Gem-A’s latest journal now available

London--The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) released the newest issue of The Journal of Gemmology Monday, covering the latest news and research in gemstones including new devices, reports from recent conferences and the characterization of collectors’ gemstones.

This quarter’s issue of the academic publication discusses “What’s New” in the industry, covering a range of topics such as diamond screening devices; the latest reports from CIBJO, the Responsible Jewellery Council and international gem labs; and the new “Help with Hallmarks” application, which quickly can help a user determine the age of a piece of jewelry, among other developments.

It also reports on the highlights from recent gemological conferences, and provides a listing of upcoming meetings, exhibits, and other upcoming educational events that might be of interest to the trade.

This edition of The Journal of Gemmology also features an array of articles including the following: a review of the evolution of diamond cuts in Portuguese jewelry and sacred objects during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries; the presence of beryllium-diffused corundum in the Japanese market and looking at the natural versus diffused origin of beryllium in sapphires; the characterization of collectors’ gemstones, like a jeremejevite of more than 100 carats and a taaffeite from Myanmar; and a report about natural pearls from the Netherlands.

Other highlights from the issue include a “Practical Gemmology” section documenting how a polishing technique can lead to the misidentification of spinel as more valuable stones, and “Gem Notes” highlighting rare stones seen at the Tucson gem shows.

“We are delighted to bring such a diverse line-up of articles to readers of The Journal, ranging from diamonds to collectors’ stones and treated gems to natural pearls,” said Editor-in-Chief Brendan Laurs. “This issue of The Journal is packed with information that every gemologist can use and contains a vast amount of pioneering gemological knowledge from around the world.”

Gem-A publishes The Journal of Gemmology quarterly in partnership with the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF and American Gemological Laboratories. Subscriptions are available for members of Gem-A, as well as well as through an institutional membership for laboratories, libraries, museums and the like. More information can be found on the Publications section of Gem-A’s website.