Gemstones 101

Gemstones 101

The 4 C’s: The Reasons for Grading Gemstones So much of how we value a gemstone comes down to looks. To put it bluntly, most people are on the hunt...

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What Is Paraiba Tourmaline?

What Is Paraiba Tourmaline?

The discovery of the Paraiba tourmaline in Brazil in the late 1980s sent an electric shock through the gem community that continues to pulse to thi...

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Ruby

Ruby

Are Rubies Rare? Rarity is what many gem hunters are looking for—a highly valued, and unique piece of stone that sets itself apart from everything ...

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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Hidden amongst the dense streets, in a small enclave, is Chinafort, the jewel of Sri Lanka’s global gemstone industry. Just minutes removed from th...

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Bogota

Bogota

By the time we arrived back to Bogota after touring the emerald mines, one thing was clear; The amount of work it takes to remove an emerald from t...

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The Finest Emeralds

The Finest Emeralds

Technically, my first encounter with emeralds would’ve been playing  Sonic the Hedgehog on Sega Genesis.  Officially, my first real-life experience...

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Exploring the Mines of Muzo

Exploring the Mines of Muzo

A reputation can be a difficult thing to change.  Even if you’re now a barely tolerable analyst, whose tenure as an NHL GM was somewhere between co...

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