Greetings from GIA!
The Summer 2026 edition of Gems & Gemology, GIA’s quarterly journal, features peer-reviewed articles on blue sapphires from Baw Mar, Myanmar, and a sustainability study of freshwater pearl culturing in China. In the third feature, GIA’s Dr. Wasura Soonthorntantikul and coauthors present a paper on glass-ceramic materials that closely mimic the color and appearance of natural gemstones, while the fourth examines red and orange spinel from Myanmar and Vietnam.
Along with the well-known regular sections – Lab Notes, Micro-World, and Gem News International – this issue debuts an exciting new column. “From the Field” offers a firsthand look at GIA’s field gemology expeditions, where geologists connect with local mining communities to better understand the gemstones, their origins, the people behind their production, and their journey to market.
The cover features a 7.63 ct sapphire from the Baw Mar deposit in Myanmar pictured against a watercolor rendering of the Mogok Valley.
This and every issue of G&G since 1934 are available at no cost on GIA’s website at GIA.edu/gems-gemology. Images are available upon request.
Join the conversations in GIA’s Gems & Gemology Facebook group, an online community of more than 48,000: facebook.com/groups/giagemsgemology. Additional research articles are available at GIA.edu/gia-news-research.