by E. Billie Hughes
Made You Look • The Challenges of Identifying Inclusions at First Sight

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.

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by E. Billie Hughes

Welcome to Hyperion Sherlock, Lotus Gemology's Advanced Gem Inclusion Search Engine. This allows you to search for inclusions by the gem species (corundum, spinel, beryl, chrysoberyl) or variety (ruby, sapphire, emerald, alexandrite). You can even search by country of origin or locality. The result will be a table listing all known solid inclusions in that gem material. Each inclusion is fully documented with references of when it was first discovered.

Where we have photographs of that inclusion, those will also show up in the search. See anything missing? Let us know with the reference and we will consider adding it to the database.

Hyperion Sherlock is part of Lotus Gemology's ongoing effort to provide tools to help gemologists learn more about gems. Enjoy!

Simple Search

by Richard Hughes
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.

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by Richard W. Hughes

The story of Richard Hughes' four-decade adventure with jade, from Burma's fei cui 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.

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by Richard W. Hughes, E. Billie Hughes & Wimon Manorotkul
Black Star Sapphire Surprise

A large black star sapphire was brought in for testing. Two large pits on the base were carefully filled with brown dopping varnish. After removal of the varnish with alcohol, it was found that a large portion of the base had been filled with a lead glass.

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by E. Billie Hughes
Contemporary Jade Carving in China • Interview with Lin Tze-Chuan

The word "jade" often evokes the green jadeite used in jewelry. However, some of the most valuable jade in China is not this green jadeite, but in the creamy "mutton fat" carved nephrite from Hetian, Xinjiang province. In the past, many carvings touched upon familiar motifs like dragons or religious symbols, while in recent decades there has been a revolution of carving, with artists incorporating modern themes and styles into their work. Lin Tze-Chuan, an influential collector and patron of many jade carvers, is considered by many to be the father of Chinese contemporary jade carving. Here he discusses the changing world of jade carving and what he looks for when commissioning new work.

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by E. Billie Hughes
Gems & Gemology Lectures

Lotus Gemology's gemologists have lectured extensively about a wide variety of gemological topics including ruby, sapphire, jade, and more.

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by Richard W. Hughes & Wimon Manorotkul
FTIR in Gem Testing • A Pink Sapphire Lesson

A discussion of DRIFTS vs the Beam Condenser FTIR attachment in the testing of pink sapphire. The DRIFTS accessory is generally much better at unmasking heat treatment in ruby and sapphire.

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by Richard Hughes & E. Billie Hughes
World Sapphire Market Update • 2020 • Lotus Gemology

The world sapphire market has changed dramatically in the past 40 years. The authors review the famous sources of the past and look at the current situation in sapphire around the globe.

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by E. Billie Hughes and Rosey Perkins
Madagascar Sapphire: Low-Temperature Heat Treatment Experiments

Madagascar has become one of the world’s top sources of fine blue sapphire in recent times. In addition to beautiful untreated material, increasing numbers of treated stones have appeared in the market. Some have been heated to relatively low temperatures, below 1350°C, to lighten their color. To help separate unheated and heated Madagascar sapphire, the authors performed experiments to document the changes they undergo with low-temperature heat treatment in air, which is an oxidizing atmosphere.

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