Valentin Fejoz
Biography
Valentin Fejoz has been a gemologist since 2017, driven by a deep passion for gemstones and their scientific study. He began his journey in Montpellier under François Jaquemard, before continuing in Toulouse, where he established his first analysis office. He later obtained his gemology diploma in Bourg-la-Reine, near Paris, through the Gem-A program, under the guidance of Fabienne Thouveneau, who instilled in him rigor, high standards, and scientific precision.
He quickly turned toward an advanced and analytical approach to gemology, specializing in spectrometry and laboratory analysis techniques. He developed expertise using cutting-edge instruments such as UV-Vis-NIR spectrometry, Raman spectrometry (first at 532 nm, then at 785 nm), photoluminescence, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), as well as analysis systems like Sarin 3D for studying diamond cutting.
This rigorous scientific approach led to rapid recognition in his field. At just 30 years old, he was appointed expert witness at the Court of Appeal of Toulouse—a rare distinction reflecting both the quality of his expertise and the trust placed in him.
Alongside his laboratory work, Valentin Fejoz developed a unique specialization in inclusion photography. After several years of research and development, he designed a fully optimized microscopic system, enabling him to produce images of exceptional precision and quality. This work was awarded “Photographer of the Year” by Gem-A. He has since built a collection of more than 12,000 inclusion images—one of the largest in the world—serving both as a gemological reference and a private collection.
This international recognition has led him to collaborate with prestigious houses such as Van Cleef & Arpels, particularly for exhibitions in Paris, Dubai, Shanghai, and soon Seoul.
In 2023, he won the title of best gemologist at the Nice Gemology Tournament, a benchmark competition that has existed for nearly three decades and is known for its high standards.
As an author, he co-wrote Guide d’identification des gemmes with Dr. Besset, a work of over 500 pages that quickly sold out. In 2026, he released a fully revised English version titled Internal Features of Gemstones, enriched with new scientific data and high-quality images from his recent work.
In early 2024, he joined the Bellerophon laboratory in Bangkok, the global capital of colored gemstone trading. This marked a major turning point in his career, allowing him to deepen his expertise in advanced chemical analysis and the determination of the geographic origin of gemstones using cutting-edge technologies.
Together with Theodore Rozet, he also co-authored Emerald Inclusions, a reference work dedicated to emeralds, featuring over 1,000 images and diagrams across more than 620 pages. He has also contributed to several scientific publications, including Emerald Origin Determination through Automated Pattern Recognition, as well as trade alerts on treatments and synthetic materials.
Building on this experience, he was appointed Director of the Bellerophon Bangkok laboratory, a recognition of his expertise and leadership in laboratory gemology.
Throughout his career, he has worked on exceptional gemstones destined for the world’s most prestigious houses and has attended highly selective auctions, such as those organized by Fura for rough rubies and Gemfields for emeralds. He also works across various Bellerophon laboratories worldwide, including in Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Paris, Place Vendôme.
Since the beginning of his career, Valentin Fejoz has also dedicated a significant part of his work to field exploration. He has traveled extensively to gem-producing regions around the world: in Colombia, particularly Muzo; in Brazil, in the state of Minas Gerais; in Angola for diamond deposits; in Sri Lanka, in the artisanal mining areas of Ratnapura and gem markets such as Beruwala; in Thailand, especially Bangkok and Chanthaburi, including visits to mines; and in Vietnam, in the Luc Yen region. These experiences have given him a comprehensive understanding of the industry, from mine to laboratory.