Neutron and X-Ray Tomography of Emeralds
Since two years, the SSEF has been working with the Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) using their ICON beamline (cold neutron imaging) at the SINQ spallation source. The aim of these research projects in collaboration with Dr. Lehmann and Dr. Mannes is to analyse
Rarities and Collector Stones Tested at SSEF
The daily routine at SSEF usually consists of testing rubies, sapphires, emeralds, pearls and diamonds. Although sometimes challenging and interesting, especially taking into account the quality and the documented historical provenance of some of these gems and jewellery items, it is also always of great intere
Purple Mozambique Garnet
In early 2016, attractive bright purple garnets arrived at SSEF in Bangkok, Basel and Hong Kong. Based on client information, they are from a new mine, Padagaga in the Chimoio area in Mozambique, which was discovered recently.
Rubies with Oil in Fissures
Over the past few years, the SSEF has repeatedly seen gemstones (apart from emeralds) which contained fissures filled with oil or other fillers. These include rubies, sapphires, spinels, tourmalines, garnets and even rarities such as pezzottaite.
The historic ‘Sleeping Lion Pearl’, a natural Blister and not a Pearl
Recently, the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF had the opportunity to investigate an impressive natural nacreous formation with documented provenance dating back to the late 18th century, named the ‘Sleeping Lion Pearl’ due to its baroque shape that is reminiscent of a lion.
新產出的阿富汗祖母綠
在歷史上，阿富汗便是一個著名的出產高品質祖母綠的地區，此處產出的祖母綠因其美麗的顏色和可觀的粒度而馳名業界。近幾十年來，儘管時局動盪政治混亂，這個地區最近再次開采出一批質量和粒度都極為搶眼的寶石。在過去的幾個
巴西帕拉依巴礦區考察之旅
2017年10月， SSEF寶石學家一行人有幸探訪了巴西的一些帕拉依巴碧璽礦場，並實地調查走訪了在帕拉依巴州和北里約格朗德州Rio Grande do Norte帕拉依巴碧璽的採礦程序、揀選方法、切割工藝以及貿易活動，獲得了諸多來自當地的第一手資料
Exceptional Spessartine Garnets
first published in Facette 21 (February 2014) In 2013, […]