This content was first published on IGR – Italian Gemological Review no. 2 in 2017. The information provided here is therefore current as of the original publication date.
In the previous issue Michele Macrì with a gentle and malicious touch simply wondered what a gem is. He gave us food for thought. Indeed this is quite a comprehensive matter still open to clarifications, objections and rebuttals of the adopted criteria to reach a clear and legitimate update definition of the word. Something appeared to be out of question, anyway. Marking the boundaries of correct terminology beyond common sense to attain the space for the investigations is a useless operation, confining with dogmatism. Reality is always moving and a simple word like gem needs to be defined in relation with the relentless modifications of the habits, the styles of the cultures which dry, graft and fertilize it. Well, once the subject of the definition emerged, let’s go ahead with the Rivista to explore its boundaries. In this issue our readers perhaps will face a second question, i.e. what is gemology about?
We are hosting in the following pages a very valuable contribution by Vincent Pardieu, a world icon of field gemology. He initiated at GIA in Bangkok the systematic collection of a very wide repertoire of rough gemstones from all over the planet. His work led him towards a variety of mining sites, often located in unspoiled and remote areas. He came in touch with crucial themes like those concerning the conservation of the environment. While working closely with individuals and groups involved in both large and small scale mining, he necessarily expanded the scope of his research including strategies to tackle the unrestrained exploitation of precious mineral resources. Who is behind his article? A dedicated gemologist whose studies involved him in a wider range of interests for conservation of wild life? Or is he rather giving a lesson as a geographer/sociologist investigating the economical conflict between conservation of Nature and exploitation of rubies, sapphires, tsavorities and so on? Whoever is still doubtful about the extent of the existing implications between the study of precious stones and the consequences originated on the ground by their actual exploitation, will find more subjects worthy of debate. Small artisanal miners fighting for subsistence are out of the game. Lately the Administrations of the gem bearing traditionally weak economies are passing new legislations to support and encourage the big international mining companies to invest. The geographical origin, all the better if documented by typical gemological characteristics, is a real brand required and recognized by the market. Let’s have a look at the diamonds from Canada. Their provenance is a kind of ethical currency that gemologist will be asked to validate. On their own? Certainly not, but only in collaboration with broader teams made of governmental authorities, accreditation bodies, third-party certification companies, marketing specialists. Can’t we guess, therefore, that an enhancement or treatment of ethical attributes may as much exist as the chemical enhancement or treatment of gemstones?
It would be better to stop the unrelenting Ulysses hidden in each researcher working on precious stones. It’s time for Alberto Scarani to bring us back to the good, old lab where the essential core of gemology pulses. His studies on spectrophotometry, while modifying the basic equipment, open new horizons to a greater audience until now not allowed to join in. Further work on this topic is ongoing.
By Paolo Minieri, published on Rivista Italiana di Gemmologia #2, September 2017.
