Gem-A

Gem-A Creating and supporting gemmologists since 1908.

Sponsor in the Spotlight – Gemmology Rocks 💎We are thrilled to welcome Gemmology Rocks to the Gem-A Conference 2026 as o...
25/09/2026

Sponsor in the Spotlight – Gemmology Rocks 💎

We are thrilled to welcome Gemmology Rocks to the Gem-A Conference 2026 as one of our valued Bronze sponsors.

Founded by Kerry Gregory FGA DGA EG GG, Gemmology Rocks offers reclaimed and recycled gemstones and educational workshops that build professional confidence.

Plus, Kerry and her team have a great social media presence that offers valuable advice, helpful identification insights and plenty of entertainment for professional and amateur gemmologists alike.

When securing your ticket to the Gem-A Conference, don’t miss the chance to attend our ‘Test the Rainbow’ one-day workshop, hosted by Kerry at Gem-A HQ on Friday, November 6. More information can be found on our website.

The Gem-A Conference will take place at The Leonardo Royal Hotel London St Paul’s on the weekend of November 7-8.

Everything you need to know about this year’s speakers, sponsors, workshops, tours, and schedule is available on our website.

The latest edition of The Journal of Gemmology (Volume 40, No. 3, 2026) is now available for Gem-A Members to access onl...
24/09/2026

The latest edition of The Journal of Gemmology (Volume 40, No. 3, 2026) is now available for Gem-A Members to access online 📚

Highlights include a feature article examining Cu-bearing tourmaline from Ethiopia, which has been much discussed in the field since a new deposit was discovered in Abulo Rukessa (or Abuloo) in mid-2026.

The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF characterised fourteen stones reportedly from the area, including five faceted and nine rough samples, using a variety of techniques. SSEF compared chemical data from these stones with Cu-bearing tourmalines from Brazil, Mozambique and Nigeria in its database, and used statistical data processing to successfully differentiate the new Cu-bearing tourmalines from those of other localities.

Additional feature articles cover the gems of the sodalite group, new gem opal reportedly from Yemen, and gem-quality labradorite feldspar from the Haute-Loire region of France.

📸 On this issue's cover, we can see Ethiopian Cu-bearing tourmaline specimens, including crystals weighing 5.5 and 1.0 g (left and bottom left, respectively) and gemstones weighing 3.7, 2.0, 6.4 and 1.8 ct (clockwise from upper left). The individual images have been resized and digitally arranged, and so are not shown to scale. Composite photo by SSEF.

➡️ Gem-A Members can read the issue via our website.

Become a Gem-A Member today to start receiving our industry-leading publications and professional resources.

22/09/2026

Are you ready to take your learning to the next level? 👏

Take a peek at our Gemmology Diploma course notes, including one book dedicated to gemstones and another focused on theory.

So much hard work and dedication have gone into these essential resources, and we can’t wait for future cohorts of Gem-A Students to get their hands on them!

If you have completed the Gemmology Foundation, you are eligible to enrol on the Gemmology Diploma, which is your only route to achieving FGA status.

Find out more via our website or by contacting our team on [email protected].

22/09/2026

The printed editions of our new Gemmology Foundation and Gemmology Diploma course notes have arrived and they are looking fantastic 🎉

Our courses have been refreshed and revised to provide the most comprehensive and scientifically rigorous training in gemmology. Students joining us in September 2026 are among the first to receive these updated booklets, and we’ve already had great feedback.

Kickstart your gemmology journey with GemIntro, the Gemmology Foundation and the Gemmology Diploma… a pathway of learning that leads to Membership of the Association and the coveted FGA status.

Find out more via our website or by contacting our team on [email protected].

The Gem-A Conference schedule is bigger and better than ever 🤯 This year, we've expanded proceedings to include in-perso...
22/09/2026

The Gem-A Conference schedule is bigger and better than ever 🤯

This year, we've expanded proceedings to include in-person workshops at Gem-A London on both Friday, November 6, and Monday, November 9.

If you are very quick, you may be able to snap up the last remaining tickets for Justin Prim's session on 'The Science of Gem Cutting', which will tackle the intersection where gem cutting and gemmology overlap.

Justin's workshop will combine traditional gemmological knowledge with advanced optics to help participants understand why different cuts help or hinder the colour and brightness of gemstones. He will also explain what each of the traditional cutting styles does for light- and dark-toned stones.

Secure your place now to dive deeper into the physical world of gem cutting and learn what to look for (and what questions to ask) when buying cut stones or commissioning a lapidary.

➡️ Find out more and book tickets via our website.

💎 There's still time to join us at the Gem-A Conference 2026. Discover the full agenda, speakers, sponsors and more on our website.

Gem-A Photographer of the Year Competition – An Expert Guide 📸 Do you need a photomicrography skills boost? If you are p...
21/09/2026

Gem-A Photographer of the Year Competition – An Expert Guide 📸

Do you need a photomicrography skills boost? If you are planning to enter this year's Photographer of the Year Competition, we've got the perfect webinar for you.

Recently, Paul Phillips FGA DGA hosted a fantastic and well-attended online talk about photomicrography, specifically the tips, tricks, techniques and technology he uses to take great pictures.

💻 If you couldn't attend, here's the recording: https://vimeo.com/1222958219/a2ba34f545?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci =30

Learn more about…
🔺 Capturing inclusions using a DSLR and mobile phone.
🔺 Techniques to photograph spectra.
🔺 Photographing interference figures through the polariscope.
🔺 Photographing and videoing shadow edges in the refractometer.

Submissions for 2026 are due by November 11 and may be sent via WeTransfer.com to [email protected]. For all the rules, terms and conditions, please visit: https://gem-a.com/news/gemsjewellery-photographer-of-the-year-competition-is-open/

📸 For inspiration, look at these photomicrographs from our previous competitions. Thin film-like inclusions in a Russian emerald by Keith Chow, field of view 3.5 mm (First Place, 2025); 'The Little Fish' fully melted crystal in a beryllium-treated natural sapphire by Francesco Protopappas, field of view 1.2 mm (Second Place, 2025); and 'Silver Field Mysteries' curved etch marks on the surface of a hematite crystal by Valentin Fejoz, field of view 7.05 mm (Longlist, 2024).

How is AI shaping the general public's knowledge of gemmology? 🤔 That's the topic we are discussing in the latest editio...
21/09/2026

How is AI shaping the general public's knowledge of gemmology? 🤔

That's the topic we are discussing in the latest edition of Professional Jeweller magazine, with the support of Kerry Gregory, Charles Bexfield, Rui Galopim de Carvalho, and Jayne Bond, among others.

We know AI tools aren't foolproof and can often deliver misinformed or inaccurate information. In fact, research suggests that 20% of advice given by AI can contain "hallucinated details" that are entirely fake facts or based on non-existent studies.

At Gem-A, our goal is to educate the next generation of gemmologists who can confidently share their knowledge, expertise, and experience with the buying public.

Thanks to our refreshed and revised courses, we offer world-class education that equips future gemmologists with the tools they need to think critically about AI-generated information.

➡️ You can read more here: https://www.professionaljeweller.com/gemmology-special-gem-a-mineral-ai

This year, we've expanded the Gem-A Conference schedule to include in-person workshops at Gem-A London on Friday, Novemb...
18/09/2026

This year, we've expanded the Gem-A Conference schedule to include in-person workshops at Gem-A London on Friday, November 6 🥳

Don't miss your chance to attend a fantastic one-day gem testing extravaganza with Kerry Gregory, the self-titled 'Head of Shiny Stuff' at Gemmology Rocks!

Work your way through gemstones in all the colours of the rainbow, from simple sapphire to tricky tugtupite, featuring a range of gems to suit all abilities, including mounted gemstones.

As gemmology professionals, we don't often have time to sit and practice, whether for pleasure or to assess our skills. This is what you get to do here, under the expert guidance of Kerry, who will provide all the hints, hacks and tips you need to identify robustly and efficiently.

You can even take a mini test at the end of the day, should you wish, to prove what you've learned.

➡️ This exciting event is open to Gem-A Members, non-members, and students. You don't need Gem-A Conference tickets to attend this practical session. Find out more and book here: https://gem-a.com/event/test-the-rainbow/

Gem-A Photographer of the Year Competition 2026 – The Smartphone Contest 📱 In a change from previous years, we've added ...
16/09/2026

Gem-A Photographer of the Year Competition 2026 – The Smartphone Contest 📱

In a change from previous years, we've added a new category to this year's photomicrography competition.

Participants who use a smartphone to capture their best shots can enter a separate 'mini' contest, which will be judged alongside our main competition. If a submission is of exceptional quality, it may place in the Longlist to win first, second or third prize, and it may also win the People's Choice Award… It's all to play for!

However, photomicrographs taken with smartphones do NOT have to place in the final ten photos to win the Smartphone Contest.

📸 To inspire you, here's 'Iron Daisies' by Isabelle Corvin that made it onto our 2025 Longlist. It was taken on a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphone using a GIA Gemolite NXT microscope, showcasing dendritic 'flowers' in a boulder opal. The contrast between the iron colours of the dendrites and the boulder opal's cool-blue background creates a playful, artistic look through the microscope. The image is cropped, and contrast was adjusted digitally. A reflective overhead light source was used. Field of view: 3.00 mm.

➡️ Remember, submissions for this year’s competition are due by November 11 and may be sent via WeTransfer.com to [email protected].

For all the essential rules, terms and conditions, please visit: https://tr.ee/xOKptCxiQ4

Sponsor in the Spotlight – Gemworld International 💎 We are delighted that one of our long-term sponsors, Gemworld Intern...
14/09/2026

Sponsor in the Spotlight – Gemworld International 💎

We are delighted that one of our long-term sponsors, Gemworld International, has returned to the Gem-A Conference as a Bronze Sponsor for 2026.

Gemworld International is the industry leader for gem pricing and market information. For more than 40 years, it has provided accurate wholesale pricing for most major gemstones and diamonds, along with key industry articles by many industry experts.

⭐ Find out more here: https://www.gemguide.com/

As you may know, Gemworld's President Emeritus, Richard Drucker, is also President of the Board of Gem-A. He will serve as Master of Ceremonies at the Conference, and we look forward to hearing his market update on diamonds and laboratory-grown diamonds on Sunday, November 8.

Join us at the Gem-A Conference 2026 at The Leonardo Royal Hotel London St Paul's on the weekend of November 7-8. You can also attend a range of workshops on Friday, November 6, and Monday, November 9.

🔜 Secure your place now before time runs out: https://gem-a.com/conference-2026/

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