Hot Point Testing
Hot point testing can determine if some gem materials are plastic imitations. It can also reveal if a stone is treated with wax or plastic. By Donald…
Hot point testing can determine if some gem materials are plastic imitations. It can also reveal if a stone is treated with wax or plastic. By Donald…
Jade is one of the most popular gemstones, but its many treatments and imitations can frustrate gemologists and gem dealers. Learn how to identify…
Question: Is nephrite jade from Xinjiang, China banned in the United States? By International Gem Society 2 minute read Hotan, Xinjiang, China…
Question: Do the recent US sanctions on Myanmar cover the gem trade and, specifically, jade? How do these new sanctions compare to previous sanctions,…
A Chinese ink drawing attributed to Guo Xu (1456-1528) shows the form of a man bowing with reverence to a tall rock. Perhaps twice his height,…
Gem carvings vary widely in size, shape, and quality. You can find small, simple carvings with a glued-on bail for just a couple of dollars. Fine…
Long known in Chinese culture as a symbol of harmony, eternity, and virtue, jade presents an elegant option for engagement rings. In a time when…
Jade occurs naturally in sizes ranging from small pebbles to huge boulders weighing over a hundred tons. Long exposure to the elements can weather…
Many locations possess the proper geological conditions for jade formation. As metamorphic rocks, both types of jade — jadeite and nephrite…