A gem dealer's journal — gemological laboratory

Hey Loungers,  Today we will be taking a sweet trip down memory lane as we interview our pal, Spanish born and living in Japan: Jaume Labro, who will be telling us more about his art. The Lost Art of Mokumegane.  While many claim to being able to have perfected the technique, few have mastered that art at his level. He is one of the last person that the Japanese masters of old recognise as a Mokumegane master in his own right today. So, if like us, you want to learn more about this peculiar and highly interesting topic, read on!...

Hey Loungers,  While some of you may have already read our 2016 article on the topic, we figured that a little refresher probably couldn't hurt.  It is undeniable that nowadays the attraction for colour gem is on the rise yet, very few actually know what they are buying and this could lead to a somewhat rude awakening.  In this article we intend on discussing some of the main points that one needs to know when purchasing a gem such as: treatment, cut, clarity, carat weight, origin and of course the importance of a serious gemological report backing your purchase as well...

Hey Loungers,  The last time we interviewed E. Billie Hughes was about two years ago, as Lotus Gemology was growing fast but, we kind of forgot to ask about one of the most talked about features of their lab: Hyperion Photo Library! Some of you may have heard of it here, others have visited it out of professional curiosity while others just wanted to take a look at the art that the Lotus Team, with Billie as their vanguard, produces with a photo camera and a microscope.  This said, few of us know how this amazing tool got created. Billie,...

Dear Loungers, We have been busy recently and couldn’t write as much as we wanted, but be sure that some market updates are on the way. I was recently asked what to look for while buying a gem and it got me thinking. Although I wrote an article on the topic about a year ago, with the extra experience I gathered in the meantime, I figured I could throw in a couple more tips. And so, as you may have heard already, nature hates empty spaces about as much as the gem market does and it delivered a few cookies on my doorstep....

In today's interview we will explore the complex and critical role gemological laboratory hold in our trade. We are honored to have as our guide for this tour, one of the legendary trio, E. Billie Hughes from Lotus Gemology! Buckle up and enjoy the ride Loungers!   AsiaLounges: Hi Billie, thank you for being with us today! We appreciate you taking time off of your schedule to explain us a bit who you are and what you do. Tell us about yourself, Lotus Gemology, and the team behind it. E.Billie Hughes: Lotus Gemology is a Bangkok-based gem testing lab that...