r/Gemology

This Ceylon gewda sapphire was one of six stones we recovered while washing gem-bearing soil from our gem mine.

The rough weighed 2.98 ct. It was a silky, milky mixed-quality gewda sapphire—exactly the type of material that often responds well to heat treatment.

After preforming, the stone weighed 2.33 ct. It was then heat treated, which dissolved much of the silk and significantly improved the color and clarity. The result was a beautiful royal blue sapphire.

The final faceted gem weighs 1.20 ct.

It’s always rewarding to see how the right piece of rough, combined with careful preforming, heat treatment, and precision cutting, can reveal the stone’s full potential.

What are your thoughts on the transformation and the final yield?

Not For Sale.

Hey Loungers!

The weekend is here, and I thought it was the perfect time to talk about one of my absolute favorite colors in the gem world: that vivid, lush green.

When most people hear “green gem,” they immediately think of emeralds. But today, let’s shine the spotlight on a true underdog superstar: Tsavorite, the brilliant green garnet that rivals emerald in beauty but often surpasses it in durability and fire.

Tsavorite was first discovered in 1967 by British geologist Campbell R. Bridges in northern Tanzania (near Komolo). He later found more deposits in Kenya’s Taita Hills in 1970, close to Tsavo National Park. It wasn’t until 1973 that Bridges, together with Henry B. Platt (then President of Tiffany & Co.), officially named it “Tsavorite” in honor of the Tsavo region. Tiffany’s subsequent marketing campaign helped introduce this gem to the world.

For a long time, it remained a hidden gem in the trade. But in the early 2000s, collectors and connoisseurs began to truly appreciate its rarity, and its prices have been climbing ever since.

What I love most? Tsavorite is 100% natural and untreated, exceptionally clean, incredibly durable, and possesses that spectacular glowing brilliance. It’s a true “gem of gems” — sturdy enough for everyday wear while delivering emerald-level wow factor.

One of my all-time favorites, hands down! 💚

Got questions about Tsavorite, other green gems, or anything in the colored stone world? Drop them in the comments, I’m happy to reply. Or even better, come visit us at Asia Lounges and let’s talk gems in person.

See you soon?

#AsiaLounges #Tsavorite #GreenGems #GemEducation #ColoredStones #BangkokGems #Edutainment

Hi! I’m currently working as a jeweler in the family business.

I’m enrolled in the GIA gemologist course online and just started my diamond course, I’m already preparing tools for the colored stones and so I dusted off the old Duplex II refractometer we have at the shop.

I noticed the glass has some slight abrasions. Is this still usable?

Pictured above is me using the refractometer on a synthetic emerald. The last image is showing the abrasions.

Thank you!

I cant test this yet as I don’t have the proper light source nor the RI fluid, it was only 140 USD so I couldn’t resist buying it in the event that maybe it won’t need much recalibration. I’m still ordering RI fluid and the light source it needs. I am very sure I’ll probably need to get this professionally fixed by experts but how risky would it be If I tried to realign it myself? Of course I will be testing it first before anything else, I’m hoping it only needs a hemicylinder polishing and maybe the reading will be okay or maybe just very slightly off.

Hello gem folks, I have two sapphires that I'm interested in, the oval and the cushion one. Here's the stats on them. They haven't been officially certified yet. I'm leaning towards the cushion one. Do you think the prices are fair?

Does anyone have any good places in Toronto to get certification? Not really wanting to mail it to the US if possible.

Stone IDs

>!Stone ID: Oval weight 1.18 ct. price $4,890 Cad + tax!<

>!Stone ID: Cushion weight 2.55 ct. price $13,260 Cad + tax!<

we came across 8.17 ct natural spinal with this crystal inclusion shows in in the photos. I am wondering is there a treatment that can remove these inclusions. Thank you.