Lotus • Articles from Lotus Gemology
Emerald Buddha | Symbol of the Kingdom of Thailand
Emerald Buddha | Symbol of the Kingdom of Thailand
- Richard W. Hughes
An exploration of the history and lore of the Emerald Buddha, a green statue that resides in Bangkok, Thailand’s Wat Phra Kaeo and watches over Thailand.
Jade Buying Guide | Jade Auction Records
Jade Buying Guide | Jade Auction Records
- Richard W. Hughes
This article discusses the factors that influence quality and what to look for when buying both jadeite and nephrite. A list of jade auction records is also included.
Burmese Jade | The Inscrutable Gem
Burmese Jade | The Inscrutable Gem
- Richard W. Hughes, Olivier Galibert, George Bosshart, Fred Ward, Thet Oo, Mark Smith, Tay Thye Sun & George Harlow
Myanmar's jadeite mines occupy a privileged place, representing the planet's principal source of fine jadeite jade. This article covers the deposits themselves, along with the cutting, grading and trading of jadeite.
Buying at the Source | Dick's Law and Other Sundry Maxims of the East
Buying at the Source | Dick's Law and Other Sundry Maxims of the East
- Richard W. Hughes
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.
Sorcerers & Sapphires | A Visit to Madagascar
Sorcerers & Sapphires | A Visit to Madagascar
- Richard W. Hughes, with Vincent Pardieu & Dana Schorr
In search of ruby and sapphire on the lost Isle of Madagascar.
Ruby, Sapphire & Spinel Auction Records | Under the Hammer
Ruby, Sapphire & Spinel Auction Records | Under the Hammer
- Richard W. Hughes
World auction records for ruby, sapphire and spinel.
Mogok Geology Primer | Rock Talk
Mogok Geology Primer | Rock Talk
- Wilawan Atichat & Richard W. Hughes
A look at the geology of Myanmar's Mogok Stone Tract, home to pigeon's blood rubies and so much more…
The Last Thai Ruby Miner | Red Sky at Dusk
The Last Thai Ruby Miner | Red Sky at Dusk
- Richard W. Hughes & Vincent Pardieu, with Michael Rogers, Olivier Segura and Philippe Ressigeac
In search of Thailand's last ruby miner.
Heat Seeker | UV Fluorescence as a Gemological Tool
Heat Seeker | UV Fluorescence as a Gemological Tool
- Richard W. Hughes & John L. Emmett
One of the greatest gemological challenges is determining if a ruby or sapphire has been heat treated. UV fluorescence can assist in that identification, as well as detecting fillers in emerald.
Spinel | Resurrection of a Classic
Spinel | Resurrection of a Classic
- Vincent Pardieu, with Richard W. Hughes & Edward Boehm
Since the turn of the millennium, the price of fine spinel has risen at an incredible pace. No longer simply the poor man's ruby, spinel is finally getting the attention it deserves as one of the world's premier gems.
In Search of the Lost Andesine Mines | Part 2 | Faith
In Search of the Lost Andesine Mines | Part 2 | Faith
- Richard W. Hughes with E. Billie Hughes, Wimon Manorotkul & Dana Schorr
The mining of natural red andesine in Tibet has been a subject of controversy. This article describes RWH's second visit to the Tibetan deposit.
In Search of the Lost Andesine Mines | Part 1 | Hunting Barack Osama in Tibet
In Search of the Lost Andesine Mines | Part 1 | Hunting Barack Osama in Tibet
- Richard W. Hughes with Ahmadjan Abduriyim, Flavie Isatelle, Christina Iu, Brendan Laurs, Thanong Leelawatanasuk, Li Tong, Lou Li Ping and Young Sze Man
The subject of andesine in Tibet has been one of controversy since 2008. This article examines the history of the issue, along with detailing an October 2010 visit to the Tibetan andesine deposit.
Fracture Healing of Ruby | Fluxed Up
Fracture Healing of Ruby | Fluxed Up
- Richard W. Hughes & John L. Emmett
A discussion of the flux-healing treatment of rubies. This article was given the Richard T. Liddicoat Journalism Award by the American Gem Society in 2005.
Gem Treatment Disclosure | Trust
Gem Treatment Disclosure | Trust
- John L. Emmett & Richard W. Hughes
The ethics of gem enhancement disclosure.
Sapphire Connoisseurship | Judging Sapphire | Passion Fruit
Sapphire Connoisseurship | Judging Sapphire | Passion Fruit
- Richard W. Hughes
Sapphire is one of the classic gems. In this article, Lotus Gemology's resident connoisseur casts a discerning eye at the factors that contribute to quality in this legendary precious stone.
Ruby Connoisseurship | Seeing Red
Ruby Connoisseurship | Seeing Red
- Richard W. Hughes
A loving look at ruby – the gem of passion – from the standpoint of the connoisseur.
Tanzanite Mines of Merelani | Working the Blueseam
Tanzanite Mines of Merelani | Working the Blueseam
- Vincent Pardieu & Richard W. Hughes with Guillaume Soubiraa, Michael Rogers, Warne & Montgomery Chitty & Philippe Brunot
An over-and-underground look at the tanzanite mines of Merelani, Tanzania, where the First World meets the Third, and graphite-covered miners pull glittering blue gems from black earth.
Guangzhou Jade Market Puzzle | A Chinese Jade Box
Guangzhou Jade Market Puzzle | A Chinese Jade Box
- Richard W. Hughes, Thanong Leelawatanasuk, Wimon Manorotkul, Bonita Kwok, Lore Kiefert & Anne Carroll Marshall
An investigation into nephrite and imitation nephrite pebbles purchased in Guangzhou, China's Hualin Street jade market.
Gem Inclusions & the Symmetry of Crystals | Inside Out
Gem Inclusions & the Symmetry of Crystals | Inside Out
- Richard W. Hughes
A discussion of how inclusion patterns mimic crystallographic symmetry in ruby and sapphire.
Fiber-Optic Light in Gemology | Living in the Dark Ages
Fiber-Optic Light in Gemology | Living in the Dark Ages
- John I. Koivula & Richard W. Hughes
The role of fiber-optic lighting in gemological microscopy.