Fall 2011

New Beginnings

Thank you for the warm welcome that I’ve received as the new editor-in-chief of Gems & Gemology. I am privileged to now be a part of the gemological community  and to join such a passionate industry—to be captivated not only by the beauty of the gem world, but also by its science.

Of course, the challenge for scientists today is the same as it was yesterday: to translate ongoing research into definitive answers. As you know, science doesn’t always come up with absolutes; conclusions are mostly partial and incremental. It’s like adding chapters to a never-ending book.

We all know that technology is always pushing the boundary of what is possible. Just look at its impact not only on gem treatments, but also on mining, stone cutting, gem identification, and so on. Gemologists now have to chase more subtle features in determining whether a gem is natural or synthetic.

In this digital age, we can brace ourselves or simply embrace the new wave of (inevitable) change. As the saying goes, change is constant. So the timeliness and the fashion in which we disseminate scientific results and information will be more important than ever to keep you abreast of these developments. As I follow in the footsteps of my esteemed predecessors, this will continue to be a part of G&G’s mission, particularly as new gem and jewelry markets open up and new challenges arise.

In this issue of G&G, we report on the geology and gemological characteristics of ruby and sapphire from Yen Bai Province, in northern Vietnam. There is an article by GIA researchers on the use of trace-element analysis to distinguish meteoritic peridot from terrestrial peridot, and a study of the origin and nature of luminescent regions in CVD-grown synthetic diamond, which distinguish them from natural material. We also feature an important collection of diamond-themed stamps, and an update on the separation of natural versus synthetic amethyst using infrared spectroscopy.

I certainly look forward to working with all of you. We’re not just in the industry—we’re all a part of the industry as a whole.

I will close with Richard T. Liddicoat’s words from the Spring 1981 issue of G&G: “It is the intention of the staff of Gems & Gemology to provide gemologists and gem enthusiasts everywhere with the latest developments and the most comprehensive coverage in the field.” This still rings true today!

Cheers,
Jan Iverson
Editor-in-Chief