The number of samples inspected increased by 35.5 per cent, with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) pointing out that category one of the gem stone samples inspected in the first quarter amounted to 199 compared to 170 during the same period of 2018, with an increase of 17.1 percent.
Eighty seven samples of category two gemstones belonging to category two samples were analysed, compared to 49 in 2018, and category three samples amounted to 12 compared to just one sample only in 2018 which represents an increase of 1,100 percent.
According to the MOCI, category one includes gemstones such as diamonds, sapphire, emerald and diatomite, as well as all artificial gemstones that were manufactured using modern technology. This also includes jewellery containing a single gemstone, as well as those with in-built gems. This also includes unpolished stones. Category two covers other gemstones that are not included in category one and the gemstones manufactured in traditional ways, while category three includes glass and plastic products.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry plays a vital role in protecting and inspecting all precious metals and gemstones, to eliminate illegal practices.