This large Australian light opal cabochon weighs 117.85 carats. Small play-of-color flashes of orange and green predominate in a pinfire pattern, with spots of a more muted blue over a grayish ...

Figure 1. Pleochroism in a 15 ct tanzanite, as seen with the unaided eye through the crown and the pavilion sides and ends. Photo by Wimon Manorotkul. In describing colored gemstones, the major ...

CARLSBAD, California – January 14, 2025 - The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has announced the planned retirement of its president and CEO, Susan Jacques, at the end of 2025. The Institute has ...

As a consumer, you will regularly encounter in the marketplace gems that have been treated to change their appearance. A topic that often comes up is whether a particular gemstone is or isn’t treated.

The Diamond and Diamond Grading eLearning course brings to life the skills needed to grade the color, clarity and cut of diamonds through video, graphics, images and text.

Figure 1. These emeralds from Musakashi, Zambia, range from 0.57 to 4.85 ct. The rough samples were polished with one window on each. The faceted sample measures 6.29 × 5.35 × 3.53 mm and weighs 0.97 ...

This course covers the skills necessary to become a CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) technician. Skills taught include using CAD software to develop models and ...

Through a unique combination of hands-on training, one-on-one coaching and multimedia, the Diamond Grading class explores how to grade diamonds consistently and accurately using a modern gem ...

Emerald, the birthstone for May, has been beloved for millennia, evoking rebirth and renewal. Widely regarded as the definition of green, emerald is the perfect color for spring. From the poetic ...

Due to the overwhelming popularity of GIA’s limited time, no-charge offer, all GIA Essentials classes starting in May and June – the period of the offer – are full. The offer is closed and we cannot ...

Because laboratory-grown diamonds are essentially chemically and optically the same as natural diamonds, traditional gemological observations and instrumentation are not able to tell them apart. GIA ...

The majority of saltwater and freshwater pearls bought and sold in the global jewelry markets are “whole pearls,” sometimes referred to as “cyst pearls” (CIBJO, 2017). These pearls form within the ...