corundum, synthetic corundum.7, gems, sapphire, Australia.12, Anakie, pearl, tourmaline, jade, Burma, fei cui, jadeite, opal, lapis lazuli, beryl, emerald

A wide-ranging review of the international precious-stone industry during 1913, covering fashions, markets, mining, trade, and new gem occurrences. Kunz notes the exceptional popularity of sapphire, especially star sapphires and other “phenomenal gems,” together with a revival of bead necklaces in amber, chalcedony, lapis lazuli, amethyst, chrysoprase, topaz, quartz, and moonstone. The diamond trade receives extensive treatment, including unusually heavy U.S. imports stimulated by anticipated tariff changes, adoption of the international metric carat of 200 mg, and detailed accounts of De Beers, Premier, German Southwest Africa, the Belgian Congo, Australia, Arkansas, British Guiana, India, and Brazil. Colored-stone sections include Australian emeralds, Ceylon garnet and moonstone, a new opal occurrence in New Mexico, California tourmaline and kunzite, and Montana sapphire. Of particular interest is an historical account of the Burmese jadeite mines at Seik-moo and Hweka, together with mention of an enormous two-ton block of New Zealand nephrite shipped to Germany. Kunz also records a poor-quality lapis lazuli occurrence in southern California, discusses the expanding pearl trade through Bahrain and Australian and American pearl fisheries, and concludes with unusual tourmaline from serpentine in the southern Urals and a summary of Berthold Laufer’s observations on the turquoise trade in China, Mongolia, and Tibet.