Fracture Healing of Ruby • Mong Hsu Ruby • Fluxed Up
A discussion of the flux-healing treatment of rubies. This article was awarded the Richard T. Liddicoat Journalism Award by the American Gem Society i...
Burma Gem Embargo & the Gem Trade
In 2003, the US government signed into law a ban on the importation of any article that was produced, mined, manufactured, grown or assembled in Burma...
Kimberley Process • Appeasement in the Diamond Trade
In the year 2002, the world diamond trade put into place a protocol known as the Kimberley Process Scheme, designed to address the so-called “blood” o...
Mark Twain • The War Prayer
Mark Twain's "The War Prayer" (1905) is one of the most eloquent exposés ever penned on the folly of those who argue for going to war.
Ruby, Pink Sapphire & Padparadscha • Walking the Line
An examination of the problem of separating pink sapphire and padparadscha from ruby.
Beryllium Diffusion in Orange Sapphire • The Skin Game
The early history of beryllium diffusion in sapphire, starting with the 2001 appearance of large numbers of padparadscha sapphires in the Thai gem mar...
Lao Sapphire • Max Green, Ted Doyle, Gary Shugg • Looted Millions • Love & Hate
When Max Green set about looting trust fund accounts in Australia, he had no idea it would lead to a sapphire mine in Laos… and a dead body in Cambodi...
Ruby Connoisseurship • Seeing Red
A loving look at ruby – the gem of passion – from the standpoint of the connoisseur.
Gems & Junkies in Burma • Gem Smuggling • Conspiracy Theory
A look at the nexus between gem smuggling and drug smuggling out of Burma (Myanmar), along with the two-faced policies of certain Western governments.
Sapphire Connoisseurship • Judging Sapphire • Passion Fruit
Sapphire is one of the classic gems. In this article, Lotus Gemology's resident connoisseur casts a discerning eye at the factors that contribute to q...
Huge Rubies & Sapphires • Big Time • Digital Devil #14
Digital Devil #14. An exposé on massive "gem" specimens matched with bogus "appraisals."
Burma Ruby Mining • Heat Wave • Digital Devil #13
Digital Devil #13. A tale of Burmese rubies, Burmese heat, a Shan princess and a Burmese general.
Russia Jade Mines • Khakassia, Kazakhstan & Polar Jade
Jadeite jade is a stone intimately associated with Burma (Myanmar). But there are deposits in other countries. This article details Russia's jadeite d...
Blood Diamonds Deconstructed • Blood from a Stone • Digital Devil #12
Digital Devil #12. The subject of "blood diamonds" (conflict diamonds) quickly became a major story in 2000. Here, Richard Hughes casts a jaundiced ey...
GE HPHT Treated Diamonds • Have I Got an Idea 4 U • Digital Devil #11
Installment #11 of my Digital Devil column, once again going after GE and LKI for their HPHT treated diamonds.
Synthetic Moissanite • C3: I C Thru U • Digital Devil #10
Digital Devil #10. It was Tucson. Show over. The last supper. One of those marvelous evenings which Tucson regularly delivers…
Emerald Enhancement Reexamined • Don't Forget to Flush • Digital Devil #9
Digital Devil #9. Once again, we take a look at emerald fillers.
Fred Ward Emerald Case • Holy Wars • Digital Devil #8
Digital Devil #8. The Fred Ward emerald case killed his business and nearly killed the emerald business in the US. Here was my tongue-outta-cheek take...
Burmese Jade: The Inscrutable Gem
Myanmar's jadeite mines occupy a privileged place, representing the planet's principal source of fine jadeite jade. This article covers the deposits t...
Spinel • History of a Magnificent Gem • From the Hands of God
A history of spinel, including balas ruby and lodestone.