Malachite

In some cases, a hot point test won’t distinguish plastic simulants from natural gems. Some plastics release a protein smell when hot point…

Gemstone streak testing is fun if you have rough material to spare. It’s not recommended for finished gems, as there’s a good chance…

Although gemstone magnetism isn’t a commonly tested gemstone property, it may be useful for making quick separations outside the lab. By Richard…

Step 2: Advanced Gemology Lesson 2 Back to syllabus The optical properties of gems attract our eyes and can give a cut stone a unique character. However,…

The optical properties of gems attract our eyes and can give a cut stone a unique character. However, gemstone physical properties are also important.…

Many people consider beautiful sky blue turquoise stones to be lucky. Learn about the turquoise symbolism and lore of Native American and other…

There are so many common gemstone treatments available today that keeping track of them can be difficult. This list and handy cheat sheet can help.…

Since ancient times, emerald has been synonymous with “green.” However, there are so many more green gems, giving you plenty of alternatives…

Emeralds are notorious for growing extremely large. These examples are some of the world’s largest emeralds! If you know of something missing…