Microscopic examination reveals intriguing growth tubes in a copper-bearing tourmaline.

An updated edition of Herbert Tillander’s book is now available.

A pink spinel hosts a richly textured, opaque metallic inclusion.

GIA’s president and CEO Susan Jacques is honored with the Richard T. Liddicoat Award for Distinguished Achievement.

Multiple vivid blue lazurite inclusions are observed in a near-colorless scapolite.

GIA’s Al Gilbertson receives the American Gem Society’s highest honor.

Examination of four heart-shaped pearls reveals cavity filling and plugging to improve durability.

A semi-baroque saltwater nacreous pearl presents identification challenges in the Mumbai laboratory.

The blunt termination of a red manganotantalite inclusion displays a striking contrast against a greenish blue sapphire.

The date and topic of the 2026 Sinkankas Symposium is announced.

Fibrous mannardite crystals are observed in three colorless quartz samples.

A report on the increase of artificially assembled or altered specimens circulating in Pakistan’s local gem markets.

A precious cat’s-eye boulder opal from Australia is examined in the Carlsbad laboratory.

A pink oval conch pearl displays firework-like flame patterns.

A snuff bottle submitted to TULAB as jadeite jade is identified as a dolomite aggregate with fuchsite.

The Carlsbad laboratory reports on a rare submission of orangy red translucent friedelite.

Spiral patterns of nacre platelets observed on the surface of a non-bead cultured pearl are reminiscent of fingerprints.

GIA studies a selection of rough and cut garnet from a new source in northern Vietnam.

An undrilled black bead is identified as an assembled imitation pearl made from shell fragments.

Near-colorless heulandite crystals in an Ethiopian opal resemble the segmented bodies of worms.