Articles

Some yellow sapphires contain unstable color centers. The following discussion outlines case studies of stones that faded after testing in the lab, and how color may be restored.

A web-like fingerprint creates a maze-like pattern in spinel.

Oil treatment has a significant impact on the appearance of an apatite.

Hogbomite-filled dislocations in a Vietnamese spinel.

The early history of beryllium diffusion in sapphire, starting with the 2001 appearance of large numbers of padparadscha sapphires in the Thai gem market.

The internal world never fails to amaze, as witnessed by this incredible video of a negative crystal in a Sri Lanka sapphire.

An apatite crystal appears to float, suspended over a rutile silk cloud in a star sapphire.

This article examines a blue apatite crystal that was found in a pyrope-spessartine garnet that is said to have come from Tanzania's Lindi Province.

This article discusses the challenges of identifying inclusions based on observation alone. While certain features can help narrow down the possibilities, other methods such as micro Raman help identify inclusions with a greater degree of certainty.

The story of Richard Hughes' four-decade adventure with jade, from Burma's jadeite mines to China's classic mutton-fat nephrite deposit at Hetian, Xinjiang Province. The work of China's modern jade carving masters is also discussed.