Editor’s Note
This article explores the evolution of diamond cutting, from the manual techniques of medieval artisans to modern laser technology, revealing how human ingenuity has mastered one of nature’s hardest materials.
Diamond is one of the hardest natural materials on Earth, and cutting it is no easy task. In recent decades, technologies like laser cutting have significantly reduced the difficulty and improved the precision of diamond cutting. However, artisans have been cutting diamonds since the late Middle Ages. How did they cut such a hard material? How did manual techniques bring out the brilliance of diamonds? Dr. Evan Smith, a GIA research scientist, will answer these questions by recounting the history of diamond cutting and sharing his personal experiences cutting diamonds for scientific research.
In the gem and jewelry industry, diamonds and colored stones are often considered two completely separate fields. This may be partly due to the vastly different ways these materials are mined and brought to market. Diamonds are primarily extracted through large-scale industrial mining, while colored stones like rubies, sapphires, and emeralds are typically mined through smaller-scale artisanal operations. Their quality assessment methods also differ greatly. Nevertheless, both diamonds and colored stones have helped scientists unravel many geological secrets. Watch lectures by GIA research scientist Dr. Karen Smit and GIA senior research manager Dr. Aaron Palke as they explain why diamonds and colored stones actually have far more in common than most people imagine.
The GIA Knowledge Exchange Webinar Series is a collection of presentations and workshops that explore some of the most pressing issues in gemology today, including gemstone origin, laboratory-grown gems, and new discoveries in field gemology. These webinars are led by GIA Ph.D.s, field gemologists, educators, and research scientists whose expertise and experience will provide you with a wealth of gemological knowledge.
The webinars are free and open to the public. Advance registration is required.
August 19, 2021 | Minerals Discovered and Named by GIA
10:00 a.m. (PDT)
Speakers: Nathan Renfro and Dr. Aaron Palke
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September 2, 2021 | Interesting Discoveries at the GIA Laboratory Over the Years
10:00 a.m. (PDT)
Speakers: Dr. Sally Magaña and Nathan Renfro
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September 16, 2021 | Sapphire Treatments
10:00 a.m. (PDT)
Speaker: Wim Vertriest
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September 16, 2021 | Identification of Paraíba Tourmaline at GIA Laboratory
9:00 p.m. (Hong Kong Time)
Speaker: Ziyin Sun
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August 5, 2021 | Gems & Gemology (G&G): Spring 2021 Issue Highlights
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July 22, 2021 | A Gem’s Journey Through the GIA Laboratory
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July 8, 2021 | Gems from the Sea
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June 24, 2021 | Understanding Jadeite
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June 10, 2021 | Sapphire: From Ceylon to Ethiopia
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May 27, 2021 | Identifying Mineral Inclusions in Diamonds
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May 13, 2021 | Latest Discoveries in Gems & Gemology
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April 29, 2021 | Colorless Diamonds
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April 15, 2021 | X-rays and Their Applications in Gemology
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April 1, 2021 | Geology for Gemologists 102: The Natural Formation of Colored Stones
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March 25, 2021 | A Look at Kimberlites: The Volcanoes That Carry Diamonds
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March 18, 2021 | The History, Lore, and Gemology of Green Gems
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March 11, 2021 | Micromorphology of Gems: Geological Significance
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March 4, 2021 | Color-Changing Diamonds
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February 25, 2021 | Gems & Gemology Fall 2020: D-to-Z Diamonds, Royal Jewelry Auctions, Vietnam Field Report, and More
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February 18, 2021 | Mesmerizing Neon Blue: A Look Back at Paraíba Tourmaline
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February 11, 2021 | The History, Lore, and Gemology of Red Gems
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February 4, 2021 | Gems of the Southwest
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January 28, 2021 | The History of the Engagement Ring
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January 21, 2021 | Natural Diamond Rough: Crystal Shapes and Surface Features
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