No one has ever visited the depths of our planet. However, a team of researchers from GIA and other institutions were able to gain incredible insight into the deep mantle – 660…
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Lab-grown diamonds have gained increased popularity in recent times. Today’s cutting-edge technology has made it possible to replicate a diamond’s natural growth in highly controlled environments. The result has been the production…
Precious metals analyst Sanjiv Arole examines the market forces that are driving palladium’s fortunes. Although palladium was classified as a precious metal only in 2009, it became the most expensive precious metal…
This article has been republished with permission from BBC News at bbc.co.uk/news All photos are for illustration purposes only. In 2016 Narendra Garwa was facing a desperate financial situation. His small book…
Gemologists at Bangkok’s Lotus Gemology recently received a 6 ct ruby for identification. Declared to be an untreated ruby from Mozambique, the stone featured a superb vivid red color of a type…
Emeralds are known to have natural cracks or fractures. The filling of surface-reaching fractures with various oils and resins is the most common practice to minimize fractures to improve an emerald’s appearance.…
The selling of simulants and synthetics mixed with parcels of natural stones is an old form of deception. It usually happens close to mines, where inexperienced buyers assume the gemstones come directly…
New technologies are increasingly being applied to cultured pearls, and it is exciting to witness developments in pearl traceability. GIA’s Bangkok laboratory recently received two South Sea bead cultured pearl necklaces, each…
Recently, the authors examined a 2.01 ct Faint green round brilliant diamond with a fascinating diamond crystal inclusion that displayed a transparent, ghost-like appearance. Due to the large size of this nearly…
The authors recently examined a 5.19 ct type IIa natural diamond (figure 1) displaying numerous etch channels (figure 2). Etch channels are open tubes whose formation is related to dissolution processes within…