All the complicated words seem a bit mysterious, until I was 30 years old, I didn't know the field of "gemology". What distinguishes a stone from a gem? Etymology refers to the notion of precious stone and then by extension we went from the notion of precious to rare.
Simply put, gemology focuses on the mineral species that can be collected or mounted in jewelry. It is a very vast field. In addition to natural stones, we add all the materials of imitation and synthesis. The laboratory creations are numerous. In the end, the gemologist must know how to distinguish natural stones from those that have been treated. In addition to that, he also distinguishes natural stones from those that have been manufactured in a laboratory.
Basically, it takes a lot of multi-faceted knowledge ranging from chemistry, physics to optical properties to understand the formation and treatments applied to stones. What I am most passionate about is the history of gems related to different cultures and traditions. Whether they are mounted, carved or made into jewelry!
Believe me, a lifetime is not enough!
It was at the gemmology laboratory in Marseilles, an approved center of the London School which was founded in 1908, that I really learned to observe these marvels of nature. Its founder, Agata Cristol, still teaches how to look carefully at surfaces with the naked eye, color and then use all the measuring devices to determine the mineral species that is in our hands.
In France, the little book "Initiation à la gemmologie" written by Hubert LAGACHE in 1979 is considered as the reference work. Founding father of gemmology teaching in France, he has transmitted a real scientific impetus to young jewelers and other curious people.
Indeed, our territory is not, strictly speaking, rich in rare minerals although gold, sapphires, quartz have been found and exploited in mines but as early as 1929 the French Laboratory of Gemology is created in Paris, one of the first in the world.
In the 1980s, at the request of Parisian jewelers, the National Gemological Institute organized training courses dedicated to the recognition of stones in order to facilitate the task of future traders who were going abroad to look for gems. It was a closed environment of adventurous connoisseurs.
In the end, gemmology includes the study of several fields ranging from chemistry, physics, optical phenomena, history, geography, impact on the territories, geopolitics, and has especially in fine the great merit of cultivating friendship!
Yes, the greatest collector can never have all the mineral species, but will be able to exchange or offer samples to learn more.
Giving in order to receive, this is the principle of sharing that I receive around this precious community gathered in the French Association of Gemology.
According to the article published on the website "Time","Colored stones such as ruby and sapphire have Since the 2000s, their prices have increased by 500% for ruby and more than 300% for sapphire and emerald.
The high demand for natural stone in the face of scarcity mechanically causes prices to rise.
You can find "The 10 most expensive rubies in the world" with a record of more than 30 million dollars on the site Colostone. Same for sapphires and emeralds. Precious stones: diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds keep a special place on the international market.
However, other gems deserve our attention; as in the exceptional June sale at DROUOT of a 19.95 carat lot of demantoid garnets whose characteristic lies in the optical phenomenon called "fire" (or dispersion of light in a play of colors) which is greater than the diamond. One can see inclusions in the shape of "horse tail". We are looking forward to the communication of the sale price which was estimated at 35 000 €. An interesting article by Jean Marie Arlabosse, Gem Solid Phas analyzes the chemical composition of green garnets and the chromium component in the formation of the color.
Laboratories specialized in colored stones detect whether the stone is natural or treated and sometimes with characteristic inclusions give the name of the origin or even the mine.
The rarity and the originality of the mineral species (discovery of the biggest metaurite fallen on our territory more than 55 000 years ago) feed our insatiable curiosity of the understanding of the formation of these minerals in the heart of the earth and the sky as well as all the symbolism that they convey in our civilizations.
Buy your magnifying glass and enter the numerous mineral and fossil shows organized in your region or abroad
