The Practical Gemologist

Recent Articles

News

Costume Jewelry Ring Turns Out to be a 26.27 Carat Diamond

May 23, 2017

Costume Jewelry Ring Turns Out to be a 26.27 Carat Diamond

May 23, 2017

May 23, 2017

May 14, 2017

$1.31 million Ornate Tiara Stolen From German Museum

May 14, 2017

May 14, 2017

Spring Into May Auctions

May 12, 2017

Spring Into May Auctions

May 12, 2017

May 12, 2017

The Pink Star Diamond Breaks Auction Records

Apr 5, 2017

The Pink Star Diamond Breaks Auction Records

Apr 5, 2017

Apr 5, 2017

7.44-carat Diamond Found by Teen

Mar 20, 2017

7.44-carat Diamond Found by Teen

Mar 20, 2017

Mar 20, 2017

The Foxfire Diamond Bedazzles as Smithsonian's Newest Rock Star

Nov 21, 2016

The Foxfire Diamond Bedazzles as Smithsonian's Newest Rock Star

Nov 21, 2016

Nov 21, 2016

Tiffany's Fall Legendary Style Campaign

Nov 3, 2016

Tiffany's Fall Legendary Style Campaign

Nov 3, 2016

Nov 3, 2016

CVD Synthetic Diamond Over 5 Carats Identified by GIA

Oct 27, 2016

CVD Synthetic Diamond Over 5 Carats Identified by GIA

Oct 27, 2016

Oct 27, 2016

Oct 24, 2016

Giant Jade Stone Unearthed in Myanmar

Oct 24, 2016

Oct 24, 2016

Burmese Ruby, Jade Ban Officially Ended

Oct 10, 2016

Burmese Ruby, Jade Ban Officially Ended

Oct 10, 2016

Oct 10, 2016

Jewelry History

The Pearls that Built Cartier

Jun 6, 2017

The Pearls that Built Cartier

Jun 6, 2017

Jun 6, 2017

The Crown of Empress Farah Pahlavi

May 10, 2017

The Crown of Empress Farah Pahlavi

May 10, 2017

May 10, 2017

Mary Todd Lincoln's Tiffany Seed Pearl Parure

Jan 20, 2017

Mary Todd Lincoln's Tiffany Seed Pearl Parure

Jan 20, 2017

Jan 20, 2017

The Danish Ruby Parure Tiara

Jan 19, 2017

The Danish Ruby Parure Tiara

Jan 19, 2017

Jan 19, 2017

Not What it Seems: The Black Prince Ruby

Oct 28, 2016

Not What it Seems: The Black Prince Ruby

Oct 28, 2016

Oct 28, 2016

Jane and Cassandra Austen's Topaz Crosses

Sep 15, 2016

Jane and Cassandra Austen's Topaz Crosses

Sep 15, 2016

Sep 15, 2016

The Stuart Sapphire

Sep 15, 2016

The Stuart Sapphire

Sep 15, 2016

Sep 15, 2016

Jun 14, 2016

Empress Eugénie’s Pearl and Diamond Tiara

Jun 14, 2016

Jun 14, 2016

May 24, 2016

The Grand Duchess Stephanie Emerald Parure

May 24, 2016

May 24, 2016

May 23, 2016

The Mogul Emerald

May 23, 2016

May 23, 2016

Jewelry Designers

Mark Davis: Hypercrafted Jewelry

Oct 28, 2016

Mark Davis: Hypercrafted Jewelry

Oct 28, 2016

Oct 28, 2016

Jan 7, 2016

Björn Weckström: Lapponia and Princess Leia

Jan 7, 2016

Jan 7, 2016

Hemmerle ring, diamond, copper, white gold, 0193.13.jpg

Oct 24, 2015

Falling for Hemmerle

Oct 24, 2015

Oct 24, 2015

Jul 17, 2015

Victoire de Castellane

Jul 17, 2015

Jul 17, 2015

Jun 9, 2015

Tiara Titan: Andrew Prince

Jun 9, 2015

Jun 9, 2015

Blog Posts

Kristjan Eyjolfsson Brooch Visits the Chelsea Flower Show Once Again

May 22, 2017

Kristjan Eyjolfsson Brooch Visits the Chelsea Flower Show Once Again

May 22, 2017

May 22, 2017

Oscar Heyman: The Jewelers' Jeweler

Apr 21, 2017

Oscar Heyman: The Jewelers' Jeweler

Apr 21, 2017

Apr 21, 2017

Jewels Shine at the Royal Opera House in London

Apr 5, 2017

Jewels Shine at the Royal Opera House in London

Apr 5, 2017

Apr 5, 2017

Pantone Spring 2017

Mar 20, 2017

Pantone Spring 2017

Mar 20, 2017

Mar 20, 2017

Oct 27, 2016

Web of Light

Oct 27, 2016

Oct 27, 2016

Pantone's Fall 2016 Colors

Oct 25, 2016

Pantone's Fall 2016 Colors

Oct 25, 2016

Oct 25, 2016

Happy Birthday Tiffany & Co.

Sep 18, 2016

Happy Birthday Tiffany & Co.

Sep 18, 2016

Sep 18, 2016

Aug 17, 2016

Pearls and Pools: Olympic Swimmer Kathleen Baker

Aug 17, 2016

Aug 17, 2016

FTC to Crack Down on Influencer Posts

Aug 17, 2016

FTC to Crack Down on Influencer Posts

Aug 17, 2016

Aug 17, 2016

Japanese Emperor

Aug 12, 2016

Japanese Emperor Akihito Indicates He Is Ready to Abdicate

Aug 12, 2016

Aug 12, 2016

Gemstones

The Diamond Rainbow: Fancy Colored Diamonds

Apr 24, 2017

The Diamond Rainbow: Fancy Colored Diamonds

Apr 24, 2017

Apr 24, 2017

The Colorful World of Topaz

Mar 20, 2017

The Colorful World of Topaz

Mar 20, 2017

Mar 20, 2017

Jan 11, 2016

Bohemian Garnets

Jan 11, 2016

Jan 11, 2016

rainbowoftourmaline

Oct 16, 2015

Tantalizing Tourmaline

Oct 16, 2015

Oct 16, 2015

Harry Winston Pad

Sep 30, 2015

The Sunset Sapphires: Padparasha

Sep 30, 2015

Sep 30, 2015

Dec 31, 2014

Zircon

Dec 31, 2014

Dec 31, 2014

Product Reviews

Apr 28, 2017

GemCam: Diamond and Gemstone Photography Solution

Apr 28, 2017

Apr 28, 2017

The Gemist: Stone File App

Apr 5, 2017

The Gemist: Stone File App

Apr 5, 2017

Apr 5, 2017

Mar 24, 2016

triple d Diamond & Gemstone Photokit

Mar 24, 2016

Mar 24, 2016

Apr 29, 2015

MetDia Gem: You need this app

Apr 29, 2015

Apr 29, 2015

Mar 12, 2015

Friction Ball Watch Case Back Opener From Kassoy

Mar 12, 2015

Mar 12, 2015

precision loupe

Feb 24, 2015

Precision Measuring Loupe From Kassoy

Feb 24, 2015

Feb 24, 2015

Dec 16, 2014

A Review of Richard D. Armstrong’s Photoatlas of Gemstone Spectra for Gemology Students

Dec 16, 2014

Dec 16, 2014

Fede rings depict two hands clasped. They are named for the Italian phrase mani in fede; "hands in faith" though the imagery dates back much further to Ancient Grece and Rome. The imagery is referred to as  dextrarum iunctio in La

The delicate magic of art created by René Lalique is unique in the way it enchants the viewer. This brooch entitled "L'Anémone de Bois" is no exception.
The romance of dappled light touching the delicate flowers of the fores

Kingfisher feathers with their iridescent ultramarine to turquoise-blue hues featured in Chinese ornaments as early as the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). Kingfisher feather jewelry and ornaments were highly valued and were a way to display the wearer

Tiara with corn featuring moonstones and carved horn by English jeweler, silversmith, and teacher of jewellery making Frederick James Partridge (1877-1942).
In 1910, Partridge set up a studio in Soho London where he designed for Liberty & Co. amo

🔹Aquamarine is a blueish green, blue-green, greenish blue, blue variety of beryl (emerald is a green variety of beryl).
🔹Aquamarine's coloring is due to trace amounts of ferrous iron.
🔹Aquamarine’s name comes from the Latin for seawater an

Mrs Philip (Charlotte) Newman was a pupil of, and assistant to, the jeweler John Brogden and worked between the years of 1870 and 1910. She created Classical and Renaissance revival style jewelry and her pieces were shown with John Brogden at the Int

On this day in 1911 Jean Harlow was born.
In 1936, actor William Powell gave her a ring that is described below:
"William Powell just gave Jean Harlow a ring— a big, flashy, perfectly gorgeous ring such as any woman would give her eye-teet

"An engraved amethyst bearing the figure of a little Cupid is said to have been worn in a ring by Saint Valentine. While this may be somewhat doubtful, it is by no means impossible, for many pagan gems were worn by pious Christians, who reconcil

Gold pendant with amethysts and enameling on the back. Spain circa 1625-50. Photo courtesy of the V&A Museum

One of my favorite things about the ornate jewelry from the 16th and 17th centuries is the attention paid to the entire piece. Jewelry

This book by @jasonmudlark and @rockthemudlark is out today in the UK and is available for pre-order with a release date of April 20, 2021 stateside! I cannot wait to see all the treasures and artifacts it holds. What a wonderful way to experience hi

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Heart of Eternity
27.64 carat heart-shaped stone with a ‘vivid blue’ color.
The Heart of Eternity was one of 11 blue diamond’s unveiled in January 2000 as part of the De Beers Millennium Jewels.

Fish are often used as symbols of abundance and plenty. 🐟
Aquamarine and diamond fish brooch with sapphires and a cabochon ruby set in platinum.
Sold by Sotheby's in 2007.
Happy Lunar New Year to those celebrating!

Roman agate cameo dating to the 5th century AD set in a modern gold setting. The cameo depicts a hand pinching an ear. Above is a knotted scarf or diadem. The inscription is Greek and reads: “Remember me, your dear sweetheart, and fare well, So

Queen Mary's Amethyst Parure was a set that the jewelry loving queen purchased through auction. It included a collection of large, primarily oval-shaped, amethysts surrounded by diamonds.
Mary passed the set on to her daughter-in-law Elizabeth who n

My favorite of the thistle brooches recently made an appearance on Burn's night.
The Diamond Thistle Brooch owned by the Queen Mother dates to around WWII era. The brooch passed on to the Queen when her mother passed away in 2002. It was loaned to th

© Kathleen Marino 2015, The Practical Gemologist