synthetic corundum

  • A Sapphire's Secret | Synthetic Yellow Sapphire

    A Sapphire's Secret

    At the Lotus Gemology laboratory in Bangkok, we often get parcels of relatively uniform stones. But sometimes it is in this routine testing that we uncover surprises.

  • Book | Ruby & Sapphire | A Collector's Guide | 2014 | Order Page

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide

    Introducing…

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector’s Guide

    by Richard W. Hughes
    with photographs by Wimon Manorotkul and E. Billie Hughes

    This impressive coffee-table style volume takes readers into the secret world of ruby and sapphire, through the pen and lens of international expert, Richard Hughes. The author guides readers with the steady eye of a connoisseur, explaining what collectors should look for in ruby and sapphire. Many pictured pieces feature actual auction prices, aiding collectors in their buying decisions. Illustrated with more than 400 magnificent color photographs, for anyone with an interest in precious stones, this is a visual and intellectual feast of the most delicious order.

    Published 2014; Sold Out

    Hardcover with Dust Jacket
    384 pages; 240 x 280 mm (9.45 x 11 inches); 2.4 kg shipping weight
    Full Color Throughout

    Sold Out

    Check out our coffee-table style book Inside Out.


     

    Content

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Résumé

    1. Résumé

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Résumé

    History

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Source

    2. Source

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Source

    Geology

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Valley of Serpents

    Valley of Serpents

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Valley of Serpents

    Afghanistan

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Australia

    Australia

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – India

    India

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Kenya

    Kenya

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Malawi

    Laos

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Madagascar

    Madagascar

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Malawi

    Malawi

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Mozambique

    Mozambique

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Myanmar

    Myanmar

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Nepal

    Nepal

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Nepal

    Pakistan

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Rwanda

    Rwanda

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Tajikistan

    Tajikistan

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Tanzania

    Tanzania

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Thailand & Cambodia

    Thailand & Cambodia

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Thailand & Cambodia

    Thailand & Cambodia

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Montana

    USA–Montana

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Vietnam

    Vietnam

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Connoisseur

    3. Connoisseur

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Connoisseur

    Cutting

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Connoisseur

    From Pigeon's Blood to Peacock's Neck

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Connoisseur

    Ruby & Sapphire Prices

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Connoisseur

    Does Size Matter?

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Connoisseur

    The Tao of Jewelry

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Forensic

    4. Forensic

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Forensic

    Inner Space

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Forensic

    Enhancements

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Forensic

    Connoisseurship of Crystals

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Forensic

    5. Heart

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Forensic

    Gem Cutting in Thailand

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Forensic

    The Thai Jeweler's Art

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Library

    6. Library

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Library

    Library

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Library

    Library

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Portfolio

    7. Portfolio

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Portfolio

    Portfolio

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide – Index

    Index

     

  • Book | Ruby & Sapphire | A Gemologist's Guide | Order Page

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide

    Introducing…

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide

    by Richard W. Hughes
    with Wimon Manorotkul and E. Billie Hughes

    This massive volume is the most comprehensive book ever written on a single precious stone. Designed as a companion volume to Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide, it is aimed specifically at working gemologists, appraisers and students. Based on Richard W. Hughes' 1997 classic, Ruby & Sapphire, this edition is fully updated. The product of nearly 40 years of firsthand experience and research, it covers every aspect of the subject from A–Z. History, sources, prices, quality analysis, synthetics and treatments, everything is here. Ruby & Sapphire—A Gemologist’s Guide represents the definitive reference on the subject. With over 1000 photos, maps and illustrations and 3500 references, it is nothing less than a tour-de-force of gemological scholarship.

     

    Published 2017; Sold Out

    International Shipping & Handling from Thailand
    Ships via International Parcel Air (2-3 weeks)

    Hardcover with Dust Jacket
    816 pages; 240 x 280 mm (9.45 x 11 inches); 4.6 kg shipping weight
    Full Color Throughout

    Standard & Limited Editions: Sold Out

    Check out our coffee-table style book Inside Out.


     

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Gallery

    Gallery

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Gallery

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Gallery

     

    Title Page

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Title Page

     

    Contents

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Contents

     

    Contents

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Contents

     

    Introduction

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Introduction

     

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – History

    1. History

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – History

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – History

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Chemistry & Crystallography

    2. Chemistry & Crystallography

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Chemistry & Crystallography

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Chemistry & Crystallography

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Properties & Phenomena

    3. Properties & Phenomena

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Properties & Phenomena

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Properties & Phenomena

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Color, Spectra & Luminescence

    4. Color & Luminescence

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Color, Spectra & Luminescence

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Color, Spectra & Luminescence

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Inclusions

    5. Inclusions

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Inclusions

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Inclusions

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Treatments

    6. Treatments

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Treatments

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Treatments

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Synthetic Corundum

    7. Synthetic Corundum

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Synthetic Corundum

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Synthetic Corundum

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Assembled Stones

    8. Assembled Stones

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Assembled Stones

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Assembled Stones

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Methods of Fashioning

    9. Methods of Fashioning

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Methods of Fashioning

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Methods of Fashioning

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Judging Quality

    10. Judging Quality

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Judging Quality

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Judging Quality

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Geology

    11. Geology

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Geology

     

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Geology

     

     

    12. World Sources

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources

     

     

    Afghanistan

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Afghanistan

    Australia

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Australia

    China

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: China

    Colombia

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Colombia

    France & Greenland

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: France & Greenland

    India

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: India

    Kenya

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Kenya

    Laos

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Laos

    Madagascar

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Madagascar

    Malawi

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Malawi

    Mozambique

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Mozambique

    Myanmar

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Myanmar

    Nepal & Nigeria

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Nepal & Nigeria

    Pakistan

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Pakistan

    Rwanda

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Rwanda

    Sri Lanka

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Sri Lanka

    Tajikistan

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Tajikistan

    Tanzania

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Tanzania

    Thailand/Cambodia

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Thailand/Cambodia

    USA

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: USA

    Vietnam

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – World Sources: Vietnam

     

    Appendix A: Tagore's Mani-Mala

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Appendix A: Tagore's Mani-Mala

     
     

    Appendix B: Prices & ID Flow Charts

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Appendix B: Prices & ID Flow Charts

     
     

    Index

    Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide – Index

     

     

    Click on the icon to download a corrected Table of Contents and Errata sheet for the current volume (PDF).

    Errata

    Comments from reviewers…

    Voilà un livre de poids, 735 pages et plus de 4 kg qui enrichira vos connaissances historiques comme scientifiques et gemmologiques. L' auteur, bien connu des gemmologues, nous offre un nouveau voyage dans l' univers des corindons. C' est un livre à regarder, approcher, toucher, feuilleter, découvrir enen l' ouvrant avec à la fois impatience et retenue, pour finalement s' y abandonner. C' est une leçon de vie, un livre-compagnon à déguster sans modération.

     —Association Française de Gemmologie

     
     
     
  • Buying at the Source | Dick's Law and Other Sundry Maxims of the East

    Buying at the Source

    An essay on buying gems at the source in Asia, with a discussion of how con men play on the greed of those who believe gems will be cheaper at the mines.

  • Curved Banding in Flame-Fusion Synthetic Sapphires

    Curved Banding in Flame-Fusion Synthetic Sapphires

    Short-wave fluorescent illumination provides a useful tool to spot curved banding in flame-fusion synthetic sapphire.

  • Padparadscha or Pretender | An Unusual Pink-Orange Sapphire

    Padparadscha or Pretender • An Unusual Pink-Orange Sapphire

    An orangish pink “padparadscha” sapphire was submitted for testing at Lotus Gemology’s Bangkok laboratory. Testing showed a number of conflicting features that suggested the gem was a cleverly treated synthetic pink sapphire designed to imitate natural padparadscha.

  • Pleochroism in Faceted Gems | An Introduction

    Pleochroism in Faceted Gems • An Introduction • Lotus Gemology

    The phenomenon of pleochroism in doubly refractive (DR) gemstones is described, as it relates to overall color appearance in the context of faceted gems. With strongly pleochroic gems, pleochroism can be seen in faceted gems, even if the table facet is oriented perpendicular to an optic axis. This is because facets change the direction of light as it moves through the gem.

  • Ruby & Sapphire Books | Collecting the Literature of Corundum | Hidden Treasure

    Ruby & Sapphire Books • Collecting the Literature of Ruby & Sapphire (Corundum) • Hidden Treasure

    A discussion of the literature of ruby and sapphire (corundum), with particular emphasis on the most collectible books covering ruby and sapphire around the world.

  • Verneuil Synthetic Corundum ID | Dangerous Curves

    Dangerous Curves • A Reexamination of Verneuil Synthetic Corundum

    Virtually all gemologists are aware of the curved growth lines and gas bubbles in Verneuil (flame-fusion) synthetic corundum, but few understand exactly why they occur and how they are distributed in these stones. This article clarifies these important identifying features.