Red and Yellow…Emeralds?
History tells us that emeralds are green. Gemology tells us that emeralds are green. In the late 1990’s one company started campaigning to refer to red beryl as red emerald, to market the rare gem…
Colored Stone MarketBuying at the Source: The Virtues of Dick’s Law and Other Sundry Maxims of the East
There are many humorous things in the world; among them the white man's notion that he is less savage than the other savages. Mark Twain, Following the Equator, p. 213 Go East Young Man From the times of Alexander…
Featured ArticlesRuby Treatment Continues to Raise Nomenclature Issues
The article, In Support of the Term Stabilized Ruby, published in the March/April 2010 issue, elicited mixed response and concern over proper terminology. Gemworld is not opposed to the term glass-filled ruby. However, due to…
Featured ArticlesDiamonds: Substance, Significance, and Symbol. A Conference in New York City
Initiatives in Art and Culture, based in New York City, hosts many conferences related to the arts and culture. Recently, some topics of interest crossed into the gem industry. They presented a conference on coral…
Featured ArticlesAn Introduction to Archaeogemology
This article endeavors to provide a brief discussion of the new research concept known as archaeogemology, a relatively unknown discipline that applies a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the identity and origin of gem artifacts and…
Featured ArticlesSimple Float Test for Distinguishing Diamagnetic from Paramagnetic Gems
Most materials are diamagnetic, that is repelled by a magnet. Those containing any of the transition elements iron, manganese, chromium, etc., or the rare earths may be paramagnetic or attracted to a magnet. Ferromagnetic materials…
Featured ArticlesIn Support of the Term Stabilized Ruby
In late 2009, the Accredited Gemologists Association called attention to “ruby†products being sold as natural ruby in spite of the presence of a considerable amount of lead-glass component in the stones. In a hidden…
Featured ArticlesThe Evolution of Analytical Equipment in Gemology-Advantages and Dangers
It was only in the early 1980s when scientists like the well-known mineralogist and gemologist George Bosshart demonstrated the usefulness of spectrometers in gemstone analysis. Surprisingly enough, only a few laboratories jumped on the train…
Featured ArticlesBeryls-Natural and Synthetic
The beryl family has an interesting range of varieties (Figure-1), with the emerald tending to take ‘centre stage.’ Some evidence supporting this comes in the form of early synthetic emeralds in my teaching collection (Figure…
Featured ArticlesBetwixt Two Worlds: A Search for Gemology in the 21st Century
ABSTRACT This article looks at gemology from two different, but complimentary perspectives, drawing the following conclusions: Scientific gemology needs experimentation in addition to observation. Unassailable source material is the foundation upon which that experimentation should be based…
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