Greenland Ruby Finalizes its Mine-to-Market Certificate Program and Color Ranges

At a media luncheon today in Tucson during the annual gem shows, the miner displayed its new material and color ranges

February 6, 2019 — Greenland Ruby, Greenland’s only miner of ruby and pink sapphire, announced today in Tucson that it has launched its mine-to-market track-and-trace program for its gems, which has been endorsed by the Greenlandic government. The program is made possible by the miner’s customized inventory system. This program assures a transparent provenance chain that’s still rare in the colored gemstone industry.

Each parcel of Greenlandic rough material has a number, and all the gems produced from that parcel are given their own individual number linked to it. These numbers stay with each gem through heat treatment, cutting, and placement in jewelry.

When a consumer purchases jewelry with Greenlandic gems, a certificate of origin comes along, issued by Greenland Ruby. It includes the gem’s original rough parcel and individual gem numbers. The certificate guarantees that the gem is of Greenlandic origin and includes information on the gem’s weight, color, dimensions, shape, and cutting style (cabochon or faceted). The certificate guarantees the gems are mined in a country that has an excellent human rights record, is environmentally responsible, and boasts a stable government and economy. The gems are also treated, cut and polished adhering to ethical, social, human rights, and environmental laws and responsible practices.

“Though Greenland Ruby’s jewelry clients to date have only requested certificates on gems over one carat for their customers, Greenland Ruby has the ability to produce a tracking number for every stone, if a brand wished to do so,” says Greenland Ruby’s Vice President for Sales and Marketing Hayley Henning. “The gems do not need individual markings, since a variety of gemological laboratories around the world, including the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, the Gemological Institute of America, the Gübelin Gem Lab, and Lotus Gemology, have examined our material and determined that Greenlandic corundum is readily identifiable as originating on the island.”

During a media luncheon amidst the Tucson gem shows, Greenland Ruby also displayed its finalized color range sample sets of gems featuring colors from so-called pigeon’s blood red to light icy pink. Also available are corundum in nearly white and purplish colors. The miner features ranges of transparent, translucent, and opaque cabochon cuts up to 50 carats in size, which can be easily calibrated for larger jewelry collections. Because of the nature of the material, cabochons are often the preferred method of shaping these gems, which aligns well with current fashion trends in gemstone jewelry. But cut and faceted stones are also available, ranging from melee sizes up to gems over one carat. Greenland Ruby gem pricing aligns with market pricing for all rubies in the qualities it features.

In addition to displaying loose gems, the miner also had on hand some of the newest designs from its Scandinavian retail partner and distributor Hartmann’s, which launched a Greenland Ruby jewelry collection this past holiday season. Hartmann’s initial collection sold out in nine days. Hartmann’s is known for its special and deep expertise in colored diamonds and luxury gems of all kinds. Additionally, luxury designer Victor Velyan appeared and shared with journalists what inspired him to create his designs using ultra-large cabochon rubies from Greenland. “When Hayley first showed me these gems, I had goosebumps all over my body,” said Velyan. “A gem that is three billion years old!” Velyan revealed that he is hoping to make a trip to the mine this year to explore Greenland’s vast Arctic terrain.

Greenland Ruby also talked about its plans for the year ahead, with both Greenland Ruby Chairman of the Board Gunnar Moe and CEO Magnus Kibsgaard on hand to speak to with the media. The executives joined Henning in Tucson in order to meet with large brands and manufacturers during gem week. “Our team plans wider introduction of our beautiful products in the U.S. this year, after successful debuts in Europe, and among select luxury designers,” said Kibsgaard. “We’ve noted the exploding interest in responsibly sourced products in America, and we feel our gems are perfectly positioned to take advantage of that trend. The modern consumer is demanding fair manufactured goods with a story of doing well by doing good.”

About Greenland Ruby

Greenland Ruby was established in 2016, and soon after was granted its exploitation license by the Greenland government. Greenland Ruby’s sister company, LNS Greenland, is the operator of the mine. The mine opened in May 2017. Greenland Ruby has its head office in Nuuk; with a sales and marketing office in New York; as well as operations in Bangkok; Copenhagen; and Mo I Rana, Norway. www.GreenlandRuby.gl.
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Media Contact

Hayley Henning
VP/Sales and Marketing
GREENLAND RUBY
hayley.henning@greenlandruby.gl

Background

Greenland Ruby gems are unearthed at a pristine mine site in Aappaluttoq, Greenland, in corundum bearing rock that geologists believe is in the oldest rock formation on earth – close to 3 billion years old – making these gems the oldest corundum available. The mine opened in May 2017 in southwest Greenland. Its output is processed at an ultra-modern, state-of-the-art cleaning and sorting operation adjacent to the mine. The miner employs Greenlandic people throughout its operations to contribute to the local workforce. Greenland has been transitioning to home rule since 2009, after a long period where it was part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and the island is developing its localized economy.

The mine site operator in Aappaluttoq is LNS Greenland A/S, a sister company of Greenland Ruby. Greenland Ruby’s sorting house and corporate offices are in Nuuk, while the sales and marketing office is in New York. Both LNS Greenland and Greenland Ruby are part of the LNS Group, a Norwegian, family-owned company that handles mining contracts, road projects, bridges and tunnels in arctic regions. LNS was awarded its mining and exploration license by the Greenlandic government in 2016. Greenland Ruby corundum is treated in Bangkok, using industry-accepted traditional treatment methods.

Greenland Ruby is liaising with the Responsible Jewellery Council as the council develops its responsibly sourced colored gemstone standards and code of practices. The miner’s goal is to become one of RJC’s very first colored gemstone members.

Greenland Ruby has also launched its PinkPolarBear.org Foundation, which has a goal to make a difference in the lives of both human and animal species who are affected by climate change, especially in Greenland. The foundation supports the International Polar Foundation and has also met with the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources. Its collaboration with established Greenlandic institutions is key to Greenland Ruby’s commitment to the country and region where it operates.