Gems and Gemmology

Introduction.- Gems through the ages.- Gem analysis.- Gem treatments, synthetics and Imitations.- Archaeometrical questions (case studies).- Glossary.

Stefanos Karampelas is Chief Gemmologist at the Laboratoire Français de Gemmologie (LFG), Paris, and he is also lecturing for the Advanced Gemmology Diploma at the University of Nantes, France. He started studying Geology and Mineralogy at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), he has MSc in Geosciences and Advanced Gemmology Diploma, both from the University of Nantes (France), and he completed his PhD in Materials Physics at the University of Nantes (France) and Mineralogy at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece) on the non-destructive study of the origin of pearls' color. He worked as a Research Scientist for about 7 years at Gubelin Gem Lab and a further year at GemResearch Swisslab, both in Switzerland, as well as for about 3 years as Research Director for the Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (DANAT). His research interests include advanced non-destructive techniques applied to all kind of gem materials. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in scientifc journals, contributed to books, and visited several gem mines as well as natural and cultured pearl producing areas around the globe. He is also frequently delivering lectures to international scientifc conferences and gemmological meetings. He is a Member of the Commission of Gem Materials of International Mineralogical Association and of the Editorial Board of Gems & Gemology, Delegate for the International Gemmological Conference, and Associate Editor of The Journal of Gemmology.

Lore Kiefert is Chief Gemmologist at Gübelin Gem Lab, where she is, among other tasks, responsible for the training of gemmologists. She started studying Mineralogy in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1981 and completed her Master's thesis on the origin of sapphires in 1987. She then moved to Australia to study themineralogical and chemical composition of desert dust, which earned her a PhD in 1996. Leaving Australia for Switzerland in 1994, she joined the SSEF Swiss