There are Precious Metals — and then there are Precious Medals
In our world, when someone says gold, silver, or platinum, we instinctively ask:What karat? What fineness? What weight?
In another world — the Olympic world...
Gem-A’s GemIntro: A Practical Entry Point Into Gemmology
Gem-A’s GemIntroA Practical Entry Point Into GemmologyOpening the Door to Deeper Knowledge and Lifelong Discovery
Every so often, someone asks me, “Where should I start...
No More Mining Licenses, No Exports of Rough Minerals: Malawi Presses Pause — Again?
In February of last year, Malawi announced what was described as a 21-day halt on gemstone export permits while it reviewed its valuation framework....
Gemological Science has lost a Champion: George Rossman, PhD, 1944–2026
In Memoriam
George Rossman, PhD, 1944–2026, Professor of Mineralogy, Emeritus,California Institute of Technology , died on Friday, February 6, 2026. He was 81 years old.
On...
Inside the War Room: How AGTA Took Its Tariff Case to Washington
On day two of the AGTA DYNAMIC Seminar Series, AGTA President Bruce Bridges and CEO John Ford did not step up with prepared remarks....
India Hails “Zero Tariffs” on Gems — But the Deal Is Still Only a...
India’s gem and jewelry sector is celebrating what it calls a turning point: zero-duty access for diamonds and colored gemstones to the United States.
But...
Sri Lanka’s Gem Import Tax Revision: Correcting a Two-Year Government Policy Misstep
For nearly two years, Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry has been operating under a quiet but severe choke point: stones were simply not...
Bangkok Gem Night Returns February 23 — Networking With a Purpose
The next Bangkok Gem Night takes place on Monday, February 23, offering members of the gem and jewelry trade an informal evening of networking...
Street Art, “Codex On the Rocks”: How Urban Art is Getting People Through the...
A new exhibition at Paris’s Musée de Minéralogie offers an unusual — and surprisingly thoughtful — intersection of contemporary street art and historic mineral...
Scoping It Out: Photomicrography from Melissa Scarani
Here we have a 0.25 ct. round brilliant cut diamond with an extraordinary garnet crystal. Melissa not only captures the crystal beautifully, she manages...
Why the African Diamond Council Says the Kimberley Process Definition Is Broken
In an extensive interview with Rough&Polished, the ADC chairman Dr. M'zée Fula Ngenge argued that the Kimberley Process’s definition of “conflict diamonds” no longer...
AGTA and Stuller Expand Retail Access to AGTA Responsibly Sourced Colored Gemstones
The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) and Stuller have announced a partnership that brings responsibly sourced colored gemstones from AGTA member vendors directly into...
