Protective Jewelry Settings for Gemstones The most beautiful gemstone in the world can be damaged by the wrong setting. A rare alexandrite in an exposed prong ring worn daily. An…
Diffusion Treatments in Sapphire In the early 2000s, the coloured stone trade was rocked by the discovery of a new sapphire treatment that was extraordinarily difficult to detect: beryllium diffusion.…
Detecting Treated Gemstones Gemstone treatment is ubiquitous in the modern market. The majority of commercial rubies are heat treated. Virtually all aquamarines are heat treated. Most tanzanites are heat treated.…
African Gemstone Deposits Africa has transformed the global gemstone trade over the past half century. Where Asian sources once dominated premium coloured stone production, African discoveries have reshaped the supply…
South American Gemstone Sources South America is home to some of the most important gemstone deposits in the world. Brazil is the global leader in tourmaline production, a major producer…
Asian Gemstone Mining Regions Asia is the cradle of the gem trade. For thousands of years before European involvement, the gem routes of Asia connected the mines of Myanmar, Sri…
The Role of Gem Brokers in the Trade Between the mine and the jewellery counter lies a chain of intermediaries, and the gem broker is often the most important link…
Opal: The Complete Guide No gem captures the imagination quite like opal. Its play of colour -- that shifting, dancing display of spectral hues -- has no equivalent in the…
Zircon: The Complete Guide Zircon suffers from one of the most unfortunate cases of mistaken identity in the gem world. Its name is routinely confused with cubic zirconia -- a…
Jade: The Complete Guide Jade is one of the most culturally resonant gemstones in human history. In China, it has been revered for over 7,000 years -- no other gem…