Gems & Gemology is pleased to announce the winners of the Dr. Edward J. Gübelin Most Valuable Article Award for 2006, as voted by the journal’s readers. We extend our sincerest thanks to all the subscribers who participated in the voting.

The first-place article was “The Impact of Internal Whitish and Reflective Graining on the Clarity Grading of D-to-Z Color Diamonds at the GIA Laboratory” (Winter 2006), which reviewed the elusive nature of this type of graining in diamonds and the methodology that GIA graders use to determine its impact on diamond clarity grades. Receiving second place was “Identification and Durability of Lead Glass–Filled Rubies” (Spring 2006), a study of this new corundum treatment and techniques to identify it. Third place was awarded to “‘Paraíba’-type Copper-bearing Tourmaline from Brazil, Nigeria, and Mozambique: Chemical Fingerprinting by LA-ICP-MS” (Spring 2006), which described how this analytical technique can separate—on the basis of chemical composition—bright blue to green copper-bearing tourmaline from the localities in which it has been found.

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 Margrethe Gram-Jensen of Overijse, Belgium, whose ballot was drawn from the many entries to win a five-year subscription to Gems & Gemology and copies of the two Gems & Gemology in Review volumes, Synthetic Diamonds and Colored Diamonds.

First Place

The Impact of Internal Whitish and Reflective Graining on the Clarity Grading of D-to-Z Color Diamonds at the GIA Laboratory
John M. King, Thomas M. Moses, and Wuyi Wang

John M. King is technical director of the GIA Laboratory in New York and the editor of Gems & Gemology in Review:  Colored Diamonds. Mr. King, who is also a noted artist, received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Hunter College, City University of New York. Thomas M. Moses is senior vice president, GIA Laboratory and Research, New York. Wuyi Wang is manager, Research Projects, GIA Laboratory, New York. He holds a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Tsukuba in Japan, and has considerable research experience in diamond geochemistry and diamond treatment.

Second Place

Identification and Durability of Lead Glass−Filled Rubies
Shane F. McClure, Christopher P. Smith, Wuyi Wang, and Matthew Hall

Shane F. McClure is director of Identification Services for the GIA Laboratory in Carlsbad, California. A popular lecturer, Mr. McClure is also well known for his articles on gem identification and is an editor of G&G’s Lab Notes section. Christopher P. Smith is vice president and chief gemologist of the American Gemological Laboratories (AGL), New York City; at the time the article was written, he was director of Identification Services at the GIA Laboratory in New York. Mr. Smith has written numerous articles for G&G and other publications, and is a member of the G&G Editorial Review Board. Wuyi Wang was profiled in the first-place entry. Matthew Hall is manager of Identification Services at the GIA Laboratory in New York. Mr. Hall has a bachelor’s degree in geology from Franklin and Marshall College and a master’s in geology and geochemistry from the University of Maryland.

Third Place

Paraíba-type Copper-bearing Tourmaline from Brazil, Nigeria, and Mozambique: Chemical Fingerprinting by LA-ICP-MS
Ahmadjan Abduriyim, Hiroshi Kitawaki, Masashi Furuya, and Dietmar Schwarz

Ahmadjan Abduriyim is manager of the Research Laboratory of the Gemmological Association of All Japan (GAAJ) in Tokyo. Dr. Abduriyim has a B.Sc. in geochemistry, petrology, and mineralogy from Beijing University, and a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in mineralogy from Kyoto University. Hiroshi Kitawaki is director of the Research Laboratory of GAAJ. Mr. Kitawaki has a B.Sc. in geology from Niigata University, Tokyo, and more than 15 years of experience in diamond and color stone research and education. Masashi Furuya is director of the Japan Germany Gemmological Laboratory in Kofu, Japan. Mr. Furuya has multiple degrees in German from Reitaku University, Kashiwa, Japan, and over 30 years of experience in the jewelry industry. Dietmar Schwarz is research manager at the Gübelin Gem Lab in Lucerne, Switzerland. Dr. Schwarz is a former scientific lecturer at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and professor of mineralogy and gemology at Ouro Preto Federal University, Minas Gerais, Brazil.