The Spring/Summer 2025 issue of InColor magazine — its 54th edition — offers a multidisciplinary exploration that brings together science, art, history, and market dynamics.
Among the standout contributions is “Kashmir-like features in metamorphic blue sapphire from Luc Yen, Vietnam”, a study by Martial Curti, Theodore Rozet, Giada Musilli, Valentin Fejaz, Anselme Arsac, Elsa Marlin, Piotr Hinnemann, Carolina Guzzi, and Geir Atle Gussiås. The research highlights the gemological characteristics of metamorphic blue sapphires from Vietnam, whose appearance is reminiscent of the famed Kashmir sapphires. The identification of inclusions — including rutile, gas bubbles, and traces of chromium — proves essential in accurately determining their origin.
Another highlight of the issue is an in-depth look at the evolution of mining operations at Colombia’s legendary Muzo emerald mine in “Luck Is Not a Business Plan: The Evolution of Emerald Mining”. In this article, Vincent Pardieu presents a detailed analysis of how emerald mining has developed over time, using Muzo as a case study of the transition from an empirical approach to a structured, industrial model. The article briefly traces the mine’s early history, using the historical context to introduce its central theme: the transformation of emerald mining from a luck-driven activity to a planned enterprise, guided by technologies, methodologies, and management strategies characteristic of the modern mining industry. The article effectively explores the specific techniques used in emerald extraction, emphasizing the irregular nature of the deposits and the resulting unpredictability of yield. In this context, the shift from open-pit to underground mining is presented as a necessary — though complex — evolution to access higher-quality material. Muzo is thus positioned as a virtuous and representative model of a rapidly evolving sector.
There is also a dedicated section on the art of gem cutting. In “World Heritage Gemstones: A New Art of Gem Cutting”, Victor Tuzlukov interprets cutting as a creative expression capable of transforming a gemstone into a cultural object. The pieces showcased stand out for their originality and refinement, such as the “Rose” facet design inspired by the rose windows of Notre-Dame.
The full magazine, published by the ICA (International Colored Gemstone Association), is available online at the InColor Magazine website.
