Gemstone Detective

04/09/2026

A serious gemstone purchase is never just about the stone; it's about the meaning behind it. In this post, I explore what changes when buyers begin to approach gemstones with intention, clarity and confidence, and why the right stone should feel unmistakable, not uncertain.

Not every sapphire, ruby, or rare gemstone qualifies as truly exceptional. Some stones look similar but differ in colour depth, rarity, presence, and long-term value. By the time a stone reaches a client, all the complexity is managed. What remains for you is the clarity and confidence to make a dec...

04/09/2026

🤔 Can an unheated sapphire show signs normally associated with heating?

🤔 Can a natural emerald be attracted to a magnet?

🤔 And does “Paraíba” always mean Brazil?

Introducing Friday Gem Science; my new, selective briefing for gemstone enthusiasts, collectors and curious buyers.

I review new findings from respected gemmological laboratories and scientific sources, then explain what they mean in clear, accessible language, particularly when buying or collecting coloured gemstones.

The first edition explores five fascinating developments, including Ethiopia’s newly confirmed Paraíba tourmaline, altered emeralds accompanied by genuine laboratory reports and rare evidence of heat treatment in spinel.

I review the research every week, but I will publish only when there is something genuinely worth sharing.

Read the first edition and subscribe through the link: https://gemstonedetective.wixforms.com/f/7487076585950938305

Follow Gemstone Detective for future briefings.

03/09/2026

A simple guide to understanding coloured gemstone prices, the common mistakes buyers make and the illusions that can make a stone seem more or less valuable than it really is.

https://www.gemstonedetective.com/post/coloured-gemstone-pricing-illusions

That final point matters more than most outsiders realise. Because in coloured gemstones, trust still drives enormous parts of the trade.

02/09/2026

A quick look across The Jewellery Show in London today! 👋💎

I’m here to reconnect with industry friends, meet new gemstone specialists, learn what’s happening across the trade and build trusted relationships that will benefit my sourcing clients and Sri Lanka experience guests.

I’m hoping to leave with fresh insights, valuable contacts and exciting opportunities for Gemstone Detective.

02/09/2026

Some of the most expensive gemstone-buying mistakes have very little to do with gemmology.

They happen because of pressure, excitement and the fear of missing out.

While in Arusha, I spoke with an experienced gem trader about what really matters when buying high-value stones.

His advice was simple:

“Never buy stones under pressure. Buy with a cool head.”

I also share one of my own buying decisions that proved exactly why.

👉 Buying High-Value Gemstones: The Decision-Making Secrets of an Experienced Gem Trader in Arusha

https://www.gemstonedetective.com/post/buying-high-value-gemstones-arusha

While I was recently in Arusha, Tanzania, I sat down with Salim, an experienced gem trader and gemmologist, to talk about what years of working inside the gemstone market had taught him about buying high-value gemstones.

01/09/2026

A clear explanation of why some of the best gemstones never appear in shops or online, and how custom sourcing helps buyers find stones that match a vey specific brief.

https://www.gemstonedetective.com/post/how-custom-gemstone-sourcing-works

The truth is that the gemstone market does not work like a normal retail market. Some stones are sold before they are ever mounted. Some never leave private dealer networks.

01/09/2026

When people hear the word inclusion, they often assume it means something is wrong with the gemstone.

Not necessarily.

Inclusions are internal features formed during a gemstone’s growth or later geological history. They can sometimes help a gemmologist understand whether a stone is natural, how it formed and, in some cases, whether it has been treated.

Of course, inclusions can also affect beauty, transparency, durability and value, so context matters.

For me, they are often some of the most fascinating parts of a gemstone.

Have you ever looked inside a gemstone under magnification?

31/08/2026

There's nothing naïve about asking questions at the source. What's risky is pretending you understand when you don't.

30/08/2026

Ratnapura isn’t simply somewhere gemstones are sold. Gemstones are woven into the life and history of the place.

Next week, that world gets an international spotlight when Gem City Ratnapura 2026 opens.

I’ve spent many fascinating days exploring the gem trade here, and there is always more to learn.

30/08/2026

Before a gemstone is cut, there are decisions to make.

A cutter isn’t simply deciding what shape will look attractive. They are looking at the rough, its colour, inclusions, internal structure and where the weight might be lost, all while trying to bring out the best possible finished stone.

Sometimes the most beautiful result means sacrificing more of the original rough.

That is one of the reasons I find watching experienced gemstone cutters so fascinating.

Would you like to see more of the cutting process?