About

Jeffery Bergman

Jeffery Bergman, SSEF SGC, founder and director of 8th Dimension Gems in Thailand, is an American gem dealer with more than 40 years of experience in gemstone and fine jewelry mining, cutting, wholesaling and retailing. His career has taken him to more than 50 countries and every continent except Antarctica. He has appeared on the BBC, CNN, NBC, ABC and GEO; and has been featured in Time, USA Today, National Geographic, Gems & Gemology and Discovery Channel magazine. He is a regular guest speaker at gem lab seminars and gemological association conferences and universities.

Articles by

Jeffery Bergman

Gem Origin Opinions: When Gemology Labs Agree to Disagree on Sapphire Origins

Why do gemology labs sometimes have different gem origin opinions, especially for sapphires? Learn the science and history behind the debate.…

Buyer Beware: Closer Examination of the Burj Alhamal Ruby Casts Doubt on its $120 Million Valuation

April 21, 2022 An astonishing record-breaking rough ruby of 8,400 carats, weighing 2.8 kilograms, from Winza, Tanzania has gone on display at…

Emerald Transformation: Cleaning and Recutting a Natural Emerald

To meet the demand for fine emeralds with no clarity enhancements, dealers search for gems to clean and recut. Learn how this emerald transformation…

Emerald Myth Busters: Identifying Colombian Stones

Colombian emeralds can command premium prices. Jeffery Bergman separates emerald myth from fact when it comes to determining the origins of these…

Is the 500-Pound Beleza Emerald Really Worth $280 million?

A couple claims the Beleza Emerald was lost in the Camp Fire of 2018 and was worth $280 million. The valuation doesn’t add up to us, and we explain why.…

Emerald Enhancements: A Consumer and Trade Guide

Almost all cut emeralds have had clarity enhancements. Learn how these emerald enhancements work, what substances are used, and how to detect…

Fake News in the Gem Trade: A Waterworn Emerald from Chivor?

A number of online sites have reported on a large emerald, supposedly recently extracted from the Chivor mine in Colombia. However, is this apparently…

Ruby-Glass Composites vs Leaded Glass Clarity Enhancements

Ruby-glass composites and leaded glass ruby clarity enhancements are difficult for gemologists to detect. Learn how to identify these gems and…

The World’s Largest Emeralds

Emerald crystals can grow very large. Learn about some of the world’s largest emeralds, whether rough, faceted, or carved.

The worlds largest cut cats-eye chrysoberyl

The Eye of the Lion.This Cats-Eye Chrysoberyl is the largest cut example in the world(as documented by the Smithsonian Institute)with a fascinating…

The Sacred Emerald Buddha

Carved in Thailand in 2006 from a 3,600-ct emerald, “The Sacred Emerald Buddha” has a message of peace. Read the inside story of this amazing…