In a sense, humans alter all gem materials after they are found in the earth in order to prepare them for use in jewelry. Natural gem crystals are transformed from their rough crystallographic form ...
The students also visited local gem dealers in Elahera, who shared the complexities of assessing the quality and value of rough gems, techniques used for cutting and polishing, and the challenges ...
Large quantities of rubies—both rough and faceted—from a commercially important new source in Myanmar (Burma) have been available on the Bangkok market since 1992. The ruby crystals from the Mong Hsu ...