What Should Be in the Ideal Gemmologist’s Toolkit?
Gem-A Instruments manager, Sam Lloyd FGA DGA EG shares her advice on compiling your own gemmology toolkit that’s useful, portable and reliable in the field or at trade events. How many of Sam’s essential items are in your collection? Find out here… For me, the essentials of any gemmology toolkit start with the hand-held instruments. […]
Gem-A Photographer of the Year Competition Returns for 2019!
We are thrilled to announce that the Gem-A Photographer of the Year competition is back for 2019! With new rules, a new judging process, and fantastic new prizes, this year’s competition promises to be our biggest and best yet. What’s more, while the competition had traditionally only been open to Gem-A Members and students, we […]
Understanding Stibnite
Gem-A assistant gemmology tutor, Dr Juliette Hibou FGA explores the history, origins and chemical composition of the mineral, stibnite, which can be found in the Gem-A Gemstone & Mineral Collection. Stibnite is an antimony trisulphide mineral with the chemical formula Sb2S3. It is a natural mineral source of the chemical element antimony (Sb), which is […]
Explore the History of Garnet in Antique Jewellery
Gems&Jewellery is delighted to welcome jewellery historian and valuer, John Benjamin FGA DGA FIRV as our columnist for 2019. As part of a new Gemstone Conversations series, John explores the history of the use of garnet in antique jewellery and tells us why we should give more credit to this special yet undervalued gemstone. I have […]
What Are the Most Important Gemstone Producing Countries in the World?
Gem-A operations manager Charles Evans FGA DGA considers whether gemmologists can put gem-producing countries into an ‘order of importance’ and offers his thoughts on what would make the perfect gemstone-hunting holiday. What if you are a keen gemmologist who has just come into some money, left to you on the express condition that you take […]
How to Identify Antique Edwardian Jewellery
Understanding how to identify jewellery from different eras and design movements is essential for historians, valuers and antique collectors. Here, Starla Turner FGA GG offers us a glimpse into the refined and elegant world of Edwardian jewellery and describes the motifs that make pieces recognisable. Fashion of the Edwardian Era The short reign of King […]
Breaking down the Misunderstandings about Precious Coral
Inspired by Pantone’s ‘Color of the Year 2019’, Rui Galopim de Carvalho FGA DGA dives into the underwater world of precious coral and addresses some of the misunderstandings around its use in the jewellery industry. The colour of many precious corals has been announced as the ‘Color of the Year 2019’ by Pantone, the US-based […]
Understanding Sugilite
The Gem-A Gemstone & Mineral Collection contains this vivid purple sugilite specimen. Here, assistant gemmology tutor, Dr Juliette Hibou FGA, explains more about this unusual mineral that was only discovered in 1944. The mineral sugilite is a relatively recent discovery. The Japanese petrologist Ken-Ichi Sugi (1901-1948) from the Imperial University in Kyushu was the first […]
Buying Guide: Coloured Diamonds from Least to Most Valuable
The typical image of a diamond tends to be of a clear and colourless stone, therefore it is hardly surprising that these are presumed to have the highest monetary value. In reality, diamonds can present as a range of different colours and uniquely-coloured diamonds can command premium prices. Coloured diamonds are created when impurities or […]
Gem-A Gemstone & Mineral Collection: Understanding Selenite
The Gem-A Gemstone & Mineral Collection contains this fantastic selenite specimen with grass-like green blades that shoot-out from the host rock. Assistant gemmology tutor, Dr Juliette Hibou FGA, explains more about the origins and properties of this striking gem material. Although sometimes used as a synonymous for the mineral gypsum, selenite strictly refers to the colourless […]
