Month: September 2018

Maxixe Beryl

Maxixe (pronounced mah-she-she) beryl is not frequently seen in the market but when it does occasionally surface, it can cause a bit of confusion. It is a distinct variety of beryl that is commonly mistaken…

The Practical Guide to Jewelry Appraising

The Practical Guide to Jewelry Appraising Fourth Edition 285 pp., soft cover ISBN: 978-1-5136-3660-3 ©2018 by American Gem Society $99.99 available through Altobelli Jewelers www.altobelli.com On the American Gem Society website, the opening sentences describing this book says it all. “First published…

Bi-Colored Sapphire

Ruby and blue sapphire may be the most popular varieties of corundum but nature is capable of producing other interesting varieties too. Although commonly known for tourmalines (watermelon) and quartz (ametrine), multicolored examples exist in…

Diamond Screeners/Testers

The jewelry industry has a real concern for the impact of lab grown and treated diamonds. Selling just one, even if unknowing, can be damaging to that seller’s reputation and potentially a legal issue. The concern is…