The history of Baja California has been closely tied to the exploitation of pearls since the 16th century.

This article presents information about the CVD process, the history of its development, and properties that differentiate the resulting synthetic crystals from natural diamond.

The distinction of natural from cultured pearls traditionally has been based on X-radiography. X-ray computed microtomography (μ-CT) has recently been applied to gain more insight into pearl ...

Reports on a visit to a shell nucleus manufacturer and two pearl farms in northern Vietnam, which is emerging as a notable producer.

Carbon is one of the most important elements on our planet, which led the Geological Society of London to name 2019 the Year of Carbon. Diamonds are a main host for carbon in the deep earth and also ...

Learn more about what causes a diamond to chip, and 8 tips on how you can avoid chipping your diamond.

Natural pearl identification is one of the critical problems in pearl research. The DNA study of pearly mollusks and oysters facilitates solving this problem. To fulfill this goal, GIA sent a group ...

ABSTRACT Aquamarine and heliodor are colored by Fe ions, an important coloring agent for beryl. Blue to yellow gem beryl was studied by quantitative spectroscopy and trace-element analytical ...

A behind-the-scenes exploration of the Smithsonian's Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals.

Sri Lanka’s gemstone and jewelry industry blends traditional practices and experience with the needs of the modern global market. Photo by Andrew Lucas/GIA. To visit Sri Lanka is to experience one of ...

This installment of “Colored Stones Unearthed” explores inclusions in gems—how they form, how they are studied, and what they mean for gemologists and geoscientists.

How – and where – you look at your diamond can greatly change its appearance.