Birthstones are a fun, popular and colorful introduction to the world of gemstones. They appeal to audiences around the world regardless of gender, age, nationality or religion. Birthstones carry ...

During the past 25 years, the corundum market has been transformed from one of medium to high-priced gems to one that encompasses nearly all price ranges. This transformation was caused by the ...

Adjacent amethyst and citrine colors in the same crystal of quartz have been reported from South America, although there appears to be uncertainty as to the exact locality of origin. Such material has ...

Those born in January are lucky to have the beautiful and diverse garnet as their birthstone. Garnets are commonly red but also come in an extraordinary range of beautiful colors, including orange, ...

Brazil is currently the leader in overall production of amethyst. This article describes the author's visits to three of Brazil’s most important mining areas: Marabá, Pau d’Arco, and Rio Grande do Sul ...

A color-change sapphire was recently submitted to the GIA lab in Carlsbad for an origin determination report. The 5.68 ct transparent cushion mixed cut displayed a strong color change from grayish ...

The best ametrines show distinct areas of orangy yellow and purple. These colors are featured in this graceful cut design. Photo by Lydia Dyer, © John Dyer & Co ...

A new deposit of scheelite was discovered in 1983 near Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. This article analyzes the gemological properties of this rare gem mineral, and compares them with those recorded for ...

Most Russian hydrothermal synthetic rubies and pink, orange, green, blue, and violet sapphires—colored by chromium and/or nickel—reveal diagnostic zigzag or mosaic-like growth structures associated ...

This 146.10-carat peridot is in the collection of the Natural History Museum in London Peridot has always been associated with light. In fact, the Egyptians called it the “gem of the sun.” Some ...

Laser sawing of diamonds is beginning to revolutionize the diamond-cutting industry. Not only does the laser saw offer savings in time and money, but it also enables the cutting of material virtually ...

Amethyst may develop into the more common citrine and rarer green quartz naturally under certain geologic conditions. On the California-Nevada border, just north of Reno, amethyst, citrine, and green ...