aser confocal microscopy, a very reliable method of revealing surface micro-features, is used on an HPHT synthetic diamond to reveal growth structures.

An update the gemological and chemical characteristics of golden sheen sapphires from Kenya.

A transparent greenish blue pear-shaped gemstone, reportedly from Madagascar, is discovered to be a Maxixe-type beryl.

A jade bracelet contains unusual fillers, used to create a smooth surface.

Rare pearls, along with their shell, are studied in the Hong Kong lab.

An unusual assembled stone is examined at GIA’s New York lab.

A synthetic diamond seen in the Carlsbad lab is the largest faceted lab-grown diamond examined by GIA.

Irradiated CVD-grown diamonds are examined in the Carlsbad lab.

Over the last decade, the production methods used to create synthetic diamond melee have improved substantially, along with the quality of the specimens themselves.

Crassostrea virginica, the so-called Eastern or American oyster, is a commercial seafood widely distributed along the east coast of the United States to the Gulf of Mexico.

A sapphire cabochon with an unusual appearance is seen at GIA’s Tokyo lab.

Lotus Gemology receives submissions of star stones on a regular basis, so when we first saw the specimen shown here, it appeared to be one among many of our usual stones to test.

Aesthetically pleasing inclusions are found in topaz from Pakistan’s Shigar Valley.

A black star sapphire produced from eastern Thailand, showing both golden and silver rays, is studied at GIA’s Bangkok lab.

For the first time, wurtzite is found as an inclusion in gem material.

Seldom-seen inclusions are found in a host material that is rare in its own right.

A yellowish green specimen with horsetail-like inclusions is found to be glass rather than demantoid garnet.

A diamond examined in the Carlsbad lab shows chameleon coloring in an unusual pattern.

A Medusa quartz from Paraíba, Brazil, hosts a surprising inclusion.