Journal

A gem mine in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka
Ratnapura, the city of gems
Pits dug by hand, gravel washed in baskets and a licence for every mine. How gems are still found around Ratnapura, and how we buy there. Read more...
1.03 ct orangish pink oval padparadscha sapphire
A closer look at our 1.03 ct padparadscha
Padparadscha is the one sapphire with its own name, and the one the trade argues about most. What the word means, how the colour is defined, and what the report... Read more...
Rough blue sapphire crystal from a gem gravel mine in the Ratnapura area
Why untreated sapphires are in demand in 2026
A record sapphire sale in Vienna and a shift in what buyers ask for. Why the treatment line on a lab report matters more than ever, and what heated and... Read more...
Gemstones in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's gem trade in 2026: keeping more of the value at home
A US$1 billion export target, a new conference in Colombo and a hard question about who earns from Sri Lankan stones. Where the island's gem trade stands this autumn. Read more...
IGLC laboratory report C19006 for a 7.23 ct alexandrite
How to read a gemstone lab report
A lab report is the one document that tells you what a stone really is. Here is what each line means, and how to check that a report is genuine. Read more...