Late in 2009, in the central highlands of Madagascar, a very large Morganite crystal was discovered in a black tourmaline pegmatite, and it was different from anything I had ever seen or heard of. With most of the crystal too included to be cuttable, it yielded fewer than two dozen gemstones. But these were an amazingly intense pink, without any treatment, and viewed in various lighting, bordered on neon, with flashes of red and hints of violet. Testing has revealed an uncommonly high level of cesiium. OF THIS RARE AND LIMITED FIND, CARATS' CUSTOMERS NOW OWN THREE OF THE FINISHED GEMS !!!

There was recently a "sting" conducted by Good Morning America, in which a major department store was found to be selling rubies with open crevasses so full of leaded glass that one gemological laboratory called them "composite rubies." In each case the salesperson assured the buyer that they were looking at a high quality natural ruby, and that it required no special care. When challenged over the lack of disclosure of this significant treatment, management defended its practices by saying: "We have signs in our precious and semi-precious gemstone display cases to inform customers that gemstones may have been treated and may require special care." This is an obviously inadequate pretense of disclosure. Yet this is not just about one chain of stores, but a far more pervasive kind of fraud being perpetrated by legions of poorly trained buyers and sales personnel giving advice to consumers. For the complete story go to: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/ConsumerNews/rubies-real-deal/story?id=8988951&page=1

Held every year on the first weekend in December (Sat & Sun)
A must-see event for gem lovers and collectors. - from common to exquisitely rare - inexpensive to museum quality.
Three gem dealers, each a recognized leader in their own segment of the gem community, come into the store with their inventories of loose gems. Pick their brains, or buy directly from them. IN 2009 WE GAVE AWAY THIS SPECIALLY MADE PAIR OF BOULDER OPAL & BLUE TOURMALINE EARRINGS IN A DRAWING.