Kenneth Scarratt
- Ken was brought up and educated in many countries around the world from the UK to Turkey and Singapore only returning to the UK in his teens. He began his professional gemological career in the early 1970’s when having qualified as an FGA he joined what was at the time the oldest and most prestigious of the world’s gemological laboratories. He was mentored by the greatest gemological minds of the time, BW, Anderson, Robert Webster in the UK, Bob Crowningshield and Dick Liddicoat in the USA and Edward Gubelin in Switzerland. He became the director of the Laboratory in 1982.
He has published papers extensively in such journals as The Journal of Gemmology (UK), Gems and Gemology (USA) and many others. You have co-authored the books, The Crown Jewels: the History of the Coronation Regalia in the Jewel House of the Tower of London. London, and, The Pearl & the Dragon.
He has delivered lectures to gemologists and traders in many countries including Abu Dhabi, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Dubai, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka , the UK and the USA (several States).
In addition to his seminal works, delivered over 50 years of constant activity, with diamond, ruby and sapphire, he has studied and visited gemstone mining areas in several countries including Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the USA (several States). Further, he has studied and visited pearl-producing areas in several countries including: Australia, Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Japan, Scotland, Thailand, UAE, and Vietnam and is a leading authority on natural pearls, both salt and freshwater.
He is currently Managing Partner at the ICA | GemLab in Bangkok and prior to this he was the CEO of the Bahrain Institute of Pearls & Gemstones (DANAT) an organization he built from the ground up. He was formally Managing Director for SE Asia for the Gemological Institute of America, Laboratory Director for the AGTA (AmericanGem Trade Association) Gemological Testing Center in New York City, Director of AIGS (Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences) in Bangkok, and Chief Executive and Laboratory Director GAGTL (Gemmological Association & Gem Testing Laboratory of GreatBritain) in London.
Prior to his professional gemological career, Ken was a member of the oldest regiment in the British army, the Grenadier Guards also known as the first regiment afoot. While the regiment is a highly trained fighting force it is also the senior Guards Regiment responsible for the safety of the Sovereign and consequently stands guard at Buckingham and St, James Palaces, as well as Windsor Castle and the Tower of London. Indeed, it was during his duties at the Tower of London that he became acquainted with and fascinated by with the Crown Jewels. In later years, as a professional gemmologist, he was asked by the Palace to be a member of a small team set up to examine and catalog the Crown Jewels , an amazing honor that resulted some years later in the publication of a two-volume leather bound and gold edged publication on the subject, and the distinct honor of having an audience with the Queen for the presentation of this work.