Vanadium chrysoberyl
Vanadium as a colouring element is quite often underestimated, mostly as it is often associated and acting together with chromium, a chemical element with a similar geochemical behavior and paragenetic occurrence but which is historically better known in the trade and easier to detect with simple tools (spectro
A study of nickel-bearing type Ia diamonds
A study of nickel-bearing type Ia diamonds. IGC 2023 Pr […]
Led light boxes for standardized lighting of coloured stones and diamonds
In the past, coloured gemstones and diamonds were often examined in natural daylight, but reproducing such specific lighting conditions was challenging. Some impractical methods had been suggested, like grading only during specific hours or facing northward, especially during cloudy weather.
Testing of calibrated coloured stones: a complex job for gemmologists
The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF is regularly testing batches of tiny calibrated coloured stones for the Swiss watch industry similar to our testing service for melée diamonds. Testing such small coloured gemstones is challenging, starting with the handling of such small stones to analytical restrictions
Petrology, geothermobarometry and geochemistry of granulite facies wall rocks and hosting gneiss of gemstone deposits from the Mogok area (Myanmar)
Petrology, geothermobarometry and geochemistry of granu […]
Unearthing the past: harnessing history in the study of gemmology
Gemstones have been used in jewellery for millennia, with their history dating back to ancient civilizations. From Egypt to Mesopotamia, India to China, Europe and the Americas, gemstones have held deep cultural significance and have been treasured for their inherent beauty and mystical properties.
Coral-ID: A forensically validated genetic test to identify precious coral material and its application to objects seized from illegal traffic
Coral-ID: A forensically validated genetic test to iden […]
DNA fingerprinting as a tool in modern gemmology
DNA fingerprinting as a tool in modern gemmology. Journ […]
The science of gem testing at SSEF: a fascinating tale
Gemmology is a science with its foundations more than a hundred years ago, specifically driven by the emergence of synthetic stones and cultured pearls in the gem trade in the early 20th century.
Pair of sautoirs by René Lalique
René Lalique (1860-1945) was one of the most ingenious and creative designers of jewellery and glass objects at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. He significantly contributed to the Art Nouveau and Art Déco periods.