Jewelry Education

Gems

A range of synthetic gem materials can be found in the jewelry trade today. There are also a number of natural gem materials that have been treated in the laboratory to improve their color or appearance. These products have become increasingly sophisticated, and details of the growth or treatment process are not always revealed, a situation that compounds the difficulty of gem identification.

The focus of GIA’s research program is to investigate natural, synthetic and treated gem materials to develop means of identifying them. Why? Because accurate identification is essential for proper disclosure of these goods at the time of their sale, and to maintain consumer confidence in the gem and jewelry industry. Our research findings are made available to the public through published articles and lectures.

Gems & Gemology

As the award-winning quarterly journal of GIA, Gems & Gemology publishes the latest peer-reviewed research on diamonds and colored stones—where they are found, their special characteristics, simulants and synthetics, treatments, and identification techniques. View the current issue.

Packed with spectacular full-color illustrations, each issue of Gems & Gemology delivers:

• Full-length feature articles: Incisive research articles by the world’s leading gemologists.
• Lab Notes: The latest discoveries from GIA researchers.
• Gem News International: Global coverage of new discoveries, unusual gem materials, and current events.
• Book Reviews: A comprehensive guide to the latest gem and jewelry books and other media.
• Gemological Abstracts: Summaries of important articles recently published elsewhere, prepared by the Gemological Abstracts Review Board and other abstracters.