The ballots are in, and we are pleased to announce the winners of the Dr. Edward J. Gübelin Most Valuable Article Award for articles published in the 2000 issues of G&G. We extend our sincerest thanks to all subscribers who participated in the voting. The authors of these three articles will share cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $300, respectively.

First Place
Gemstone Enhancement and Detection in the 1990s (Winter 2000), by Shane F. McClure and Christopher P. Smith (pictured)
Examined the prominent gem treatments of the last decade and discussed methods for their detection
Shane McClure is director of West Coast Identification Services at the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory in Carlsbad, California. Christopher Smith is director of the Gübelin Gem Lab in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Second Place
GE POL Diamonds: Before and After (Fall 2000), by Christopher P. Smith, George Bosshart, Johann Ponahlo, Vera M. F. Hammer, Helmut Klapper, and Karl Schmetzer
Provided important clues to the identification of type IIa diamonds that had undergone high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) processing by General Electric
Christopher Smith is profiled in the first-place entry. George Bosshart is chief gemologist at the Gübelin Gem Lab. Johann Ponahlo is an independent research associate, and Vera Hammer is research scientist, at the Vienna Museum of Natural History. Helmut Klapper is the head of the crystal growth research group at the Mineralogisch-Petrographisches Institut, University of Bonn. Karl Schmetzer is a research scientist residing in Petershausen, near Munich.

Third Place
Gem Localities of the 1990s (Winter 2000), by James E. Shigley, Dona M. Dirlam, Brendan M. Laurs, Edward W. Boehm, George Bosshart, and William F. Larson
Reviewed the decade’s new gemstone sources, and its most important producing localities
James Shigley is director of GIA Research in Carlsbad. Dona Dirlam is director of the Richard T. Liddicoat Library and Information Center at GIA in Carlsbad. Brendan Laurs is senior editor of Gems & Gemology. Edward Boehm is president of JOEB Enterprises in Solana Beach, California. George Bosshart is profiled in the second-place entry. William Larson is president of Pala International in Fallbrook, California.

Congratulations also to Ron Suddendorf of Darnestown, Maryland, whose ballot was drawn from the many entries to win a leather portfolio and a five-year subscription to Gems & Gemology.