From left, Dr. John L. Emmett, Dr. Wuyi Wang, and John I. Koivula.

The first-place article was “Beryllium Diffusion of Ruby and Sapphire” (Summer 2003), an in-depth report on Be-diffused corundum and the gemological and other tests that can help identify it. Receiving second place was “Gem-Quality Synthetic Diamonds Grown by a Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Method” (Winter 2003), which presented a complete description and identifying characteristics of Apollo Diamond Inc.’s facetable, single-crystal type IIa CVD synthetic diamonds. Third place was awarded to “Photomicrography for Gemologists” (Spring 2003), which reviewed the fundamentals of gem photomicrography and discussed the newest techniques in the field.

The authors of these three articles will share cash prizes of $2,000, $1,000, and $500, respectively. Following are brief biographies of the winning authors.

Congratulations also to Hector Nick Hernandez of San Antonio, Texas, whose ballot was drawn from the many entries to win a three-year subscription to Gems & Gemology and a copy of Legacy of Leadership: A History of the Gemological Institute of America.

FIRST PLACE
Beryllium Diffusion of Ruby and Sapphire
John L. Emmett, Kenneth Scarratt, Shane F. McClure, Thomas Moses, Troy R. Douthit, Richard Hughes, Steven Novak, James E. Shigley, Wuyi Wang, Owen Bordelon, and Robert E. Kane
John L. Emmett received a bachelor’s degree in physics from the California Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University. Dr. Emmett is a former associate director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and a co-founder of Crystal Chemistry. He consults on laser applications, heat treatment, and other aspects of gemology. Kenneth Scarratt has 30 years of experience as a laboratory gemologist. He is currently laboratory director for the AGTA Gemological Testing Center in New York City. Previously laboratory director at AIGS in Bangkok and GAGTL in London, Mr. Scarratt has published extensively in gemological journals throughout the world. Shane F. McClure is director of Identification Services at the GIA Gem Laboratory in Carlsbad, California. Mr. McClure is well known for his articles on gem identification and is an editor of G&G’s Lab Notes section. Thomas Moses is vice president of Identification and Research at the GIA Gem Laboratory in New York. Mr. Moses, who attended Bowling Green University, is also an editor of the Lab Notes section and a member of the G&G Editorial Review Board. Troy R. Douthit (not pictured) is a principal of Crystal Chemistry in Los Altos, California. Richard W. Hughes is a leading authority on corundum and the author of Ruby & Sapphire. Mr. Hughes is webmaster at Pala International’s Palagems.com, and his writings can also be found on his personal Web site, Ruby-Sapphire.com. Steven Novak is manager of the Dynamic SIMS group at Evans East, a contract analytical laboratory specializing in surface analysis. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree from Virginia Tech, and a Ph.D. from Stanford University, all in geology. James E. Shigley is director of GIA Research in Carlsbad. Dr. Shigley is the author of numerous articles on diamonds and other gemstones and is a contributing editor to G&G. He received a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a doctorate in geology from Stanford University. Wuyi Wang is a research scientist for GIA Research and Identification in New York. He holds a Ph.D. in geology from the Tsukuba University in Japan, and has considerable experience in studying diamond geochemistry. Owen Bordelon is a former captain in the U.S. Army Airborne Rangers and a pilot. He holds an M.A. in music theory and composition and a J.D. in law. Based in New Orleans, he designs and builds optical-electronic scientific instruments for the AGTA-GTC and other laboratories. Robert E. Kane is president and CEO of Fine Gems International in Helena, Montana, and a member of the G&G Editorial Review Board since 1981. With more than 25 years of gemological experience, Mr. Kane is well known for his many articles on diamonds, colored stones, and gem identification.

SECOND PLACE
Gem-Quality Synthetic Diamonds Grown By a Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Method
Wuyi Wang, Thomas Moses, Robert C. Linares, James E. Shigley, Matthew Hall, and James E. Butler
Wuyi Wang, Thomas Moses, and James Shigley are profiled in the first-place entry. Robert C. Linares (not pictured) is chairman of Apollo Diamond Inc. in Boston. A graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson (M.B.A.) and Rutgers University (Ph.D. in materials science), Dr. Linares has a long history of research in advanced semiconductor and telecommunications technologies, with a more recent focus on creating products from synthetic diamond. Matthew Hall is supervisor of analytical equipment at the GIA Gem Laboratory in New York. He holds a bachelor’s degree in geology from Franklin and Marshall College and a master’s in geology and geochemistry from the University of Maryland. James E. Butler is head of the Gas/Surface Dynamics Section of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. Dr. Butler has published over 190 papers in experimental chemical physics. He received a bachelor’s degree from MIT and a Ph.D. from The University of Chicago, both in chemical physics.

THIRD PLACE
Photomicrography for Gemologists
John I. Koivula
John I. Koivula is chief research gemologist at the GIA Gem Laboratory in Carlsbad. A longtime contributor to G&G, Mr. Koivula is the author of MicroWorld of Diamonds and co-author of Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones. He holds bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and mineralogy-geology from Eastern Washington State University.