Mint Tourmalines: Gemstones for Our Times
Mint tourmalines, with their pastel shades and great clarity, are becoming more popular. Learn why these gems are well-suited to our challenging…
Mint tourmalines, with their pastel shades and great clarity, are becoming more popular. Learn why these gems are well-suited to our challenging…
Thinking about a tourmaline engagement ring? Learn everything you need to know to buy your perfect gem, from hardness and durability to color connoisseurship.…
Tourmalines are a large mineral group with a variety of chemical compositions. Learn how tourmalines form and why so many colors can appear in one…
Visit one of the top gem hunting spots in the US. Go alone or with the family. A gemology-themed vacation can be fun, educational, and (maybe) profitable.…
Satisfying the human desire for symmetry, trapiche gems have a special allure. Learn what makes these rarities so unique in our introductory article.…
Gem stress can cause stones to break during faceting. Learn what techniques may reduce the odds of fracturing and how to spot problem rough before…
Some gems show pleochroism, two or three different colors depending on the viewing angle. Learn why this occurs and how it helps gemologists identify…
Known for stunning, saturated hues, tourmaline is a colorful and modern gemstone. Read about quality factors for this gem in our tourmaline buying…
The Quartzsite gem shows attract gemologists and rock hounds from around the world. Learn what to expect and how to shop at these huge annual January…
Rare chrome tourmaline can show an emerald-like green color. With a highly desired color and tourmaline’s excellent qualities as a jewelry stone,…
Our indicolite buying guide can help you learn how these blue tourmalines are graded, what to avoid, and how to identify a high-quality stone.
A tourmaline crystal can show many color combos. This system for grading the C axis of rough can help faceters visualize a gem’s color accurately.…
Looking for a tourmaline jewelry stone? If you like green and you’re on a budget, green tourmaline or verdelite is the gem for you.
Like all tourmaline gemstones, rubellite wears well in almost any type of jewelry. This stone’s raspberry-like color draws a great deal of attention.…
Gemstone heat treatments can increase the beauty and value of many rough pieces. Learn how to conduct the most common procedures safely.
Distinguishing African paraíba from Brazilian paraíba tourmalines is difficult. This gallery showcases bright neon specimens from Nigeria.…
Learning how to conduct a gemstone examination takes practice. Follow an expert gemologist step-by-step through tests of five unknown samples.…
Considering buying gems in Afghanistan? Learn which Afghan gemstones to seek out, which to avoid, and prepare for a “buyer beware” experience.…
The Usambara effect is a gemstone color change phenomenon distinct from pleochroism or the alexandrite effect. Tourmaline and other species…
Choosing the best gemstone orientation for your rough takes skill and experience. Learn what factors you should take into account before cutting.…
Cutting tourmaline can be difficult. Some gems seem to shatter easily. Learn faceting techniques to minimize this risk as well as what equipment…
Faceted dark colored gemstones can have intense colors but little brilliance. A simple formula can help a gemologist estimate a fair value for…
Dark green tourmaline and red rubellite gems can look very black in an emerald cut. Learn how to minimize this effect and show off these rich colors…
Faceting Information such as guides, tips and tricks. Choose which tips best fit the criteria for Verdelite and Chrome Tourmaline faceting.
Practical tips on Indicolite Tourmaline Faceting. Covers Indicolite Tourmaline Facet / Faceting Information related issues, news, research,…
Helpful information on how to cut and polish Rubellite Tourmaline stones. Essential guides, tips and details necessary for Rubellite Tourmaline…
All the resources needed for Schorl Tourmaline faceting. Information such as tips, tricks and details to help learn more about Schorl Tourmaline…
Extra Siberite Tourmaline Faceting tips! Helpful information such as details, reviews, tricks, successful tips and suggestions on Siberite…
Covering general and detailed information on Dravite Faceting. This article will help build your knowledge on tips and guides for faceting…
Resources you need to know about Elbaite Tourmaline Facet / Faceting Information. Read and learn tips and guides on cuts and polishes of Elbaite…
An Achroite is a rare, colorless tourmaline, with clarity from transparent to translucent. This gemstone cuts and polishes just like any other…
Suggestions for successful tips for kunzite faceting Information. Offers details on kunzite (spodumene) stones, and related issues and topics.…
Essential Tips and suggestions about Hiddenite Tourmaline Faceting. Helpful information, details and guides on how to Facet Hiddenite Tourmaline…
Jeff R Graham shares his opinions and thoughts on various topics in Just Ask Jeff. See what his answers are to What does Siberite Tourmaline look…
Faceting Survey Results for Polishing Tourmaline: Get polishing methods for Tourmaline. View results for various procedures in polishing Tourmaline…
Tourmaline is a name applied to a family of related minerals with widely varying properties. Tourmalines make very popular jewelry stones and…
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