
Paraíba Tourmaline Melee: An Entry-Level Market Perspective
A look at Paraíba tourmaline melee, which offers a more accessible price point for consumers.

Gem-Quality Spinel from Southern Malawi
Parcels of rough spinel recently mined in Malawi were offered at the AGTA show.

Evil Eye in a Flux-Healed Mong Hsu Ruby
The mirror reflection of a flux-healed fissure from a step pavilion facet in a Mong Hsu ruby creates an interesting inclusion scene.

Update on Montana’s Rock Creek Sapphire
Potentate Mining expands its mining operation and hosts the first Montana sapphire tender in Bangkok.

Irreversible Photochromism in Synthetic Sapphire
The first documented case of corundum with irreversible photochromism encountered at GIA.

Devitrified Glass “Pom-Poms” in Ruby
Devitrified glass inclusions resembling pom-poms or sea urchins are observed in a clarity-enhanced ruby.

Rock Crystal Quartz Skull
A remarkable skull carved from quartz crystals mined in Arkansas is submitted to the Carlsbad laboratory.


Phenomenal Gems
A look at the most popular phenomenal gems exhibited at the 2025 Tucson gem shows.

Natural Non-Nacreous Pearls from Various Marine Mollusks
The Bangkok laboratory studies 35 loose non-nacreous pearls from a wide range of marine mollusk species.

New Deposit of Pezzottaite from Madagascar
A highly saturated purplish pink to red pezzottaite from a new deposit in Madagascar is encountered in Tucson and tested by GIA researchers.

Spiral Patterns on a Non-Nacreous Pearl
A 6.79 ct orange pearl displays a fascinating spiral pattern.

“Bubble Obsidian” from Armenia
An exhibitor at the 22nd Street show offers an unusual type of obsidian from Armenia.

Enormous South Sea Cultured Pearl with Filled and Partially Hollow Structure
Examination of a gigantic South Sea bead cultured pearl reveals an intriguing internal structure.

Assembled Bead Cultured Half-Pearl
Investigation in the Carlsbad laboratory reveals a pearl submission is not mabe as initially believed.

Green Jadeite-Omphacite from Guatemala
Bright green and nearly transparent jade from Guatemala, similar to jade from Myanmar, was available in Tucson.

Black Opal with Unique Play-of-Color
A black opal cabochon set in a ring displays vivid orange play-of-color.

Dendritic Patterns in Emerald
A partially filled fissure in an emerald exhibits patterns resembling natural foliage.

Fancy Vivid Yellow HPHT-Grown Diamonds
A report on a submission of 26 yellow HPHT-grown diamonds from the Hong Kong laboratory.

Rose-Shaped Cloud Inclusion in Diamond
A cluster of cloud inclusions in diamond forms a petal-like structure resembling a rose.