Paraiba Tourmaline origin determination using machine learning
Since its discovery in Brazil in the late 1980s, copper-bearing Paraiba tourmaline has completely reshaped the high-end gemstone market. Famous for its electric ‘neon’ blue-to-green hues — caused by traces of copper and manganese — it has established a category of its own.
Gemmological characterisation of emeralds from Musakashi, Zambia
Zambian emeralds have been known for decades, primarily from mines along the Kafubu River in north-central Zambia (approximately 35 km south of Kitwe).
Video: Watch our latest talk about synthetic diamonds (AGTA Tucson)
Synthetic Diamonds: What’s New and What’s Next? Join Julia Griffith FGA DGA EG from SSEF as she explores intriguing findings from SSEF’s latest research and unpacks what gemmologists need to know now.
Unheated Pink Sapphire from Madagascar with OH-related 3232 and 3185 cm–1 FTIR Bands
A new article in the Journal of Gemmology by SSEF gemmologists examines OH-related FTIR bands at 3232 and 3185 cm⁻¹ — peaks that are often interpreted as indicators of heat treatment.
The 30th Edition of SSEF Facette is now available
The wait is over! We are proud to announce the publication of the 30th edition of SSEF Facette magazine. This milestone issue continues our three-decade tradition of sharing cutting-edge research and insights from the Swiss Gemmological Institute.
A hot issue then and now: the history and future of synthetic coloured stones
The human desire to replicate and create ‘perfect’ gemstones stems from a long history of curiosity about how these beautiful materials form.
Unheated Pink Sapphire from Madagascar with OH-related 3232 and 3185 cm–1 FTIR Bands
The alluvial gem deposits of Ilakaka in south-western Madagascar have been known for more than two decades as an important source of corundum, mainly producing pink to purple stones, but also blue, yellow and padparadscha varieties.
Visit of the Letšeng diamond mine in Lesotho
In November 2025, Dr. Michael S. Krzemnicki and Dr. Michael Mintrone, Head of the Diamond Department at SSEF, were invited to visit the Letšeng diamond mine in Lesotho as part of a collaboration project. The Letšeng diamond mine is known for its large diamonds of exceptional quality and is the highest diamo
SSEF on-site testing in Hong Kong, 26 February – 08 March 2026
We will be in Hong Kong 26 February – 08 March 2026 offering our on-site testing services. Equipped with our mobile instruments and spectrometers, we will be testing coloured gemstones (no diamonds or pearls) at the Asia World Expo (02 – 06 March, booth no. 7-J30) and at the Convention & Exhibition Cent
New insights on Paraíba tourmaline origin determination
Determining the geographic origin of Cu-bearing tourmaline poses a significant challenge in gemmology, particularly when traditional microscopic methods yield inconclusive results. This study applies a combined analytical and computational approach using 469 gem-quality samples from Brazil, Mozambique and Niger