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Treated ruby nomenclature prompts talk at Tucson

February 08, 2010
A closeup of a glass-filled ruby. Photo: Courtesy of American Gemological Laboratories

Tucson, Ariz.--Nomenclature for glass-filled rubies was among the hot topics as the Gemstone Industry and Laboratory Conference (GILC) met during the Tucson gem shows this past week.

Attendance at the event, held at the Tucson Convention Center, was nearly double the expectations of the organizers, which included the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) and the American Gem Trade Association. Wholesalers and retailers were among the attendees, joining representatives from laboratories worldwide, members of the Laboratory Manual Harmonisation Committee and members of CIBJO, including vice president Roland Naftule.  
 
"While a variety of topics were covered, nomenclature for glass-filled rubies was an important issue for many participants," a press release from the GILC said. "A committee was formed for follow-up discussions to come up with an acceptable commercial name with proper disclosure for this product [and the committee members] will then report to GILC members on their progress."

Inexpensively priced glass-filled rubies--sometimes referred to as "composite rubies"--have been circulating within the trade for several years, with some watchdogs within the gemstone community noting that the levels of glass inside the stones are so high that they should not be referred to as "rubies" at all.

A recent media report that appeared on Good Morning America showed that rubies were being sold without proper disclosure at department store Macy's, putting the issue into the spotlight among consumers and further raising concerns in the trade.

The stones are easily identified, and tend to sell at much less expensive prices than conventionally treated rubies, but a primary concern is that consumers know that the stones require special care: The stones must be removed for jewelry repairs, and exposure to chemicals, such as household cleaners, could make them appear scratched.

Another important discussion centered on treatments applied to emeralds. It was suggested that separate codes for oil and resin be developed. A newly formed GILC committee is set to address this issue and others related to emerald, the press release said.

Other issues discussed at the meeting included the following:

  • ICA vice president Jean Claude Michelou gave a presentation on fair trade and ethical mining in the colored gemstone industry, which included a proposal that would certify gemstone-producing countries based on how well they perform in reducing poverty, building capacity and providing added value for artisanal miners.
  • Shane McClure of the Gemological Institute of America gave a presentation titled "Radioactive Uranium Mineral as Inclusions in Turquoise," catching many attendees by surprise and generating a flurry of questions. A committee was formed to look in to this further and give recommendations to regulate the import of this product in accordance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission guidelines.  
  • Ahmadjan Abduriyuim from the Gemmological Association of All Japan gave a thorough presentation on andesine, explaining the in-depth research he has done in differentiating andesine of Mongolian origin from that of Tibetan origin. As a result it was clear that a distinction between treated and natural material can be made and proper disclosure codes are in order.
  • Pornsawat Whatanakul, academic advisor for the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand, presented a method of color grading of corundum based on pre-established master sets. The proposal revived the discussion regarding the color gemstone trade's reluctance to adopt any color grading codes.
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