The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is a key player in the Jewellery Industry. In this regard, the Bureau is responsible for the development of standards, which will help to regularise operations in the jewellery industry.

The GNBS also operates a Jewellery Certification Programme for the implementation of these standards and has established its gold testing laboratory, which carries out tests to determine purity of gold.

To date, two standards have been developed by the Jewellery Sub-Committee. They are:

(1) GYS 50-1: 2003 “Specification for gold articles: Marking requirements; and

(2) GYS 50-2: 2003 “Specification for gold articles – Guidelines for manufacturing, alloying and testing”.

The standard GYS 50-1:2003 is intended to be mandatory and stipulates marking requirements. One very important element of this standard requires that all gold jewellery be marked or labelled with the manufacturer’s identification mark and the assayed purity, either in karats or parts per thousand.

This standard was prepared with the intent to prevent fraud and deception arising from misleading labels. It also gives guidance to manufacturers to help them provide adequate labelling information, which will give guidance to consumers, when they wish to purchase gold articles.

On the other hand, the standard GYS 50-2:2003 is a voluntary standard, and was prepared with the intent to provide information to Goldsmiths and Jewellery on the manufacturing process for gold articles, and to serve as a guideline for good manufacturing practices.

With respect to the testing of gold jewellery by a recognised test method, these standards clearly outline the procedure for the modified fire assay or cupellation method of testing. Prior to any marking or labelling of purity on these articles, either of these stipulated methods has to be used.

Thus, complying with the above two standards would assure confidence in customers on the quality of jewellery manufactured, and create an atmosphere for a huge export market.

Another activity of the GNBS regarding the jewellery industry is the Certification of Gold Jewellery to the relevant Guyana Standards. This programme is voluntary and manufacturers desirous of having their gold jewellery certified could join the scheme. Once the requirements of the Guyana Standards have been fulfilled, and the manufacturer implements a basic quality control system, a certificate would be granted verifying that the products meet the requirements.

Customers seeing the standards mark on gold articles would have the confidence that the manufacturer produces items of acceptable quality. Similarly, there would be a corresponding growth of development in the manufacturing operation due to the intense monitoring of activities by the GNBS.

With the recent establishment of a gold testing laboratory by the GNBS stakeholders and the general public can have gold items tested.

For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0062, 219-0065, 219-066.