Gemological Institute Of America | All About Gemstones - GIA
WEBEstablished in 1931, GIA is an independent nonprofit that protects the gem and jewelry buying public through research, education and laboratory services.
GIA Gem Encyclopedia | Complete List Of Gemstones
WEBGIA’s Gem Encyclopedia is a virtual journey through the science and lore of gemstones from across the globe. Each precious stone page features additional detailed gemological information, a buyer’s guide, photos, videos & research. Green in sunlight. Red in lamplight. Color-changing alexandrite is nature’s magic trick.
GIA - Report Check
WEBGIA reports represent the highest standard of reliability, consistency and integrity. And now, GIA Report Check is available for all GIA reports, providing you with an additional level of assurance. With Report Check, you can quickly and conveniently confirm that the information on your report matches what is archived in the GIA report database.
Diamond Description
WEBDiamond’s characteristic chemical composition and crystal structure make it a unique member of the mineral kingdom. Diamond is the only gem made of a single element: It is typically about 99.95 percent carbon. The other 0.05 percent can include one or more trace elements, which are atoms that aren’t part of the diamond’s essential chemistry.
Opal Gemstone | Opal Stone - GIA
WEBAbout Opal. Because opal has the colors of other gems, the Romans thought it was the most precious and powerful of all. The Bedouins believed that opals contained lightning and fell from the sky during thunderstorms. When Australia’s mines began to produce opals commercially in the 1890s, it quickly became the world’s primary source for ...
Alexandrite Gemstone | Natural Alexandrite Stone - GIA
WEBAbout Alexandrite. Often described by gem aficionados as “emerald by day, ruby by night,” alexandrite is the very rare color-change variety of the mineral chrysoberyl. Originally discovered in Russia’s Ural Mountains in the 1830s, it’s now found in Sri Lanka, East Africa, and Brazil, but fine material is exceptionally rare and valuable.
Is There a Difference Between Natural and Laboratory-Grown …
WEBMay 31, 2019 · One, however, is a billion or more years old and the other was recently grown in a laboratory. Both are diamonds, of course. The first is a natural diamond created by forces deep within the young Earth. The second is from a laboratory and possesses essentially the same chemical, physical and optical properties as its natural counterpart.
Peridot Gemstone | Peridot Stone - GIA
WEBAbout Peridot. The ancient Egyptians mined peridot on the Red Sea island of Zabargad, the source for many large fine peridots in the world’s museums. The Egyptians called it the “gem of the sun.”. Today this gem is still prized for its restful yellowish green hues and long history. Large strongly-colored, examples can be spectacular, and ...
What Is Tourmaline Gemstone | Tourmaline Stone - GIA
WEBTourmaline’s colors have many different causes. It’s generally agreed that traces of iron, and possibly titanium, induce green and blue colors. Manganese produces reds and pinks, and possibly yellows. Some pink and yellow tourmalines might owe their hues to color centers caused by radiation, which can be natural or laboratory-induced.
What Is Jade Gemstone | Jade Stone – GIA
WEBAbout Jade. Jade has its cultural roots in the smoke-dimmed caves and huts that sheltered prehistoric humans. Around the world, Stone Age workers shaped this toughest of gems into weapons, tools, ornaments, and ritual objects. Their carvings invoked the powers of heaven and earth and mystic forces of life and death. Jade Description.