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Pearl
Perfect shining spheres. Lustrous baroque forms. Seductive strands, warm to the touch. Pearls are simply and purely organic.
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Research
Applications of X-Ray Radiography and X-Ray Computed Microtomography in Gemology
X-ray imaging techniques revolutionized pearl testing by enabling gemologists to distinguish natural from cultured pearls through detailed visualization of their internal structures, evolving from film-based systems in the early 1900s to today’s sophisticated digital equipment.
Classification of Gem Materials Using Machine Learning
Explores the application of several machine learning models to complement traditional gem classification approaches.
“Cotton Pearl” Imitations
An in-depth look at a new pearl simulant gaining popularity in the fashion jewelry market.
Two Imitation Melo Pearls
GIA’s Hong Kong and Bangkok laboratories report on imitation pearls with a striking resemblance to natural Melo pearls.
Akoya Cultured Pearl Prize in an Arcade-Style Claw Game
Arcade-style games in Japan dispense akoya pearl jewelry as prizes.
Hammered Effect in a Worked Pearl
A natural saltwater pearl displays the optical illusion of a bumpy texture.
The Appeal of Non-Nacreous Pearls
Several vendors offered a variety of impressive non-nacreous pearls at the Tucson gem shows.
A Fascinating Large South Sea Bead Cultured Pearl
An exceptionally large South Sea bead cultured pearl is examined at GIA’s Mumbai laboratory.
Pinctada radiata Atypical Bead Cultured Pearls from the UAE
GIA’s Mumbai laboratory reports on pearl samples from a culturing experiment by the Suwaidi Pearl Farm in the UAE.
“Atypical Beads”: Variations of Two Types of Nuclei
Four atypical bead cultured pearls with variations on two types of nuclei are examined in the Mumbai laboratory.
Never Stop Innovating: Gem Artist Chi Huynh
Profiles a groundbreaking gem artist on a quest to bring new concepts, techniques, and products to the industry.
A Partially Hollow Natural Blister Pearl Filled with Foreign Materials
A very large baroque white pearl is further examined in the Mumbai laboratory due to its suspicious heft.
