The remarkable use of an atypical bead nucleus to achieve the perfect heart shape suggests recent improvements in pearl culturing techniques.

The Hong Kong laboratory reports on Libyan Desert glass in the rare form of a bangle bracelet.

“Romance of the Golcondra Diamonds”; “Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald Buying Guide”; “Rough Diamonds: A Practical Guide”; “Crystal Enchantments: A Complete Guide to Stones and their Magical Properties.”; “Diamonds and Precious Stones”

Gemological, microscopic, chemical, and spectroscopic properties are given for eight purple to purplish red chromium (Cr)- and iron (Fe)-bearing taaffeites and, for comparison, two grayish violet Fe-bearing but Cr-free samples.

“Jeweled Bugs and Butterflies”; “Paulding Farnham: Tiffany’s Lost Genius”; “The Crown Jewels: The History of the Coronation Regalia in the Jewel House of the Tower of London”; “Colored Stones of Yakutia and Places of Their Origin”; “Gemmologia Europa VII—European Gemmologists on the Emerald”; “Mughals, Maharajas and the Mahatma”

Hydrothermal synthetic red beryl has been produced for jewelry applications.

“Christie’s Guide to Jewellery”; “The Theory & Practice of Goldsmithing”; “Fabergé Eggs: A Retrospective Encyclopedia”; “Colored Gemstones: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide”; “Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide”; “The Gem Hunter in Afghanistan”

A compilation of gem news from around the world, covering topics such as localities, unusual gem materials, market news, new products, discoveries, jewelry manufacturing techniques, and industry trends.

This section, from the Spring 2002 issue of Gems & Gemology, is a compilation of interesting finds from GIA’s laboratories.

One of these contributors (PG) recently acquired a 3.91 ct drop-shaped cabochon, purchased in India as a Larimar imitation, that consisted of a ceramic material.

An overview of previous red-to-violet garnet classification schemes and a proposal for a new one.

An examination of the term used to describe a sapphire the color of a lotus blossom.

This section, from the Summer 1997 issue of Gems & Gemology, is a compilation of interesting finds from GIA’s laboratories.

This article presents, for the first time, both gemological and geologic information on topaz, aquamarine, and other beryls from miarolitic pegmatites at Namibia’s historic Klein Spitzkoppe mineral locality.