Articles

The early history of Burmese fei cui (pyroxene jade) in China has not been examined in detail. However, China’s economic expansion since 1978 has sparked renewed interest, prompting fresh efforts to better understand the history of this important gem. Building on earlier research, this article draws on both established and newly uncovered historical materials to provide a more comprehensive account of Empress Dowager Cixi’s influence on fei cui culture, while also addressing additional questions.

Thin films create a bouquet of color inside a Russian emerald.

A strikingly textured crystal is suspended within a pink spinel.

The earliest known emerald mines are thought to have been in Egypt. However recent discoveries suggest that emerald may have also been known from Central Asia.

This article traces the development of the modern gemological laboratory from 1925 to the present date, a 100-year journey that has seen not just a gradual and then explosive evolution in the application and maturity of the science, but importantly the standing that gemological laboratories have enjoyed within the gemstone industry and the scientific community. The passionate people involved have made tremendous contributions to the understanding of gem materials and their willingness to embrace the latest technology as well as attract successive generations to the field has made the study of gem materials within gemological laboratories one of the most exciting theatres of life.

East Africa's Mozambique orogenic belt stretches from Eastern Antarctica through East Africa to the Arabian penninsula. The highly mineralized zone is the source of many rich gem deposits, one of which is detailed in this article.

Distracting features in this ruby could easily cause gemologists to misidentify the stone. Learn more about how we unmasked this tricky synthetic.

Although many emerald deposits also produce alexandrite, particularly those formed in association with mica-rich schist, it is rare that both gems are found in such a close association that they can be fashioned into a single stone. This article details the examination of one such piece, reportedly originating from a deposit in Malysheva, Russia.

The following is a genuine conversation the author had with ChatGPT in May 2025. It provides a cautionary tale regarding the application of artifical intelligence without proper fact checking.

A curated list of the most important reference books on gems, gemology, jewelry, mineralogy and allied fields aimed at gemologists, book collectors and researchers.