Jade Buying Guide

Peridot Buying Guide

Sphalerite Buying Guide

Lapis Lazuli Buying Guide

Morganite Buying Guide

Emerald Buying Guide

Kunzite Buying Guide

Diamond Rating: A Beginner’s Guide

Tridacna Pearl Buying Guide

Sapphire Buying Guide

Spinel Buying Guide

Ammolite Buying Guide

Citrine Buying Guide

Malaya Garnet Buying Guide

Agate Buying Guide

Zircon Buying Guide

Turquoise Buying Guide

Opal Buying Guide

Chrysoprase Buying Guide

Quahog Pearl Buying Guide

Tanzanite Buying Guide

Pearl Buying Guide

Rutilated Quartz Buying Guide

Melo Pearl Buying Guide

Crystalline Quartz Buying Guide

Demantoid Garnet Buying Guide

Moonstone Buying Guide

Garnet Buying Guide

Precious Coral Buying Guide

Aquamarine Buying Guide

Alexandrite Buying Guide

Amethyst Buying Guide

Amber Buying Guide

Oregon Sunstone Buying Guide

Blue Tourmaline (Indicolite) Buying Guide

Rubellite Tourmaline Buying Guide

Chrome Tourmaline Buying Guide

Green Tourmaline (Verdelite) Buying Guide

Tourmaline Buying Guide

Watermelon Tourmaline Buying Guide

Topaz Buying Guide

Paraíba Tourmaline Buying Guide

Creating an Ethical Engagement Ring: the Complete Guide

Padparadscha Sapphire Buying Guide

Conch Pearl Buying Guide

Iolite Buying Guide

Ruby Buying Guide

Detailed gem buying guides with example pictures and gem prices. Covers color, clarity, cut, carats, origin, values, wholesale and retail prices, and more.

Gem Buying Guides

Chalcedony

Agate

Fossilized Organisms

Iris Agate

Fire Agate

Chrysoberyl

Alexandrite

Amber

Amethyst

Ammolite

Aquamarine

Chrysoprase

Citrine

Coral

Organic Gemstones

Demantoid Garnet

Diamond

Emerald

Garnet

Grossular Garnet

Andradite

Hessonite

Pyrope-Spessartine

Pyrope Garnet

Spessartite Garnet

Uvarovite Garnet

Chrome Pyrope

Almandine Garnet

Rhodolite Garnet

Topazolite

Tsavorite Garnet

Color Change Garnet

Proteus

Mandarin Garnet

Transvaal Jade

Mali Garnet

Umbalite

Melanite

Hibschite

Andradite-Grossular

Hydrogrossular Garnet

Almandine-Pyrope

Malaia Garnet (Malaya Garnet)

Yttrium Aluminium Garnet

Gadolinium Gallium Garnet

Iolite

Cordierite

Jade

Jadeite

Nephrite

Maw Sit Sit

Lapis Lazuli

Feldspar

Labradorite

Moonstone

Peristerite

Morganite

Opal Stone

Oregon Sunstone

Padparadscha Sapphire

Cuprian Elbaite

Paraíba Tourmaline

Pearl

Freshwater Pearl

Saltwater Pearl

Conch Pearl

Calcareous Concretions

Mother of Pearl

Peridot

Quartz

Rose Quartz

Smoky Quartz

Rock Crystal

Ametrine

Rutilated Quartz

Prasiolite

Tourmalinated Quartz

Tourmaline

Rubellite

Ruby

Sapphire

Sphalerite

Spinel

Kunzite

Spodumene

Tanzanite (Zoisite)

Zoisite

Topaz

Indicolite

Elbaite

Watermelon Tourmaline

Verdelite

Chrome-Tourmaline

Turquoise

Zircon

Hyacinth

Starlite

Appraisals

Gem Cutting

Gemological Laboratories

Gemstones

Rough Gems and Mineral Specimens

Jewelry

Gemology Supplies and Equipment

Auctions

Gem Treating

Informational Resources

Lapidary Supplies and Equipment

Special Services

An Introduction to Gem Identification

Destructive Gemstone Testing

Enhanced Gem Inclusions

Identifying Synthetic Diamonds

Rubellite Tourmaline Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Ten Rare and Expensive Engagement Ring Stones

Eight Famous Sapphires and the Stories Behind Them

How to Dry Opals Safely

Peridots with Inclusions

Is This Natural Amber?

Is This a Fossil Opal?

A Suitcase Full of Gems

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Birthstone Chart

37 Blue Gemstones (Names, Pics, & More)

Gemstone Hardness and Wearability

10 Rare Engagement Ring Stones that Won’t Break the Bank

What are Balas Rubies and Ruby Spinels?

Spinel Sources

Four Famous Spinels

Spinel Inclusions

In 2012, Donald Clark retired and passed along stewardship of the IGS to the Rosen family, who were longtime members of IGS. Lisa Rosen runs the day-to-day operation of IGS and  <a href="https://www.ganoksin.com/">The Ganoksin Project, a technical resource website for bench jewelers and jewelry manufacturers</a>.  Lisa strongly believes that IGS must remain a cost-effective, accurate, and comprehensive resource for all those interested in gemology. IGS is our passion, and it is a family business.

Lisa Rosen

The late Donald Clark, CSM founded the International Gem Society in 1998. Donald started in the gem and jewelry industry in 1976. He received his formal gemology training from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Society of Gemcutters (ASG). The letters &#8220;CSM&#8221; after his name stood for Certified Supreme Master Gemcutter, a designation of Wykoff&#8217;s ASG which has often been referred to as the doctorate of gem cutting. The American Society of Gemcutters only had 54 people reach this level. Along with dozens of articles for leading trade magazines, Donald authored the book &#8220;Modern Faceting, the Easy Way.&#8221;

Donald Clark, CSM IMG

Jeffery Bergman, SSEF SGC, founder and director of <a href="http://www.primagem.com/">8th Dimension Gems</a> 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 &amp; Gemology and Discovery Channel magazine. He is a regular guest speaker at gem lab seminars and gemological association conferences and universities.

Jeffery Bergman, SSEF SGC