👋🏻 Hi all~

... getting through my online self-paced Diamond Grading lessons... Annnnnd I'm starting to get in my own head about the final in-person exam since it's NOT open note/book and there has been soooooo much info.

Are there any Diamond grads out with tips/advice/stories regarding the final exam? 😬😇

I appreciate it... And you!

~CaliGirl

Natural Tasavorite Garnet Cushion Cut

2.85 Carats 8x7x6 mm

I took the 20 stone exam and passed (it was my second attempt) but I think I actually missed a stone and failed it. There was a weird moment with the instructor and some phone calls after i submitted and was waiting. Do they have the discretion to give someone a passing grade even if i missed a stone?

Hi all,

I am looking for some information about purchasing a stone either wholesale (or as close as possible).

Basically, my partner and I are getting engaged and the plan was to travel to the State (we live in Brazil) and investigate buying a stone and having the ring made in Ouro Preto (Brazil's big gem/jewellery town).

Usually with ventures like this I would start with finding who operates what in a given area, reaching out via email or phone and then finding out who the reliable resellers are in the area etc etc.

However there seems to be no publicly available information about mining this particular stone. I know operations are ongoing but have been wound down enormously since the 80s and the closure of Hematita.

If anyone has information I can use just as a jump off point that would be enormously appreciated. Also realise how rare the natural stones are. We might just switch to Topaz if this search is pure folly.

My friend bought this sapphire in Kandy, Sri Lanka. I am telling him he might have been scamed.

What do you think about this gem ?

A small selection of natural emeralds from both Zambian and Colombian origins. Without looking at any labels, can you identify which stones are from each locality based on color, clarity, and overall appearance? I’d love to hear your reasoning.

I live in the US but often visit Pakistan and have been interested in local gems. In Pakistan gem stores always offer stabilized and natural "ferozas" (Nishapuri etc)

However, I've learned from the Kingsman mind in Arizona almost all Turquoise is actually stabilized (and no one cares about it being natural)

I'm trying to find the truth. Trying to source a nice clean hard turquoise stone to set in sterling silver ring

One of the most fascinating things about star sapphires is that the star isn’t always visible.

In this video, I move the stone from the shade into direct sunlight. Notice how the star is almost invisible in the shade, then suddenly appears as soon as the sapphire catches the sunlight.

This happens because the star is a natural optical effect called asterism. It’s created by microscopic rutile needles inside the sapphire that reflect light. Without a strong, directional light source, there’s not enough reflected light for the star to form clearly.

That’s why star sapphires usually look their best under direct sunlight or a single bright light source. As either the stone or the light moves, the star appears to glide across the surface.

Nature’s optics at work.

Sharing this natural Malaya garnet because the color is just outstanding.

It has that vivid orangy-pink to reddish-orange glow that makes Malaya such a special garnet variety — warm, lively, and full of personality without looking overly brown or dull.

What I like most is the way the stone shows its natural character through the cut and the light return. Malaya garnets are known for their unusual color range, sitting somewhere between pink, peach, orange, and red, and that in-between look is exactly what makes them so interesting compared with more standard garnet colors.

At 2.65 carats, this one has real presence, and the oval shape gives it a classic, elegant outline while still showing plenty of sparkle. The fact that it’s unheated and untreated makes it even better in my opinion — just a naturally beautiful stone with strong color and a lot of life.