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Recent Advances in Understanding the Geology of Diamonds
Examines the last two decades’ advances in analyzing and understanding the formation of natural diamonds, and their relation to the earth’s formation.

Will Auction Records Continue to Shatter in 2014?
In 2013, Christie’s and Sotheby’s posted record jewelry sales, and demand for ultra-luxury jewels could be even stronger in 2014.

Describing 58-facet Round Brilliant-Cut Diamonds at GIA
Many beautiful older diamonds are cut to different proportions than modern round brilliants, which makes them a challenge to grade according to modern cut conventions. This article describes how the GIA accommodates these historic gems.

Diamonds: A Slice off the Old Rough
Thinly sliced sections of large, highly included rough are emerging on the diamond market, with several U.S. designers incorporating the slabs of unique designs and shapes into their collections.
From a Snowflake to an Iceberg: The McFerrin Collection

Book Review: From a Snowflake to an Iceberg: The McFerrin Collection
By Dorothy McFerrin, publ. by the McFerrin Foundation, College Station, Texas, 2013, US $125

A 118.28 ct Diamond Achieves Record Price
On Oct. 7 in Hong Kong, a 118.28 ct D-Flawless sold for more than $30 million, becoming the most expensive colorless diamond ever sold at auction.

Fluorescence Produced by Optical Defects in Diamond
How variations in UV lamp output can affect observed fluorescence color and intensity.
Optical Defects in Diamond: A Quick Reference Chart
A simple chart on optical defects in diamond, including those that produce coloration and fluorescence colors.
CVD-Grown Synthetic Diamonds, Part 3: Detection
CVD synthetic diamonds are readily detected in a gem laboratory, in specimens of any size or color.
Diamond Mining in Minas Gerais, Brazil
A first-person account of diamond mining in Minas Gerais, Brazil, which has been a source since the early 1700s.
CVD-Grown Synthetic Diamonds, Part 2: Properties
The physical properties of CVD synthetic diamond fall well within the range for natural diamonds in terms of hardness, thermal conductivity, strength, and so forth. Therefore, CVD synthetics are as hard and durable as natural diamond and display the same brilliance and fire when cut as a gemstone.








