gems, gem testing, gemology, field gemology

While the concept of Field Gemology and the development of reference collections may seem modern, it is deeply rooted in history. Since the Age of Exploration (early 15th to early 17th century), naturalists were often invited on expeditions, returning with samples and insights that broadened human understanding. By the late 18th century, early mineralogists such as Charles Greville, Martin Heinrich Klaproth, Jacques Louis de Bournon, René Just Haüy, and Jean-Claude Delamétherie (Rome de l’Isle) moved away from reliance on ancient texts and instead focused on the direct observation of nature, introducing the scientific method to what would become the field of gemology. These pioneers acquired materials from travelers who brought back samples from across the globe; Greville’s 1798 publication On the Corundum Stone from Asia is notable for tracing the origin of the term “corundum” and describing how the specimens were obtained. In the early 20th century, the gem trade encountered a major challenge with the advent of cultured pearls and synthetic rubies, prompting the establishment of gemological laboratories to provide independent identification reports and restore trust. These labs relied heavily on the microscope, using internal features to distinguish natural from synthetic gems. After World War II, dedicated gemologists like Dr. Eduard Gübelin traveled to gem-producing regions, collecting samples that laid the foundation for some of the world’s most important reference collections.