by Laurent | May 15, 2018 | Diamonds
The photomicrograph below shows a rare near-colorless asteriated trapiche-like diamond (0.07 ct, type IaA>>B, Hydrogen- and Nitrogen-rich) that possess some dark grey growth sectors forming an unusual Maltese cross-like pattern. This pattern is the result of the...
by Laurent | May 15, 2018 | Phenomenal gems
Gemology is a discipline that often bring some amazing and unusual materials on the path of the curious gemologists. A while ago I had the chance to study a faceted man-made glass (6.60 ct – see picture below) that shows a specific effect sometimes encountered...
by Laurent | May 2, 2018 | Diamonds
The photomicrograph below shows a yellow cuboid diamond crystal (0.13 ct – type IaA>Ib>>B) with an unusual internal structure that possesses three whitish cuboid concentric layers as well as a strong inhomogeneous yellow color repartition, rarely...
by Laurent | May 2, 2018 | Inclusions
As written in a previous post, as a spinel lover a bit “geeky” I have hand-selected all my spinel samples under a microscope… here are some photomicrographs of what I have been amazed to find in some samples selected from a spinel lot from Myanmar (Burma): some rare...
by Laurent | May 2, 2018 | Diamonds
Pictured below is a striking brown internal graining in a natural near-colorless diamond [1]Massi L. (2005) Studies of defects in brown and hydrogen-rich diamonds, PhD thesis, University of Nantes – France, 372 pages (PDF). Brown graining – made of one or more...