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Established in 1931, GIA protects the public through gemological research, education, impartial gem identification and grading services, and instrument development. The world’s foremost authority in gemology and creator of the 4Cs, GIA sets the standard for determining the quality of diamonds and performs research-based identification of colored gems and pearls. As an independent nonprofit organiz

ation, all of GIA’s activities are governed by its mission to serve the public. Visit GIA.edu

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A new copper-bearing tourmaline find in southern Ethiopia has been creating buzz since late May. Gemologists at GIA and ...
08/27/2026

A new copper-bearing tourmaline find in southern Ethiopia has been creating buzz since late May. Gemologists at GIA and Gübelin Gem Lab separately investigated the new material to determine if it was, in fact, copper-bearing tourmaline.

GIA research scientists examined a parcel of over 100 rough and faceted samples and confirmed Ethiopia is producing significant quantities of high-quality paraíba tourmaline. Compared with Brazil, Mozambique and Nigeria, Ethiopian stones stand out for higher vanadium, gallium and lead—an element “signature” that supports confident origin identification in GIA Tourmaline Identification and Origin Reports.

Read more about this new paraíba source: https://bit.ly/4xpWB0Q

Gubelin Gemmology

Stones courtesy of the Ferreira Group

08/27/2026

Have you wondered what a graduate jeweler classroom looks like? Let’s take a tour!

The Graduate Jeweler program is hands-on, building the skills for jewelry fabrication and repair using gemstones, precious metals and professional tools.

Learn more about this program: https://bit.ly/4gQBGyc

08/25/2026

George F. Kunz's and Charles H. Stevenson’s The Book of the Pearl (1908) is considered a landmark work on one of the world's most treasured gems. The work covers everything from the formation of pearls and historic fisheries to famous jewels, cultural traditions and the global pearl trade. Today, it still remains one of the most influential references on pearls ever published.

Learn more about the fascinating history of pearls on the GIA Library’s Internet Archive page:
https://bit.ly/3RKcwrz

One gemstone. Three colors. One remarkable journey.This 1.18-carat natural, unheated Brazilian tourmaline displays vivid...
08/24/2026

One gemstone. Three colors. One remarkable journey.

This 1.18-carat natural, unheated Brazilian tourmaline displays vivid zones of purplish pink, violetish blue and green—all formed naturally as the crystal grew. Subtle changes in its chemistry gave rise to each color, with manganese producing the purplish pink hues and copper creating the vibrant blue and green.

Tourmalines with multiple colors aren't unusual. What makes this one so special is the vivid intensity and striking separation of each color. The blue and green portions are colored by copper and fall within the color range accepted as “Paraíba” by the The Laboratory Manual Harmonisation Committee (LMHC), while the purplish pink portion, colored primarily by manganese, falls outside that range.

Every gemstone has a story to tell. A GIA Colored Stone Identification & Origin Report helps uncover its identity, origin and unique characteristics. You never know what surprises might be hiding inside your gem!

What do you think of this unique tourmaline?

Images courtesy of Fine Royal Gems ( on Instagram)

Peridot has long been treasured for its vibrancy, green glow and beauty. Now, GIA can tell another part of its story—whe...
08/21/2026

Peridot has long been treasured for its vibrancy, green glow and beauty. Now, GIA can tell another part of its story—where it formed.

As part of GIA's expanded Colored Stone Identification & Origin Report services, origin determination is now available for peridot from Burma (Myanmar) and Pakistan. These celebrated sources are known for producing larger stones with rich, saturated color.

Determining origin requires years of field gemology and laboratory analysis. Since launching its Field Gemology program in 2007, GIA has built one of the industry's most extensive collections of reference samples, supported by advanced instrumentation and a global team of expert gemologists.

Knowing where a gemstone comes from reveals more than just its origin—it connects the gem to a unique history and journey.

Learn more about GIA's new origin services and submit your stone on our website: https://bit.ly/4hyrpre

Image 8 courtesy of Fuji Gemstones

Known as The Treasure State, Montana is the most important deposit of sapphires in North America. And one of the finest ...
08/18/2026

Known as The Treasure State, Montana is the most important deposit of sapphires in North America. And one of the finest examples came to GIA for a Monograph in 2025.

Dubbed the Montana Sun, this 33.00-carat sapphire lit up the GIA lab with its unique bi-coloration—an explosion of yellowish orange surrounded by blue. It proved to be the largest faceted, gem-quality sapphire from Montana that GIA has examined to date, and was referred to as the second-largest known blue sapphire found in the United States.

To establish its origin, GIA scientists focused in on its microscopic inclusions. Its dense particle clouds, melt relics with thin films, and linear bands of altered silk matched those typically found in heated Montana sapphires. The conclusion was further corroborated by analyzing its trace elements using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF). The iron, titanium, gallium and vanadium contents are consistent with Rock Creek sapphires. The evidence proved that the Montana Sun originated in its namesake state.

The stone started out as a 59.50-carat hexagonal tabular crystal before award-winning lapidarist John Dyer () turned it into a work of art. He chose a hexagonal fantasy cut to preserve weight and highlight the color-zoning, giving the impression of a golden flash of sunlight rimmed by big sky.

What are your thoughts on this exceptional Montana treasure?

Photos courtesy of Jeff Mason .mason.photography

At first glance, this colorful gem might look like a piece of modern art. In reality, it's thomsonite—a rare member of t...
08/17/2026

At first glance, this colorful gem might look like a piece of modern art. In reality, it's thomsonite—a rare member of the zeolite mineral group known for its striking concentric patterns and radiating crystal structures.

Many of the finest examples come from the shores of Lake Superior, where rounded nodules are shaped by nature and later polished to reveal their distinctive "eye-like" patterns. The mineral's intricate bands and bursts of color have made it a favorite among collectors and lapidary enthusiasts.

Named after Scottish chemist and mineralogist Thomas Thomson, thomsonite is a reminder that some of nature's most fascinating treasures aren't always the most famous gemstones.

Have you ever seen thomsonite before?

Stone image courtesy of Thomas P. Shearer

A rare-looking “pearl” revealed an unexpected surprise.GIA’s Mumbai laboratory recently examined a 10.56-carat black bea...
08/14/2026

A rare-looking “pearl” revealed an unexpected surprise.

GIA’s Mumbai laboratory recently examined a 10.56-carat black bead submitted for identification. It resembled a pen pearl, a type of rare, dark, non-nacreous pearl that displays a distinctive columnar structures or silky appearance.

However, advanced testing revealed a different story.

Microscopic examination, X-ray imaging and UV fluorescence analysis showed that the specimen was actually an assembled imitation made up of three pen shell fragments glued together with dark adhesive. The difference in value between an assembled imitation and a natural pen pearl can be significant, highlighting the importance of a GIA Pearl Report in determining a pearl’s identity and quality.

Learn how GIA gemologists uncovered the specimen’s true identity in the latest issue of Gems & Gemology: https://bit.ly/4gVItr4

GIA recently examined a 100.15-carat transparent dark red cuprite—the largest ever submitted to GIA for identification!C...
08/12/2026

GIA recently examined a 100.15-carat transparent dark red cuprite—the largest ever submitted to GIA for identification!

Cuprite is a rare copper oxide mineral prized for its deep red color and submetallic luster. With a Mohs hardness of just 3.5–4, it is generally considered a collector’s stone rather than a gem suitable for jewelry.

Large, transparent gem-quality specimens are highly uncommon and most come from a single deposit in Namibia. What makes this gem even more stunning? It contains transparent green malachite crystals, which are usually opaque—a rarity within a rarity.

Learn more about this extraordinary specimen in a past issue of G&G: https://bit.ly/4vKjwTT

08/11/2026

Red beryl is one of the rarest gemstones in the world. Like emerald and aquamarine, it belongs to the beryl mineral family, but its distinct red hue comes from traces of manganese within its crystal structure. Because of its rarity and distinctive color, red beryl has become highly prized among collectors and gem enthusiasts.

Most gem-quality red beryl comes from a single region: the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah in the United States, where it forms in cavities within rhyolite volcanic rock. Because the crystals grow in small cavities, red beryl crystals are typically very small, and fine stones over one carat are extremely rare. Many crystals are heavily included or fractured, making clean, faceted stones especially valuable.

Beyond its rarity, red beryl is fascinating to scientists because it forms in very unusual geological conditions, requiring both beryllium and manganese to occur together in volcanic environments—an uncommon combination in nature.

Today, red beryl is regarded as a collector’s gemstone, prized for its rarity, its connection to American history and its striking color—making it one of the most extraordinary members of the beryl family.

Which is your favorite beryl variety?

Stones courtesy of Rex Harris

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