-Lisa Brooks-Pike
3.50 carat spinel
Ted Themelis has done what science said was almost impossible; he has successfully diffused gemstones such as garnet, spinel, tourmaline and zircon. When asked if it was possible to diffuse the color throughout the gem substance, Ted said, “The color is throughout the whole stone, into the crystal lattice, is stable and permanent…. It is due to alteration of valences incorporated with trapped color centers… So yes”. Continue reading
There has been a great deal of work done regarding this issue over the past few years by Cortney Balzan, Antoinette Matlins, Chris Smith and others. I know Antoinette has spent a great deal of time trying to get the message out to jewelers and the public through seminars and lab classes. Although parts of the industry have been aware and working hard at getting information out about this ruby impostor, consumers and jewelers may not be getting enough information. Continue reading
-Lisa Brooks-Pike
In a California class action lawsuit brought by Mimi Lowe, Mariana Photiou and Anthony So, Macy’s is accused of intentionally deceiving its customers regarding the sale of jewelry and gemstones. The complaint alleges that Macy’s knowingly sold heavily glass filled, lead glass filled and composite rubies as all natural. In addition to rubies, the complaint also alleges the sale of black sapphire sold as black diamond, irradiated and filled diamonds sold without disclosure, selling treated prasiolite as “green amethyst” and selling gems with a lead content that violates California law. Continue reading
-Lisa Brooks-Pike
After our article “Path to Diffusion” we were graciously contacted by Dr. Karl Schmetzer making us aware of the work he had done previously, which we had not discovered before writing the article. Dr. Karl Schmetzer has written three important and detailed papers regarding various diffusion patents which were published in the Journal of Gemmology. With the kind help of Dr. Schmetzer and Mary Burland of the Gem-A, we were able to obtain links to these articles and permission to share them with our members. Continue reading
-Lisa Brooks-Pike
When I began looking seriously at Andesine in early 2006, the thought that anything other than sapphire could be diffused was considered ridiculous, and impossible. By the Tucson Gem Show in 2008, I had collected enough samples, information, and evidence suggesting not only that it was possible, but it was happening. I turned the information, evidence and samples over to Robert James of the International School of Gemology for testing, and the rest, as it were, is history. Continue reading