06/06/2019
β’ Stacey Lim
Ivory is a biological gem material used by humans for thousands of years, with early artefacts including carvings and jewellery dating back 32,000 years. However, due to ethical concerns, possession and import of modern elephant ivory harvested after 1975 is an offence in Australia.
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10/05/2019
β’ Stacey Lim
Known as ‘The Queen of Gems’, pearls are our gems of the sea. These lustrous creations have been loved and admired throughout different cultures across thousands of years. This organic gem is produced within the soft tissue of certain species of molluscs and is found in a variety of hues and forms.
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10/04/2019
β’ Stacey Lim
Organic gems are a group of relatively rare and decorative materials that have an animal or plant origin. Amber is fossilised tree resin prized for its rich golden hues. When plant or animal fragments are suspended within the material, they can offer a fascinating peek into our planet’s primordial past.
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09/03/2019
β’ Stacey Lim
From the grandeur of large geodes to the colourful and unusually patterned agate and jasper varieties, quartz is one of the most abundant, widely studied and adored mineral groups, popular amongst gem collectors and jewellers alike. STACEY LIM explores the continuing love and admiration for its coloured crystalline varieties.
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11/02/2019
β’ Kathryn Wyatt
In our previous issue KATHRYN WYATT introduced the beryl gemstone family and paid attention to its most famous member: the emerald. Here, she examines other varieties, including the aquamarine, morganite, heliodor and goshenite.
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12/11/2018
β’ Kathryn Wyatt
What do emerald, aquamarine, heliodor and morganite have in common? They are all from the group of gemstones called beryl and are coloured by trace impurities. KATHRYN WYATT reports.
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01/10/2018
β’ Jennifer Suggett
Topaz has been known as a gemstone for at least 2,000 years. It occurs in a range of colours and has hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, however it can be brittle. JENNIFER SUGGETT investigates.
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16/08/2018
β’ Barbara Kosmowska-Ceranowicz
The gemmological notion of precious and decorative stones also includes amber, which is a mineral regardless of its organic origin.
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16/08/2018
β’ Elzbieta Sontag
Is it possible for amber to fascinate us even more than it already does with its warmth, magic, unique range of hues and natural patterns? The short answer is “yes” according to ELZBIETA SONTAG.
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15/08/2018
β’ Stacey Lim
While the red hues of rubellite maintain a steady appreciation, the interest and value of blue and green tourmaline was reignited with the discovery of ‘Paraíba’ tourmaline, STACEY LIM reports.
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01/08/2018
At the 2017 Tucson Gem Show, author Andrew Lucas was approached by Ethiopian dealers attending a seminar given by Shane McClure, Global Director, Colored Stone Svc. They proposed to Lucas and McClure to conduct research on Ethiopian gemstone deposits for GIA.
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01/08/2018
β’ Stacey Lim
Boasting an array of colour and colour combinations unrivalled by any gem species, one can find tourmaline in shades of almost every hue. Throughout history this gem was often confused with other minerals until tourmaline was identified as its own mineral species in the 1800s. STACEY LIM reports.
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04/07/2018
β’ Stacey Lim
Until recent times, spinel was an underappreciated gem with little consumer recognition. However, as demand for ruby alternatives increase, renewed interest and enthusiasm for spinel grows. STACEY LIM reports.
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13/06/2018
β’ Stacey Lim
One of the oldest minerals found in the Earth’s crust, zircon has long being used as a substitute for diamonds. STACEY LIM provides some background.
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08/05/2018
β’ Stacey Lim
Throughout history, sapphire has always been associated with the colour blue. This still rings true today, with many consumers unaware of the other coloured varieties available. STACEY LIM reports.
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