Describes the extremely rare polished pink diamonds from Australia’s Argyle mine that have been sold for 30 years through invitation-only tenders.

Reports preliminary findings—based on FTIR and Raman spectrometry of more than 300 samples—on distinguishing natural and synthetic emeralds using vibrational spectroscopy.

Examines the growing percentage of rough diamonds being sold through auctions, a shift that has caused price volatility while opening up supply to more manufacturers and dealers.

Presents spectroscopic and phosphorescence data of the Blue Moon, a 12.03 ct Fancy Vivid blue diamond discovered at the historic Cullinan mine in early 2014.

Our lead article discusses the sweeping changes brought to rough diamond pricing and supply through the adoption of tenders and live auctions.

Examination of a pink-purple spinel revealed what appeared to be a spinel crystal inclusion.

The Stayish mine in Ethiopia’s Wollo province has been producing black opal since 2013.

A report on what appears to be the first non-nacreous beaded cultured pearl examined by a laboratory.

Auction price records were broken in late 2014 as ultra-wealthy buyers vied for rare, important gemstones.

Nine demantoids reportedly from a new deposit in the Khuzdar area in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province were recently examined.

Melee diamonds can be efficiently screened for synthesis and treatment using infrared absorption spectroscopy, DiamondView imaging, and microscopy.

What appeared to be high-quality jadeite was actually dyed green marble with calcite as the main mineral.

Strong absorptions from N-V centers were the main cause of a CVD synthetic diamond’s pinkish orange bodycolor.

An oval-shaped faceted stone resembling an emerald proved to be a doublet with a beryl top and a topaz bottom.

A very large diamond with a Fancy Vivid yellow color was identified as artificially irradiated.

Although this stone bore some superficial resemblance to moissanite, its gemological properties were consistent with HPHT synthetic diamond.

Review of Damiani: Alchemy of Desire.

Review of Mimi Lipton's Untamed Encounters: Contemporary Jewelry from Extraordinary Gemstones.

Review of Yvonne J. Markowitz and Denise Doxey's Jewels of Ancient Nubia.

Samples composed of lawsonite pseudomorphs were coated to make them appear deep green and imitate chromian lawsonite crystals.