Investigating the Opinion of Laboratory Reports and Geographic Origin of Gemstones
This article by Guy Lalous ACAM EG summarises the nature of opinions on geographical origin reports from The Journal of Gemmology discussing ways to improve the helpfulness and transparency of gemmological testing and grading reports. The origin of gemstones can be understood in terms of geological setting, in a geographical location. An origin written on […]
Fossicking in the Outback
Carmen Garcia-Carballido FGA DGA L.Geology MSc. EurGeol travelled to the southern hemisphere to find out more about the opals and sapphires of eastern Australia. To test the skills acquired in two years training as a gemmologist with Gem-A, my husband planned a three week field trip to the sapphire and opal fields of eastern Australia. […]
Rio Tinto Reveals The 2.11ct Argyle Everglow Red Diamond
It is always an exciting time of year when Rio Tinto unveils what has been discovered at its Argyle diamond mine. Typically, this is beautiful pink diamonds, with the occasional purplish violet tones. Even rarer still are the fancy red diamonds, which remain a mysterious quantity even today. It is without doubt that red diamonds are […]
Birthstone Guide: Peridot for Those Born in August
Those born in August have vibrant green peridot as their birthstone. Lily Faber FGA DGA EG delves into this zesty gemstone to find out more about its physical properties and fascinating history. Peridot is the birthstone for August and is known for its rich green colour. It is one of the few gemstones that come […]
Synthetic Emeralds Grown by W. Zerfass: Historical Account, Growth Technology and Properties
Guy Lalous ACAM EG investigates the historical account of synthetic emeralds grown by W. Zerfass. Summarising a technical article from The Journal of Gemmology, focus is centred upon the growth technology and geological properties of one of the world’s most beautiful gemstones. Emerald is the green variety of the mineral beryl, contains beryllium and is […]
A Man of the Ocean: Diving for Organics with Eric Fritz
In a recent trip to the London headquarters, Eric Fritz, FDGA DGA manager of North America for Gem-A stopped by for an industry insider Q&A, educating us on theoretical and practical guidance of organic materials. Sarah Salmon speaks to the man of organic passion exploring the nature of these beautiful materials. With a passion for […]
Investigating Fake Pearls Made from Tridacna Gigas Shells
This article by Guy Lalous ACAM EG summarises a technical article from The Journal of Gemmology discussing fake pearls made from Tridacna shell. Tridacna is a genus of large saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the subfamily Tridacninae.They inhabit shallow waters of coral reefs in warm seas of the Indo-Pacific region. All species of the […]
Field Trip: The ‘Emerald Desert’ in Western Australia
Author, British jewellery designer and Gems&Jewellery contributor Joanna Angelett describes her recent gemmological trip to Western Australia. We decided to take a trip to the ‘Emerald Desert’ in Western Australia, to look for emeralds. After arriving at Kalbarri National Park and spending a week, surrounded by its stunning pristine beauty, it was not a very […]
Natural vs Enhanced: Navigating Lapidary Materials
Helen Serras-Herman FGA guides us through the varieties of all-natural and enhanced gem materials, highlighting key treatments and their impact on the marketplace. There is an endless inventory of lapidary gem material on the market today, created or enhanced to look like other natural materials, usually one that is rare and expensive. Most of these […]
How to Assess the Value of an Opal: A Beginner’s Guide to Pricing
Although once known as ‘bad luck’, opals are fast becoming one of the most sought after gemstones in jewellery collections. But what makes one opal worth thousands and others mere pounds and pence? Here, Gem-A Instruments manager, Samatha Lloyd FGA EG, offers a quick but essential guide to opal value factors and what distinguishes a […]
