gems, gem localities, beryl, emerald, aquamarine, morganite, chrysoberyl, alexandrite, corundum, ruby, sapphire, diamond, garnet, opal, quartz, spinel, spodumene, tourmaline, paraiba, zoisite

The 1980s witnessed significant developments in the discovery of new sources for diamonds and colored gemstones, alongside increased production at many established mining sites. This article highlights important new finds and major gem-producing localities from the decade, offering brief descriptions of each and assessing their impact on the jewelry industry. Additionally, it includes an index of key recent publications related to these gemstone occurrences.