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Pearl

Perfect shining spheres. Lustrous baroque forms. Seductive strands, warm to the touch. Pearls are simply and purely organic.

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Figure 1. This 1.27 ct white semi-baroque pearl exhibited a typical platy structure when examined under magnification. Photo by Lhapsin Nillapat.

Tubular Feature in a Natural Pearl

Ravenya Atchalak and Emiko Yazawa, January 26, 2024

Investigation of a tubular feature in a natural pearl reveals evidence of parasitic activity.

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Figure 1. This antique Indian-style headdress is decorated with handwoven light cream and cream-colored seed pearls. Photo by Gaurav Bera.

Seed Pearls in an Antique Indian-Style Headdress

Roxane Bhot Jain, Jayesh Surve, Abeer Al-Alawi, and Chunhui Zhou, January 26, 2024

GIA’s Mumbai laboratory analyzes seed pearls decorating an Indian-style headdress.

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Figure 1. Left to right: Three large nacreous pearls weighing 24.47 ct (pearl 1), 36.58 ct (pearl 2), and 36.70 ct (pearl 3). Photo by Gaurav Bera.

Unusual Large Nacreous Pen Pearls

Karan Rajguru, Abeer Al-Alawi, and Roxane Bhot Jain, January 26, 2024

A report on the identification of three large baroque pearls submitted to the Mumbai laboratory.

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Figure 1. Strands of freshwater bead cultured pearls acquired at the Hong Kong show (top) and freshwater BC pearls submitted for identification (middle) are shown with a strand of 6.60 mm akoya bead cultured pearls (bottom) for comparison. Photo by Adriana Robinson.

Small Freshwater Bead Cultured Pearls

Amiroh Steen, Joyce Wing Yan Ho, and Artitaya Homkrajae, January 26, 2024

The Carlsbad laboratory reports on a strand of 78 light bluish gray pearls submitted for identification.

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Figure 1. The 1.57 ct brown nacreous pearl measuring 11.06 × 9.15 × 7.20 mm. Photo by Tony Leung.

Two Foraminifera-Like Objects Found in a Natural Saltwater Pearl

Cheryl Ying Wai Au, January 26, 2024

Examination of a brown nacreous pearl reveals a pair of foraminifera-like spheres.

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Figure 1. <em>Pinctada radiata</em> shell with a natural blister pearl measuring approximately 11.39 × 9.31 × 8.69 mm. Photo by Gaurav Bera.

An Unusual Partially Non-Nacreous Pinctada radiata Natural Blister Pearl

Abeer Al-Alawi, Lubna Sahani, Karan Rajguru, and Roxane Bhot Jain, January 26, 2024

A large Pinctada radiata natural blister pearl displays a unique reaction under long-wave ultraviolet light.

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Figure 1. Pearl diver collecting shells from the wild. Photo courtesy of Pearls of Australia: Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, Western Australia.

An Environmental, Social, and Governance Assessment of Marine Pearl Farming

Heidi Alleway, November 3, 2023

A look at the sustainability challenges and opportunities facing marine pearl farming using an Australian pearl farm as a case study.

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Figure 1. Two traditional Indian-style pearl nose rings (<em>nath</em>) set with colored gemstones and pearls measuring approximately 6.63 × 6.09 mm to 8.42 mm (left) and 5.38 mm to 8.02 × 7.61 mm (right). Photo by Gaurav Bera.

Pearls in Traditional Indian Nose Rings

Lubna Sahani, Abeer Al-Alawi, and Roxane Bhot Jain, November 3, 2023

Two Indian-style pearl nose rings are examined in the Mumbai laboratory.

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Figure 1. A white button-shaped atypical bead cultured pearl weighing 8.15 ct and measuring 11.73 × 11.35 × 9.03 mm. Photo by Gaurav Bera.

Flame-Like Surface Structure in a Nacreous Atypical Bead Cultured Pearl

Prasad Mane, Nishka Vaz, and Abeer Al-Alawi, November 3, 2023

A white button-shaped nacreous pearl displays rare flame-like structure.

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Figure 1. Survey participants identified their top consideration when purchasing colored stones or colored stone jewelry.

Survey of Colored Stone Preferences Among Younger Generations

Laura Inghirami, November 3, 2023

An online survey assesses current colored stone preferences in consumers under 35.

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This Month's

Featured Gems

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Peridot

Found in lava, meteorites, and deep in the earth’s mantle, yellow-green peridot is the extreme gem.

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Fancy Color Diamond

Dazzling brilliance. Captivating color. These are the planet’s most valued gems.

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Diamond

Diamonds are among nature’s most precious and beautiful creations.

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Emerald

Emerald is the bluish green to green variety of beryl, a mineral species that includes aquamarine.

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Citrine

Citrine is the transparent, pale yellow to brownish orange variety of quartz.

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