Latest Issue
Idar-Oberstein – Centuries of Excellence
A small but internationally important town in the German Hunsrück region, Idar-Oberstein has enjoyed a strong reputation on the international stage with its gemstone trade for many years. Experts such as traders, cutters, carvers and diamond workers from Idar-Oberstein...
Cutting It Close and Critical
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
In past issues, InColor has delved into the world of lapidary artists, illuminating the intricate processes of cutting, polishing and engraving gemstones. In this article, we take a more detailed look at the relationship...
Remembering Bernd Munsteiner
A Personal Encounter with a Gemstone Legend
In the realm where art meets gemstones, few names shine as brightly as Bernd Munsteiner. Renowned for his revolutionary approach to gemstone cutting, he transcended the traditional boundaries of lapidary art to create...
The Malaika Egg by Faberge and Gemfields
The joint collaboration of Gemfields and Fabergé has created the $1.2 million one-of-a-kind Fabergé x Gemfields Malaika Egg. It was unveiled in July, the month for which Ruby is the birthstone. “Fabergé will be donating $100,000 from the sale...
Gemtelligence
Applied Machine-Learning to Increase Consistency of Lab Results and to Shorten the Analytical Procedure
Background
One of the key criticisms of the gemstone industry towards gem labs is their lack of consistency. Gem testing laboratories produce reports that might differ regarding...
The Museums in the German Gem Paradise
Although it may be a small town of only 30,000 souls, Idar-Oberstein, nestled in Germany's picturesque Hunsrück Mountains, has a very large and imposing position on the global gemstone landscape. Through the centuries, miners sought out amethyst and other...
Beauty and the Brooch
In the world of fashion and accessories, brooches have long held a special place as versatile and elegant adornments. Often small but always significant, these pieces of jewelry have transcended centuries, evolving from practical utilitarian items to symbols of...
Special Idar-Oberstein
Color Trends
Book Reviews
Talking Fei Cui Jade
Fei cui jade is highly appreciated in Eastern cultures for its beauty, power and good fortune, with rising interest in the Western world. The record prices received at auction as well as the growing demand for this remarkable gemstone bring us visit the book Fei Cui Jade – A...
The Smithsonian National Gem Collection – Unearthed
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Knowing Jeffrey Post personally and having been to the back room of the Smithsonian Gem Hall, when I heard of this book being available, I knew it would be a must-have for my library. I was not disappointed and the praises that appear here...
Emerald – Modern Gemmology
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
The book Emerald: Modern Gemmology is the first one to take a comprehensive look at emerald since the 1981 publication of Sinkankas’ Emerald & Other Beryls. Several fine volumes have been published in the interim: Ronald Ringsrud’s love letter, Emerald: A Passionate Guide (2009);...
Previous Issue - Incolor 48
North America – Digging for Gems in Southern California
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
From the late 19th century through the first decade of the 20th, Southern California was the principal source of...
Australia – Colored Gemstone Mining and Supply
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Australia is renowned for its deposits of opal and sapphire, which are mined predominantly by small mining operations—typically family...
Color Predictions for a Bright Future
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
In early 2020, a collaboration began with Idar-Oberstein’s Constantin Wild to create an exclusive 2022 Forecast Color Palette to...
Colombia – New Realities in the Emerald Industry
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
For millennia, from antiquity to the present, emeralds have fascinated humankind. The luscious green gem is found in many...
East Africa – Mining and Rough Supply
Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
The impact of Covid-19 on the entire colored stone supply chain is undeniable. While most people have personally felt...
