The Journal
Short readings for building a sharper eye: laboratory language, colour, provenance, making and the market.
How to Read a Gem Laboratory Report
A field guide to identity, measurements, treatment language, origin opinions, and the questions a report does not answer.
Why the Same Gem Changes Across a Room
Colour temperature, spectral power, surroundings, and pleochroism explain why visual descriptions need viewing conditions.
The Loupe as a Way of Thinking
Ten-power magnification became more than a tool: it established a shared scale for description and comparison.
The Cost of Keeping the Carat
When rough weight, colour zoning, inclusions, and market thresholds compete, cutting becomes a sequence of compromises.
Auction Estimates Without the Theatre
Estimate, reserve, hammer, premium, and result each describe a different number; mixing them produces false comparisons.
Before the Bench: Documenting a Jewel for Repair
A disciplined intake record protects the object, the owner, and the craftsperson before any intervention begins.