corundum, color.4, gems

From its vast expanses of cerulean waters to its azure heavens above, our world is dominated by blue, so it is no wonder that the color blue is favored by many across cultures and throughout the ages. The allure of minerals owes much to the perception of color inherent to a particular species or variety. Arguably, whether a person is a seasoned collector or small child, color is what first attracts attention, and quite often its cause is the earliest question posed. Scientific investigations into its nature and articulation of its nuances of hue and quality are the subjects of volumes of literature in both the mineralogical and gemological sciences. Although the present overview narrowly focuses on a selection of blue minerals and aims to do so with some exploratory tools and twists, its concepts also provide insights into the cause of other colors seen elsewhere in the mineral kingdom, as well as in gemstones fashioned from denizens of that realm.

gems, jewelry, fine jewelry

This luxurious volume showcases more than three hundred pieces designed by the imaginative French jeweler James Taffin de Givenchy, in his first book. Jewelry is an emotional object that projects who you are. It takes artistry, intellect, and logic to make it," said James Taffin de Givenchy. Since launching his own jewelry business in 1996, Taffin has garnered a glowing reputation as a connoisseur of exotic gems and a designer who fuses Old World European glamour with pared-down modernity. His incredible bijoux are at once eclectic and whimsical, and embrace a symphony of colors, gems, and shapes. This opulent volume grants access to Taffin’s world as the designer shares his inspirational references, intimate photographs of his studio, and hundreds of exquisite photographs of his lavish one-of-a-kind pieces that, like him, are, at once, sophisticated but lighthearted, extraordinary yet unpretentious. Taffin is recognized for both sculptural designs that augment the individuality of each gemstone and the unexpected and playful use of materials—from rubber to ceramic to the steel of recycled AK-47s. Capturing the designs of a passionate colorist, Taffin brings to life the inventive and bold combinations of diamonds, peridots, sapphires, mandarin garnets, and coral creations in a volume that is truly a feast for the eyes. Lavishly illustrated, this book gives fashion and design lovers a unique look at Taffin’s vivid and creative works."

jade, jadeite, fei cui, nephrite, identifying jade, treated jade, Burma, China, New Zealand, Canada, Russia, Guatemala, gems

The latest in Renée Newman’s series of fascinating books on unusual gemstones, this volume tackles the difficult subject of jade. You might not think of jade as “exotic” but it is in fact two different stones, found all over the world, in almost every color, and is very commonly imitated, treated, enhanced, and faked. This book will help you pick your way through the jade minefield. Newman begins with a look at why jade was so highly valued by diverse cultures around the world, of which the Chinese were preeminent. She carefully explains the two true jades (nephrite and jadeite) as well as their less common confusing cousins: omphacite, kosmochlor, and maw-sit-sit. The long list of jade imitators is well covered and illustrated. Relevant gemological instruments are introduced and discussed. The average reader will have easy access to the basic ones, but don’t expect your local jeweler or appraiser to own the more advanced--and therefore most useful--instruments. While nephrite is thoroughly discussed and illustrated, clearly the book’s emphasis is on Burmese jadeite, the jade most commonly encountered in high-end jewelry. The quality factors for jadeite are well explained and illustrated. A major issue with jadeite is how to tell natural (Type A) color from polymer injected and dyed (B and C) imitators. It makes a huge difference in price, as well as durability, so Newman treats the subject extensively. While basic instruments can offer some help, the most reliable diagnostics require expensive lab instruments operated by trained technicians, a service you would have to hire out. Price factors are touched on here and there, but as jade is almost always sold by the piece rather than by weight, few generalities can be made. Jade sources and cultures are next described, with individual chapters for China, Burma, Guatemala, Canada (today’s top source of nephrite), and the several USA jade sources, including the fine black nephrite once found in Wyoming. One last chapter covers secondary locales: Russia (famous for nephrite cats-eyes), New Zealand (Maori jade), Taiwan, and more, even a discussion of Turkish “purple jadeite” (a very impure stone). The USA ban on importing Burmese jade (and rubies, too) is briefly discussed. An extra treat is a chapter on abalone pearls, a subject rarely written about. Newman covers what they are, where they are found, and how they are cultivated, as well as price factors and how to care for them. New Zealand Paua pearls are covered as well. As in Newman’s previous gemstone books the coverage is thorough and the writing clear. An odd distraction is the defective kerning (letter spacing) on many pages. The numerous photographs are exceedingly helpful but in a book this size must necessarily be small and so can not have the resolution one would find in an “appreciation” type book. If you have any interest at all in jade as a gemstone Renée Newman’s latest book is a must-have.

corundum, Madagascar.12, gems

I heard about a sapphire rush taking place in the jungle near Abatondrazaka, Madagascar at the end of a 5 week long solo trip learning about its sapphires. I had had a great month visiting sapphire mining areas near Diego (North) and Ilakaka (south). At the end of my vis-it I was in Antananarivo (Tana), the capital, discussing my journey with Marc Noverraz, a Swiss Gem merchant based in Madagascar. He told me there was “a rush” and many people were travelling to Ambatondrazaka to find natural blue sapphires in large sizes from a new deposit. Like the Californian “gold rush” (1848) to which many miners and op-portunists travelled when they heard of the riches they could find, this “sapphire rush” was attracting the attention of people from all over Madagascar. Nearly a year after hearing Vincent Pardieu presenting “Rubies from Zahamena National Park” at the end of my gemological studies at GIA in Carlsbad, I was excited to be in Madagascar with the opportunity of visiting “a rush”. I wanted to find out more: to know the size, colour and quantity of stones found at “the rush site”. I called everyone I knew and gathered that there were around 5000 people working in an area accessible by a 12 hour walk from a village near Ambatondrazaka. I also heard that traders believe sapphires from this deposit have a similar chemical composition to Burmese. The idea of these Malagasy sapphires being mistaken for Burmese by labs issuing reports would surely be good news to traders who would expect it to elevate their value. I couldn’t obtain many more details or samples from the traders or gemologists I made contact with but they were all excited. I decided to go to Ambatondrazaka and answer my questions for myself.

corundum, Tanzania.12, gems

gems, spinel, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, balas ruby, Kuh-i-Lal, Hope Spinel, famous gems

Henry Philip Hope’s collection of gems is best remembered for the superb blue diamond which bears his name, now in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. This ‘matchless’ diamond was just one of over 750 gems and pearls in the Hope collection when its catalogue was published in 1839. These gems ranged from exceptional specimens to minor ones, even some uncut stones. After Hope’s death and an inevitable drawn-out legal squabble between heirs, eight of the finest gems in the collection came into the possession of Henry Thomas Hope, one of three nephews. One of these gems was the blue ‘Hope’ diamond; another was a large, octagonal red spinel weighing 50.13 ct (1, 2). After passing down through two further generations, the blue diamond was sold in 1901 to pay off gambling debts, whilst the remaining gems in this group were sold at auction in London by Christie’s in 1917. The spinel was bought by a dealer for £1,060, came into the possession of Lady Mount Stephen and then passed down to the latest owner, who recently sold it by auction at Bonhams, London, on 24 September, fetching an incredible £962,500. Prior to auction, the spinel was examined by the SSEF laboratory in Basel, which pronounced it to be from Tajikistan.

gems, history of gemology, agate, amber, coral, corundum, ruby, sapphire, tourmaline, beryl, jade, nephrite, fei cui, pyroxene jade, amphibole jade, pounamu, lapis lazuli, early gem trade, gold, spinel, Badakhshan, tanzanite, peridot, olivine, Red Sea, Zabargad

Rare and precious stones have always aroused the desire of man. They have been a source of fascination and their perceived value has fluctuated strongly over the millennia. Even today, religion and tradition still influence preferences as well as the changing taste and zeitgeist does. In this year’s ‘Precious Stones’ theme book, renowned scientists and authors provide hard facts and their opinion; giving an exciting insight into this fascinating substance, from detailed descriptions of major gem groups and legendary discoveries to their position in society and religion throughout different cultures. Another focus in this year’s show are the traces of mammoths and cave lions back to time of the planet’s last ice age. What did the landscape look like? What types of creatures inhabited the land? How did the ice change today’s landscape? The articles in the book have all the answers as well as an extended documentation on the discovery of ice age mammoths in the Siberian permafrost.

gems, agate

Jade is the eighth in a series of gem books written and photographed by Fred Ward and Charlotte Ward, who updated this edition. Each book Rubies and Sapphires, Emeralds, Diamonds, Opals, Pearls, Gem Care, and Phenomenal Gems is part of a continuing global search into the history, geology, lore, and sources of these priceless treasures. Mr. Ward personally visited the sites and artifacts displayed here to provide authentic and timely information. His original articles on all those topics, except opals and gem phenomena, first appeared in National Geographic Magazine. Glamour, intrigue, romance, the quest for treasure those are all vital aspects of humankind s eternal search and love for gemstones. As long as people have roamed the world, they have placed extraordinary value on our gifts from the land and sea. The Wards capture the gem world in captivating, expert detail with an emphasis on the international contemporary scene.

gems, corundum, Montana.12, USA.12

Information on Montana sapphire localities was compiled from published descriptions, newspaper articles, individuals, and my own observations. Although I have done my best to verify the data, much of the information about sapphires in Montana is problematic and only provides clues to sapphire distribution. Extensive studies of two major Montana alluvial sapphire deposits (Rock Creek and the South Fork of Dry Cottonwood Creek) show that these sapphires were probably derived from source rocks at depth, and transported to the surface by Eocene volcanism (Berg, 2014, 2007). Subsequent ero-sion and transport concentrated them in modern alluvial deposits. Sapphires at the Yogo deposit are mined directly from an Eocene igneous dike, reinforcing this interpretation. In evaluating a reported deposit, potential relationship with igneous rocks is a primary criterion for considering its validity. The occurrences are grouped into categories (ranging from Known to Discredited) to help the reader decide which may be worth pursuit. Twenty-two of the 63 localities are classified as known. Four additional localities were not included at the request of the individuals involved.

corundum, quality.10, gems