Fall 2025 G&G Available Now

GIA Staff

November 17, 2025

Our Fall Gems & Gemology issue delves into two aspects of natural diamond: the absorption that causes highly sought-after pure orange color, or the chameleon effect in some rare examples, and the morphology of macles. Our third feature article examines a distinctive feature of Russian white nephrite. Along with G&G’s regular sections, this issue marks the return of Dr. Evan Smith’s Diamond Reflections column.

A Guide to Diamonds with the 480 nm Absorption Band

GIA’s Dr. Mei Yan Lai characterizes natural diamonds with a broad absorption band at 480 nm in the visible spectrum. These rare diamonds can display a sought-after pure orange color or a unique reversible “chameleon” color-change property.

External Morphology and Internal Zonal Structure of Macle Diamond

Drs. Ahmadjan Abduriyim and Masao Kitamura examine the internal structure, growth patterns, and morphology of natural macle diamonds. Their study adds to our understanding of these flattened triangular crystals, which are some of nature’s most distinctive rough gems.

Characterization of “Orange Peel” Surface Microstructure of White Nephrite from Russia: A Unique Pseudomorph Pattern

Drs. Meiyu Shih, Guanghai Shi, and Biqian Xing offer a study of the distinctive “orange peel” surface microstructure that appears characteristic of Russian white nephrite. Similar to that seen in jadeite jade, this distinctive surface texture results from the replacement of carbonate grains.

Lab Notes

GIA’s global laboratory staff present their latest findings in the Lab Notes section, including an extraordinary large bicolor natural rough diamond, a diamond with starburst inclusions, a color-zoned dumortierite crystal, and a color-treated laboratory-grown sapphire.

Micro-World

Our Micro-World section illuminates the inner beauty of gemstones. Some of the intriguing contributions this time are a yellow diamond with a UFO-shaped feather, an Ethiopian opal with a remarkable “turtle shell” play-of-color pattern, and diamond octahedron containing a rare garnet crystal.

Diamond Reflections

GIA’s Dr. Evan Smith shares the raw brilliance of nature’s diamond sculptures with a selection of interesting and unusual crystal morphologies from a unique collection of rough diamonds. They show that Earth’s natural processes can sculpt the hardest mineral into remarkable shapes resembling animals or familiar objects.

Gem News International

Our GNI contributors provide reports from around the world, including Burmese amber containing fungal inclusions, grossular garnets with a trapiche pattern, and an eight-rayed star peridot.