Since the late 1960's, East Africa has been home to some of planet earth's greatest gem discoveries. And yet, little has been written about certain of these finds. In the autumn of 2007, the authors set out to fill in the gaps, specifically regarding Tanzania's Mahenge, Songea and Tunduru regions.

A 2006 mission to remote ruby and spinel localities in Tajikistan.

The use of high-temperature lattice-diffusion heat treatment with beryllium to lighten the color of blue sapphires.

The examination of a yellow sapphire provides a lesson in the power of gemological microscopy.

When Max Green set about looting trust fund accounts in Australia, he had no idea it would lead to a sapphire mine in Laos… and a dead body in Cambodia.

A loving look at ruby – the gem of passion – from the standpoint of the connoisseur.

A look at the nexus between gem smuggling and drug smuggling out of Burma (Myanmar), along with the two-faced policies of certain Western governments.