Planning a Trip to Sri Lanka? The Tourist VAT Refund Counter was just re-Opened!
Thanks to the Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association (SLGJA), working with the National Gem & Jewellery Authority (NGJA), the Ministry of Industries, and...
AGTA Continues the Fight in Washington: Gem Imports Still at Risk of Tariffs
Here in the U.S, colored gemstones are at the center of a very real political battle.
On April 2, 2025, the U.S. government announced sweeping...
Mogok Under Attack: Myanmar’s Legendary Ruby-Mining Town Becomes the Latest Flashpoint in the Civil...
Following numerous posts on social media, we see that Mogok—Myanmar’s legendary gem mining region—has been under attack for several weeks now.
According to the latest...
AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards: Rules & Deadlines
Every year, the AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards spotlight some of the most creative minds in the gem and jewelry world. Launched back...
September HardRock Summit 2025: Gems, Minerals, Fossils, and One Seriously Expanded Showcase!
With HardRock Summit 2025 just over a month away, the Denver-based gem & mineral show is gearing up for one of its most ambitious...
“Gems” on the Beach – aka… Sea Glass: It’s a Treasure “for Shore” –...
"One's person's trash is another person's treasure" - Sea Glass. Treasure on the beach.It’s one of nature’s most charming recycling projects: trash turned into...
Into the Stone: Photomicrography from E. Billie Hughes
E. Billie Hughes, FGA, is a co-founder of Bangkok-based Lotus Gemology, a respected gemological laboratory and educational resource.
A graduate of UCLA, and a Fellow...
Understanding Fei Cui: The Trade Term Now Found on Jade Reports
Beginning June 1st, 2025, jadeite jade authenticity reports issued by Mason-Kay, started to look a little different. Mason-Kay, U.S. jade experts located in Colorado,...
Lotus Gemology: Emerald and Alexandrite in the same stone!
It’s not every day you come across a gemstone that brings together two of the trade’s most treasured varieties—emerald and alexandrite—in a single, faceted...
Rediscovering Red: Vietnamese Garnet and the Partnership Behind Its Return
Over the course of decades in the business, Richard von Sternberg has handled more than his share of remarkable gems. He’s built a long...
Ethical Gem Fair – Seattle
The Ethical Gem Suppliers collective is excited to announce its first-ever Ethical Gem Fair Seattle, taking place July 26th and 27th, 2025, open 10AM-5PM...
Hanging Up His Hiking Boots: Gary Bowersox Talks Gems, Journeys, and What’s Next
We’ve known Gary Bowersox for decades—first when he would visit GIA in Santa Monica, sharing tales of his gem-hunting expeditions in Afghanistan, and later...
