Once again, GIA’s Gems & Gemology (Fall issue 2024) gives us more information than we can absorb in one sitting.
Read This
And because we are in the throws of the holidays, let’s not ramble on – here is what we should be paying attention to (once we get the time):
1.) GIA’s latest glimpse into assessing fancy-shaped diamonds. Did you know that GIA has a laboratory solely focused on Cut Grading fancy shape diamonds? This is complicated, and it becomes very evident when you dig into this feature article about Observations of Oval-, Pear-, and Marquise-Shaped Diamonds: Implications for Fancy Cut Grading. This is a 10 year study that just “lays the foundation for a fancy cut grading system.”
patterns are profound, as displayed by the details in the virtual facet maps. Therefore, individual taste
becomes an important factor for a grading system to acknowledge.
2.) Getting into the weeds of gem identification is the Classification of Gem Materials Using Machine Learning. GIA gives us a closer look at how the lab uses machine learning models to complement traditional gem classification approaches.
3.) Then there’s a look at a relatively new find (2017) of Amethyst from Newfoundland, Canada: Geology, Internal Features, and Fluid Inclusion Microthermometry.
Wait – what is Microthermometry?
That’s right, the heating and cooling of inclusions under microscopic examination to make growth determinations. This technique is used to determine temperatures at which minerals form, testing the temperatures of fluid inclusions inside the gem. Or as stated in the article, “gain insights into formation temperature and hydrothermal fluid salinity by conducting fluid inclusion microthermometry on primary and secondary inclusions, and (5) use these data to develop an understanding of this new gem-quality amethyst occurrence and how it compares, geologically and gemologically, to others.” Okay.
The one on the right (2.57 ct) is an example of light purple amethyst. Photo by Philippe Belley.
Lab Notes
You should be able to spend at least a few minutes here – in G&G’s Lab Notes.
1.) Extremely rare examples of green haüyne
Haüyne is becoming a commonly talked about gem material – even as rare as it is. We saw some great layouts of blue material in Munich. But we dd not see green!
green to bluish green were identified as the rare gem haüyne.
2.) Unusual colored banding in a CVD-grown diamond
3.) Unique multicore non-bead cultured pearl
Micro-World
Everyone gravitates to this section! This time we see some bizarre brown zoning, a “mask,” a flock of butterflies all flying in the same direction, and a tiny fish – all inside diamonds. Then there are fireworks inside a Russian emerald, and more …
Diamond Reflections
There’s also Dr. Evan Smith’s Diamond Reflections column, examining new developments in the story of diamond formation and their extraction from the earth.
Gem News International
Probably one of our favorite sections in the magazine, here is where you see a variety of reports from all over the world. This issue features a behind-the-scenes look at Gemfields emerald and ruby auctions in Bangkok, new sapphire production in Tanzania, an interview in New York with master diamond cutter Harvey Lieberman, and GIA’s examination of a diamond art reproduction of Nelson Mandela’s fingerprint – the cover image, and more!
Last but not least
TREASURE!
Who doesn’t like to read about a shipwreck full of jewels? G&G features Splendors from the Deep: Historic Treasures from a Spanish Shipwreck… Historical jewelry artifacts recently recovered from a 1715 Spanish shipwreck and analyzed in the Carlsbad laboratory.
Tap here to download your copy of the latest G&G here!
