Journal
The Journal
Field notes from inside the antique and estate jewelry trade — what to look for, what to walk away from.
Aquamarine vs Blue Topaz: How to Tell Them Apart
Aquamarine vs blue topaz: why one is iron-coloured beryl and the other usually irradiated topaz, how density, refractive index and dichroism separate...
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Padparadscha, Pink and Yellow Sapphires: The Colours Beyond Blue
Fancy sapphires explained: padparadscha, pink, yellow, orange, purple, green, white, colour-change and parti sapphires, where each comes from, how they are treated,...
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Tanzanite vs Sapphire: How to Tell Them Apart, and Which Lasts
Tanzanite vs sapphire: zoisite from Tanzania's Merelani Hills against corundum, how to tell them apart by colour and refractive index, heat treatment,...
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Alexandrite: The Colour-Change Gem of the Tsars, and How to Spot a Fake
Alexandrite explained: the colour-change chrysoberyl from the Urals, why it turns green to red, Brazilian and Sri Lankan sources, synthetic alexandrite and...
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Ruby Buying Guide: Pigeon's Blood, Origin, Heat and Glass-Filled Rubies
Ruby buying guide: what makes a ruby valuable, what pigeon's blood really means, origins from Myanmar to Mozambique, heated, flux-healed and glass-filled...
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Spinel: The Gem That Fooled the Crown Jewels — and Why Collectors Want It Now
Spinel was mistaken for ruby for centuries, and some of the most famous Crown Jewel rubies are spinels. What spinel is, red...
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Paraíba Tourmaline: Why Neon Blue Can Outprice Diamonds
Paraíba tourmaline owes its neon glow to copper, and its name now describes chemistry rather than origin. What drives the price, Brazilian...
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