epidote

The commercial part of the lapidary business favors new mine finds and exotic or rare materials. As gem carvers, these reasons draw us to these materials,…

What is Turkish purple jade? Learn about the qualities of this rare, beautiful, and versatile gemstone and see it transformed from rock to finished…

Emeralds from different sources can vary in quality. Learn how to identify emerald origins by analyzing the optical and physical properties of…

The World’s Newest Gold Ore gemstone! Found and mined in only one location in the world, from the beautiful Sonoran Desert in Arizona. A unique…

Gemstone color measurements are hard to make with conventional color-order systems. Learn how recent colorimetry tech advances have improved…

Even the most general definition of a gem has many exceptions. Learn what qualities have been used to identify gemstones both scientifically and…

Phenomenal gems seem to do magical things with light. Learn the science behind optical effects like cat’s eyes and star stones and how to judge…

Named after the color of sea water, aquamarine is the blue to blue-green member of the beryl family. Readily available and moderately priced, the…

Although not well known, scapolite would make an attractive gem material for both jewelry enthusiasts and mineral collectors. It comes in a wide…