Free Certification Included

Effective Date: January 15, 2025

Last Updated: January 15, 2025

1. Introduction

At JOALYS, we are committed to transparency and providing our customers with comprehensive information about every gemstone purchase. As part of our commitment to quality and customer confidence, we provide complimentary gemstone certification with every purchase, regardless of value.

This policy explains:

  • •The free certification service we provide with every gemstone
  • •The nature and scope of our laboratory certifications
  • •Blockchain registration of certificates
  • •Options for premium international laboratory certification
  • •Your rights regarding returns and disputes
  • •Important limitations and disclaimers

Please read this policy carefully before making a purchase.

2. Free LGL Certification Service

2.1 What's Included

Every gemstone purchase from JOALYS includes, at no additional cost:

  • •Professional gemological examination and certification by Lotus Gemology Laboratory (LGL), Galle, Sri Lanka
  • •Physical certificate document delivered with your gemstone
  • •Detailed analysis including gemstone type, dimensions, weight, color, clarity, and optical properties
  • •Registration of your certificate on the Hedera blockchain (with opt-out option, see Section 3)

No minimum purchase amount required. This service is provided complimentary with every single gemstone, from the smallest to the largest purchase.

2.2 About Lotus Gemology Laboratory (LGL)

Location: Galle, Sri Lanka

Professional Credentials: LGL is operated by a certified Gemological Institute of America (GIA) alumni with professional gemological training and expertise.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE - Accreditation Status

LGL is NOT an internationally accredited gemological laboratory. While our laboratory is operated by a GIA-trained professional and uses professional gemological equipment and methodologies, LGL itself does not hold accreditation from international gemological accreditation bodies.

LGL certifications should not be compared to or substituted for certifications from major internationally accredited laboratories such as:

  • • Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
  • • International Gemological Institute (IGI)
  • • American Gemological Laboratories (AGL)
  • • Gübelin Gem Lab
  • • Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF

2.3 Scope of LGL Certification

What LGL Certification Includes:

  • •Visual and instrumental gemological examination
  • •Gemstone identification (species and variety)
  • •Physical measurements (dimensions, carat weight)
  • •Optical properties (refractive index, specific gravity where applicable)
  • •Color description and grading
  • •Clarity assessment
  • •Treatment detection (where identifiable with available equipment)
  • •Photographs of the gemstone

What LGL Certification Does NOT Guarantee:

  • ✗Detection of all possible treatments (some treatments require advanced laboratory equipment not available at LGL)
  • ✗Origin determination (geographic source)
  • ✗Investment value or future resale value
  • ✗Acceptance by insurance companies
  • ✗Compliance with international trade regulations (e.g., Kimberley Process for diamonds, if applicable)
  • ✗Equivalency to internationally accredited laboratory reports

2.4 Purpose and Limitations

Purpose: LGL certification is provided as a courtesy documentation service to give you detailed information about your gemstone's characteristics at the time of purchase.

NOT INTENDED FOR:

  • ✗Insurance appraisal purposes
  • ✗Investment valuation
  • ✗Customs declarations
  • ✗Legal disputes requiring internationally recognized certification
  • ✗Scientific research requiring peer-reviewed analysis

Recommendation: If you require certification for insurance, significant investment purposes, legal matters, or resale to professional dealers, we strongly recommend obtaining certification from an internationally accredited laboratory (see Section 4 - Premium Certification Service).

3. Blockchain Certificate Registration

3.1 Hedera Blockchain Registration

As an added security and authenticity measure, we register all LGL certificates on the Hedera blockchain network.

Benefits of Blockchain Registration:

  • •Permanent, tamper-proof record of your certificate
  • •Verification of certificate authenticity
  • •Prevention of certificate fraud or alteration
  • •Long-term preservation of certification data

3.2 Data Stored on Blockchain

We respect your privacy. The blockchain registration includes ONLY:

Blockchain registration includes:

  • • Certificate number
  • • Gemstone specifications (type, weight, dimensions, characteristics)
  • • Date of certification
  • • Customer initials ONLY (not full name or other personal data)

No sensitive personal data (full name, address, email, payment information) is stored on the blockchain.

3.3 Opt-Out Option

You have the right to opt out of blockchain registration.

To opt out:

  • • Contact us at contact@joalys.com or by phone before or within 7 days of your purchase
  • • Reference your order number
  • • State clearly: "I opt out of blockchain certificate registration"

If you opt out:

  • • Your certificate will still be issued and delivered physically
  • • No certificate information will be registered on the blockchain
  • • All other terms of this policy remain applicable

Note: Blockchain data, once recorded, cannot be deleted due to the nature of blockchain technology. Opt-out requests received after blockchain registration has occurred cannot retroactively remove data, but we can mark the certificate as "opt-out requested" in our internal systems.

4. Premium International Laboratory Certification Service

4.1 Service Overview

We understand that some customers require certification from internationally accredited laboratories. We offer a facilitation service to obtain premium laboratory certification on your behalf.

Available Laboratories Include:

  • • Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
  • • International Gemological Institute (IGI)
  • • American Gemological Laboratories (AGL)
  • • Other internationally recognized laboratories upon request

4.2 How It Works

Process:

  1. 1.Contact us at contact@joalys.com to request premium laboratory certification
  2. 2.We provide a quote for the laboratory fees plus our service facilitation fee
  3. 3.You pay JOALYS for the total cost
  4. 4.We coordinate shipment to the laboratory (secure, insured shipping)
  5. 5.Laboratory examines the gemstone and issues their certificate
  6. 6.We receive the certified gemstone and forward it to you with both LGL and premium laboratory certificates

Important: The gemstone will be temporarily out of your possession during this process (typically 2-8 weeks depending on laboratory and service level).

4.3 Costs and Responsibility

Customer Responsibility:

  • •All laboratory fees (certification cost)
  • •Our service facilitation fee
  • •Insured shipping costs (to laboratory and return to you)
  • •Any customs duties or taxes (if applicable for international laboratory)

Fee Structure: Costs vary by laboratory, gemstone type, and service level. We provide full cost breakdown before you commit to the service.

We do not profit from laboratory fees. Our facilitation fee covers only our administrative time and secure shipping coordination.

4.4 No Guarantee of Specific Results

We cannot and do not guarantee:

  • ✗That the premium laboratory will reach identical conclusions to the LGL certificate
  • ✗Any specific grading outcome
  • ✗That the premium laboratory will detect or not detect treatments
  • ✗Any particular valuation or market value

Gemological assessments may vary between laboratories due to differences in equipment sophistication and technology, grading methodologies and standards, examiner expertise and interpretation, and treatment detection capabilities.

5. Returns, Disputes, and Resolution

5.1 Standard Return Policy

14-Day Return Right

Pursuant to UK Consumer Rights Act 2015 and EU consumer protection regulations, you have the right to return your gemstone within 14 days of receipt for any reason.

Return Conditions:

  • •Gemstone must be in original condition (unworn, unset, unaltered)
  • •Original packaging and LGL certificate must be included
  • •Notification of return intention must be sent to contact@joalys.com within 14 days
  • •Gemstone must be returned within 14 days of your return notification
  • •Return shipping is at customer's expense (we recommend insured shipping)

Refund: Upon receipt and inspection of the returned gemstone, we will refund the full purchase price within 14 days to your original payment method.

5.2 Disputes Based on Premium Laboratory Certification

If you obtain premium international laboratory certification (through our service or independently) and there is a material discrepancy between the LGL certificate and the premium laboratory certificate, the following applies:

Material Discrepancy Defined

A discrepancy is considered "material" if it significantly affects the gemstone's value or marketability, including but not limited to:

  • •Different gemstone species or variety identification (e.g., ruby vs. red spinel)
  • •Undisclosed treatments that significantly reduce value
  • •Material misrepresentation of quality characteristics that substantially affect pricing
  • •Synthetic or simulated gemstone identified as natural (or vice versa)

Material Discrepancy Resolution:

  1. 1.Contact us immediately at contact@joalys.com with both certificates
  2. 2.We will review the discrepancy within 5 business days
  3. 3.If we determine the discrepancy is material, you may: Return the gemstone for full refund (including premium certification costs and shipping), OR Accept a partial refund reflecting the value difference
  4. 4.You must return the gemstone within 30 days of our material discrepancy determination

Minor Discrepancy Defined

A discrepancy is considered "minor" if it does NOT significantly affect the gemstone's value or marketability, including but not limited to:

  • •Slight differences in color or clarity grading within one grade
  • •Minor measurement variations within standard tolerances
  • •Different descriptive terminology for the same characteristic
  • •Variations in treatment detection that do not materially affect value

Minor Discrepancy Resolution: Minor discrepancies do not give rise to return rights beyond the standard 14-day return period. Different laboratories may legitimately reach slightly different conclusions due to subjective grading factors and equipment variations.

5.3 Burden of Proof

For disputes based on premium laboratory certification:

  • •The premium laboratory certificate must be from a recognized internationally accredited laboratory (GIA, IGI, AGL, Gübelin, SSEF, or equivalent)
  • •Certificates from non-accredited laboratories will not be accepted for dispute resolution purposes
  • •You must provide original certificates (not photocopies or photographs)
  • •The gemstone must not have been altered, damaged, or modified since purchase

We reserve the right to:

  • •Obtain independent third-party verification if there is uncertainty about the discrepancy
  • •Request additional documentation or information
  • •Make the final determination of whether a discrepancy is "material" or "minor" based on industry standards and market impact

5.4 Time Limitations

Dispute claims must be raised within 90 days of original purchase. After 90 days, we cannot accept responsibility for any certification discrepancies, as gemstones may have been altered, damaged, or switched.

Exception: If you commissioned premium certification through our facilitation service (Section 4) and laboratory delays extend beyond 90 days, the dispute period is extended to 30 days after you receive the premium laboratory certificate.

6. Limitations and Disclaimers

6.1 Certification Not a Guarantee of Value

IMPORTANT: Gemstone certification (whether from LGL or international laboratories) is NOT:

  • ✗A guarantee of investment performance or future value
  • ✗An appraisal or valuation for insurance purposes
  • ✗A warranty of resale value or marketability
  • ✗A guarantee of buyer satisfaction with aesthetic qualities

Gemstone value is subjective and depends on many factors including market conditions, trends, buyer preferences, and economic conditions. Certification provides information about physical characteristics only.

6.2 LGL Certification Limitations

As stated in Section 2.2, LGL is not internationally accredited.

You acknowledge and accept that:

  • •LGL certificates may not be accepted by insurance companies, auction houses, or professional dealers
  • •LGL treatment detection is limited to equipment and methodology available at the laboratory
  • •Some advanced treatments may not be detectable by LGL
  • •LGL certificates are provided as a courtesy information service only
  • •We make no representations that LGL certificates are equivalent to internationally accredited laboratory reports

6.3 No Warranty on Treatment Detection

We do not warrant or guarantee:

  • •That all treatments have been detected or disclosed
  • •That LGL or even premium international laboratories will detect all treatments
  • •That treatments will not be discovered later by other laboratories or methods

Treatment detection technology evolves constantly. Treatments undetectable today may become detectable with future technology. This does not constitute a material discrepancy under Section 5.2.

6.4 Natural Gemstone Variations

You acknowledge that:

  • •Natural gemstones are products of nature and have inherent variations
  • •Photographic representations may not exactly match in-person appearance due to lighting, monitor settings, and photography techniques
  • •Color appearance may vary under different lighting conditions (incandescent, fluorescent, natural daylight)
  • •Minor inclusions, blemishes, or characteristics are normal in natural gemstones

6.5 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

Our total liability for any claims related to the free LGL certification service, blockchain registration, or premium certification facilitation service is limited to the purchase price you paid for the gemstone.

WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR:

  • ✗Consequential, indirect, incidental, or punitive damages
  • ✗Lost profits or investment losses
  • ✗Insurance claim denials based on LGL certification
  • ✗Customs seizures or import/export issues
  • ✗Any damages arising from reliance on LGL certification for purposes other than general information

EXCEPTION: Nothing in this policy excludes or limits liability that cannot be excluded or limited under UK Consumer Rights Act 2015, including liability for:

  • •Death or personal injury caused by negligence
  • •Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
  • •Breach of statutory rights under consumer protection law

6.6 Gemstone Source and Origin

Unless expressly stated and certified by an internationally accredited laboratory with specific origin determination capabilities:

  • •We do not guarantee geographic origin of gemstones
  • •Country names in product descriptions (e.g., "Ceylon Sapphire", "Colombian Emerald") refer to gemstone type/variety terminology, not certified origin
  • •Origin determination requires specialized equipment and expertise beyond LGL capabilities

6.7 Blockchain Technology Limitations

You acknowledge that blockchain registration:

  • •Does not guarantee gemstone authenticity (it only verifies certificate authenticity)
  • •Cannot prevent physical switching or substitution of gemstones
  • •Relies on Hedera blockchain network availability and functionality (outside our control)
  • •May become inaccessible if Hedera network experiences technical issues or discontinuation

7. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

7.1 Applicable Law

This policy and all transactions are governed by:

Primary Jurisdiction: The laws of England and Wales (United Kingdom)

Consumer Protection Rights:

  • • UK Consumer Rights Act 2015
  • • UK Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013
  • • For EU customers: EU Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU) protections apply where applicable

7.2 Dispute Resolution

First Step - Direct Resolution

We encourage you to contact us directly at contact@joalys.com to resolve any concerns or disputes. We commit to responding within 5 business days and working in good faith toward resolution.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

If direct resolution is unsuccessful, you may use:

  • • UK: Submit complaint to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider [if applicable]
  • • EU customers: European Commission Online Dispute Resolution platform: https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr

Jurisdiction

For legal proceedings, the courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction. However:

  • • EU consumers may bring proceedings in their country of residence
  • • Consumer protection laws of your country of residence may apply and provide additional rights

8. Contact Information

For questions, requests, or concerns regarding this policy:

Email: contact@joalys.com

Phone: +94 76 706 8581

Address: 4th Floor Office, 205 Regent Street, London W1B 4HB, England

Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (GMT)

Specific Inquiries:

  • • Blockchain opt-out requests: contact@joalys.com
  • • Premium certification service: contact@joalys.com
  • • Returns and disputes: contact@joalys.com
  • • General certification questions: contact@joalys.com

9. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to modify this Free Certification Included Policy at any time.

Notification of Changes:

  • •Changes will be posted on our website with a new "Last Updated" date
  • •Material changes will be notified via email to registered customers
  • •Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified policy

Effect on Existing Purchases:

  • • The policy version in effect at the time of your purchase governs your transaction
  • • Changes apply only to purchases made after the effective date of the change

10. Acknowledgment and Acceptance

By purchasing a gemstone from JOALYS, you acknowledge that you have:

  1. 1.Read and understood this Free Certification Included Policy in its entirety
  2. 2.Understand that LGL is not an internationally accredited laboratory
  3. 3.Understand the limitations of LGL certification as described in Section 2
  4. 4.Understand that LGL certification is a courtesy service, not a guarantee of value
  5. 5.Understand your rights regarding returns, disputes, and premium certification options
  6. 6.Understand the blockchain registration process and your opt-out rights
  7. 7.Accept the limitations and disclaimers set forth in Section 6
  8. 8.Agree to the governing law and jurisdiction provisions in Section 7

We value transparency and your informed consent. If you have any questions about this policy before making a purchase, please contact us.

Document Control

Policy Version: 1.0

Effective Date: January 15, 2025

Last Reviewed: January 15, 2025

Next Review Date: January 15, 2026

JOALYS

Company Registration: 16757466

Registered Office: 4th Floor Office, 205 Regent Street, London W1B 4HB, England

Trading Address: Galle, Sri Lanka

This policy is provided in English. Translations in French, Spanish, German, and Chinese are provided for convenience only. In case of any discrepancy between translations, the English version shall prevail.

Joalys Paris