For those who do not know, almost all (>99%) of blue topaz available obtains its color via neutron or electron radiation. The sources of irradiation are either the inside of a nuclear reactor core, or a linear accelerator. This has been a long standing practice, and as most people know (even the lay person), blue [...]
Archive for the ‘science’ Category
NRC On Blue Topaz: Ruling Around the Corner
Posted in News, business, gemology, science on September 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Crisis in Thailand: Unstable Treated Topaz Sales Continue
Posted in News, business, gemology, personal, research, science on September 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Before I go into a long tirade about this, let’s first examine the last major Thailand scam…
The last time the gem world was rocked by dishonest Thai dealers using atrocious practices targeted corundum, specifically sapphires which were subjected to beryllium diffusion. Beryllium diffused sapphires were released like the Great Flood upon the market into [...]
Exoticism vs. Sensibility: An Encounter With Thorite
Posted in business, gemology, science on September 13, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Over the summer I have come across various examples of unusual minerals; and much of it was in it’s natural crystal form or aggregate. Of course I have seen a good deal of faceted rarities and exotics as well over the past 3 months, but nothing was as quite as strange as a [...]
HPHT Natural Diamonds… Where’s the Controversy?
Posted in gemology, research, science on April 8, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
From my personal perspective HPHT is a four letter word. The acronym HPHT stands for High Pressure – High Temperature, and refers to an artificial process that some diamonds are subjected to in order to “reinstate their natural beauty”. Certain companies such as General Electric, have found an efficient process of turning natural [...]
Wired Magazine on Lab Created Diamonds
Posted in News, business, gemology, research, science on April 1, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
In September of 2003, around the timeframe of the ratification of the Kimberly Process by the United Nations, Wired Magazine (article is found here) decided to properly cover a blossoming area of the gemological field: lab created diamonds. They are not similar to diamonds… they are diamonds, both chemically and physically. Historically, Russian [...]
A work in progress…
Posted in business, gemology, research, science on March 10, 2007 | Comments Off
It will take me some time to gather my thoughts on how best to assemble this site to the benefit of all its intended viewers. Whether you are a broker or collector, the goal of this site is to focus on our commonality, and in turn further advance our knowledge and appreciation for our [...]
