Gem-A

Mastering Gemstone Photography Webinar – August 26, 6 PM GMT 💻

If you are thinking of entering the Gem-A Photographer of the Year Competition 2026, this is the ideal opportunity to gain some helpful advice and top tips from a fellow Gem-A Member.

Paul Phillips FGA DGA has a BSc in physics and geology and has worked in the aerospace industry as a welder for 40 years. He has been an active member of the Gem-A Midlands Branch Committee for 25 years, with 6 years' experience as chairman.

Paul discovered a passion for photography 20 years ago and went on to combine photography and gemmology to capture gemstones and inclusions in incredible detail.

➡️ This webinar is accessible to Gem-A Members and non-members. Secure your ticket here: https://gem-a.com/event/mastering-gemstone-photography/

📸 Spessartine garnet in quartz and a tiger stripe inclusion in quartz, both taken with a DSLR attached to a binocular microscope with darkfield illumination and fibre optic light; uniaxial figure in a quartz slice, photographed through the polariscope with a DSLR set on a tripod and handheld conoscope.

Our esteemed speakers are ready… are you? 🤩

The Gem-A Conference will take place at The Leonardo Royal Hotel London St Paul's on November 7-8, 2026.

Now's your chance to secure tickets at the early bird rate before prices rise later this month.

Enjoy two dynamic days of cutting-edge presentations, hands-on workshops, and high-value networking. Meet leading experts from around the world, discover the latest advancements in gemmology, and be part of a vibrant international community driving the industry forward.

💎 Hear from an exceptional line-up of distinguished speakers
💎 Connect with industry leaders during Conference breaks
💎 Immerse yourself in a wealth of knowledge
💎 Meet the Gem-A team and our tutors
💎 Participate in workshops on Monday, November 9
💎 Engage with our Sponsors and Supporters

Book your tickets and find out more here: https://gem-a.com/conference-2026/

Be part of a pioneering movement in gemmology education, starting in September 👏

We are so excited to be launching our new and improved Gemmology Diploma in the next academic term.

If you have recently studied the Gem-A Gemmology Foundation and wish to continue your studies, there has never been a better time.

This is your chance to develop your theoretical knowledge, deepen your practical skills and meet like-minded gemmologists who are shaping the future of our field.

➡️ Challenge yourself
➡️ Build on your knowledge
➡️ Hold yourself to high academic standards

Discover more here: https://gem-a.com/education/study-gemmology/gemmology-diploma

Remember, this is your only pathway towards becoming an FGA Member of the Association, allowing you to use the coveted FGA post-nominals.

The Gem-A Conference returns on November 7-8, 2026 💎

Join us in London for two inspiring days of cutting-edge presentations delivered by world-renowned experts in their respective fields.

Participate in hands-on workshops and enjoy high-value networking with fellow gemmologists, researchers, educators, valuers, auctioneers and industry professionals who share your interest in our ever-evolving field.

➡️ To secure your ticket at our early bird rate, visit: https://gem-a.com/conference-2026/

Whether you've visited countless times before or are thinking of joining us for the first time, we're offering special ticket prices for a limited time only.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Look what's back in stock at Gem-A Instruments 🤩

Gem Testing Techniques by the late, great Alan Hodgkinson is back on our digital shelves… but there are only a handful of copies to go around.

Reflecting his decades of research and hands-on experience, Gem Testing Techniques is a comprehensive guide to gemstone identification, filled with practical methods, insightful explanations and helpful techniques that have made it a trusted reference for gemmologists around the world.

Alan devoted his career to teaching and inspiring others. Today, his passion for gemmology continues to influence students and professionals alike through this remarkable publication.

Whether you're studying, working in the trade or simply looking to deepen your understanding of gemstones, this is a book you'll reach for time and time again.

🛒 Secure your copy before stocks run out here: https://shop.gem-a.com/product/gem-testing-techniques-by-alan-hodgkinson/

Take a closer look at this unusual 'Paraíba YAG' 🔍

The popularity and price of bright blue-to-green Paraíba-type tourmaline has increased markedly over the past few decades, and it remains one of the most sought-after gemstones today.

Consequently, various natural and synthetic gem materials with similar colours have been traded as substitutes for this tourmaline. One common natural example is apatite, while artificial imitations include glass, synthetic beryl and cubic zirconia.

Recently, Central Gem Laboratory in Tokyo examined a 1.85 ct faceted oval brilliant displaying a blue-green colour reminiscent of Paraíba-type tourmaline. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the material was yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG).

YAG is one of the most widely used artificial gem materials and is often used as a substitute for various coloured stones.

📸 1.85 ct blue-green YAG, photo by Shunichi Soeda; honeycomb-like partially healed fractures are present in the sample; similar fractures occur in a synthetic ruby produced by the Verneuil process with a flux-grown overgrowth. Photomicrographs by H. Kitawaki.

📚 Gem-A Members can read more in the latest Journal of Gemmology here: https://gem-a.com/publications/the-journal-of-gemmology/volume-40-issue-2-2026/

➡ Become a Gem-A Member today to start receiving our industry-leading publications and professional resources: https://gem-a.com/membership/

Our early bird rate for the Gem-A Conference 2026 must end soon ⏰

Get your ticket for a lower price for a limited time only and secure your seat at one of the world’s most influential and inspiring gemmology conferences.

Here's what to expect on the weekend of November 7-8 in Central London:

💎 Hear from an exceptional line-up of distinguished speakers over two days, representing diverse areas of gemmology.

💎 Connect with industry leaders during Conference breaks.

💎 Immerse yourself in a wealth of knowledge as you learn from our expert speakers and engage with fellow delegates.

💎 Participate in informative workshops on Monday, November 9.

Gem-A Members, non-members, students and industry professionals can purchase tickets at the temporary lower rate, here: https://gem-a.com/conference-2026/

Knowledge is power, especially in the retail sales environment 🛒

Our online-only, NAJ Endorsed GemINTRO course is ideal for sales professionals who want to elevate their gemstone awareness and learn accurate information to share with their customers.

Individuals just like Fran Murphy at Chisholm Hunter are already seeing the benefits of flexible study with us.

Right now, we’re offering 20% off the cost of GemINTRO until December 31, 2026. Simply use the code Promo26 to secure your discount and start learning straight away.

Here's what you can expect:

💎 11 online lessons
💎 30+ video tutorials
💎 Mini quizzes to track your progress
💎 Six months of access
💎 An Ofqual Level 2 Award
💎 Proof of completion with a Gem-A Certificate

Find out more and register here: https://gemintro.gem-a.com/



📸 Photomicrograph courtesy of Valentin Fejoz.

An HPHT-treated ruby 🔬

High-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) treatment processes applied to corundum have long been of considerable interest to the gem trade and gemmological laboratories.

Previous reports have focused on blue sapphire, for which HPHT treatment has been linked to characteristic infrared absorption features and a range of internal features, including blurred colour zoning, melted crystals and recrystallised baddeleyite inclusion.

By contrast, reports of HPHT-treated ruby are rarer.

Guild Gem Laboratories recently received a 1.05 ct ruby for identification. The stone showed a noticeable orangey modifier to its red body colour.

📸 HPHT treated 1.05 ct ruby, photo by Yao Huang; fluid inclusions in the ruby are accompanied by minute discoidal features, photomicrograph by Ziyun Zhang (image width 2.5 mm); dark material within this fluid inclusion identified by Raman micro-spectroscopy as amorphous carbon. Photomicrograph by Wenli Liao; image width 0.9 mm.

📚 Gem-A Members can read more in The Journal of Gemmology Volume 40, No. 2, 2026: https://gem-a.com/publications/the-journal-of-gemmology/volume-40-issue-2-2026/

To become a Gem-A Member and access all our Membership benefits, please visit: https://gem-a.com/membership/