IN FOCUS

The Eternal Lure of Jadau

Amplified with an assortment of precious gemstones, pearls and polkis, jadau jewellery still retains a hold over today’s brides. Jadau jewellery is a perennial favourite of Indian brides for decades. Handcrafted with…

Australia’s Gold Output Hits Record High In 2020

Australia’s gold mine output totalled 327 tonnes in 2020, a record for any calendar year and about 1.5 tonnes more than in calendar 2019, according to Melbourne-based gold mining consultants, Surbiton Associates.…

Oiled Spinel

When it comes to clarity enhancement with oils and resins, a common belief is that the refractive index of the host gem must match that of the filler. If one follows this…

Interesting “Egg” in Rock Crystal Quartz with Rutile

The micro-world of gemology is fascinating and often mimics scenery, landscapes, or, in this case, food. Recently the authors examined a natural rock crystal quartz that showed needles piercing a yellow and…

Tree in Rock Crystal Quartz

The unusual quartz cabochon shown in figure 1 displays visually appealing dendritic inclusions that resemble trees. This inclusion scene is an excellent example of pareidolia, the tendency to assign familiar shapes to…

Man-Made “Inclusion”?

Two important internal features in gemstones are inclusions and fissures. Inclusions are an important source of information in the gemological evaluation process. They can often provide indications about geographic origin (see, e.g.,…

Winners of Platinum DNA Awards Revealed

Earrings took the spotlight as the winners of the inaugural Platinum DNA awards that were announced in January to a virtual audience of notable industry members. The first, second and third place…