Birthstone Guide: Ruby for Those Born in July
Those born in July can call the resplendent ruby their birthstone. To find out more about this historically significant and commercially successful gemstone, we asked Gem-A tutor Lily Faber FGA DGA EG to share her insights. The ruby slippers, a ruby red apple, ruby red lips… for those interested in gems and jewellery, and even […]
An Afternoon in Antwerp’s Historic Diamond District
Gem-A Member Carmen Garcia-Carballido MSc., L. Geology, EurGeol FGA DGA, explores Antwerp’s historic diamond district – the Diamantkwartier. Antwerp in Belgium is famous for diamonds. In 2017, it traded approximately 234 million carats. Over 80% of rough diamonds are purchased in Antwerp, where half the world’s ‘Kimberley Certificates’ are issued, and the square mile of […]
Vegas: The Garden of Colourful Delight
At an exciting time for fresh perspectives and bold designs, the Las Vegas shows are on the cusp of a new era. With brands reinventing themselves in 2018, Olga González FGA DGA, explores some of the colourful trends at Couture, JCK, and AGTA. Rainbows and Unicorns Rainbows are having a renaissance, alongside unicorns. Why choose […]
The Journal of Gemmology, Volume 36, No. 2. Is Here!
The Gem-A editorial team are excited to launch the latest issue of The Journal of Gemmology, Volume 36, No. 2, keeping the Gem-A community updated with the latest in gemmological research. Features in the Spotlight Focusing on Blue Zircon from Ratanakiri, Cambodia, authors Manuela Zeug, Lutz Nasdala, Bhuwadol Wanthanachaisaeng, Walter A. Balmer, Fernando Corfu and Manfred Wilder […]
Fake News? Discovering ‘Alternative Facts’ in Gemmology
From the Spring 2018 issue of Gems&Jewellery, Rui Galopim de Carvalho FGA DGA explores how ‘alternative facts’ have resulted in an informal nomenclature that permeates the world of gemmology. Here, he offers some examples of these long-standing quirks in terminology. In gemmology there are a number of trade names and expressions that lack accuracy. However, written […]
The ‘Cat’s Eye’ Phenomenon: Exploring Chatoyancy
First published in the Spring 2018 issue of Gems&Jewellery, Harold Killingback FGA explores chatoyancy in sillimanite cabochons, an optical phenomenon where a band of light, known as a ‘cat’s eye’, appears to hover above the surface of a stone, resulting in a striking lustre and colour. Figure 1 shows a sharp cat’s eye in a sillimanite […]
Birthstone Guide: Pearls for Those Born in June
We believe everyone should own at least one piece of pearl jewellery… especially those born in June as pearls are their birthstone! Gem-A gemmology tutor Lily Faber FGA DGA EG considers the history and natural properties of these treasures from the sea. When thinking about pearls, one conjures up images of perfectly round, white gems […]
Insights and Reactions to De Beers’ New Lab-Grown Diamond Jewellery Brand
The De Beers Group has formally unveiled Lightbox Jewelry – a new fashion jewellery brand set with laboratory-grown diamond. Here, we find out more about the new business and why it has got industry tongues wagging. Do you want to share your views? Email editor@gem-a.com with the subject line ‘Lightbox’. Lightbox Jewelry promises high-quality fashion […]
Reviving the Pearling Industry in the UAE
First published in the Spring 2018 issue of Gems&Jewellery, Christa Van Eerde MA MLitt DGA FGA explores the history of some of the world’s most magnificent pearls sourced in the Gulf region, including Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE, famously regarded as the historic heart of the pearling world. From the twelfth until the early twentieth century, […]
Survivors – The Geology of Diamonds
From the Spring 2018 issue of Gems&Jewellery magazine, Gem-A assistant tutor Beth West FGA DGA explores the remarkably epic journey of diamonds and how their characteristic strength is rooted in their archaic origins. “In the deep glens where they lived all things were older than man and they hummed of mystery.” Cormac McCarthy, The Road Carbon […]
