Into The Future and Beyond
No one really knows what the future has in store for them; all we can do is plan for and move toward our goals.
As new technologies for duplicating and imitating gems continue to arise, the task of detecting man-made material becomes more and more difficult. New methods of detection must be developed at the same rate to keep pace with these clever imposters. This will continue to challenge me to learn about new emerging technologies in Gemmology and jewellery as they appear. All the while I will continue to educate myself and others to their existence and work toward better ways of detecting and reporting with accuracy about new and complex man-made gem materials.
The deliberate alteration of natural gem materials (called “enhancement”) is also becoming more common. Recognizing and detecting temporary and permanent enhancements can be quite a challenge, especially in less popular gemstones, and I will work hard to stay on top of these enhancements, as well as new gem deposits that are found annually, including many from countries previously inaccessible to world markets, such as China, Afghanistan, and Mongolia. New gemstones are constantly being discovered as well, and these need to be studied, classified, recognized and valued.
My diligence to the detailed study of Gemmology and these new, and constant changes, has seen my small lab increase in size as more complex equipment is added. The need to measure and quantify scientifically the minute intricacies has added an FT-IR Spectrophotometer, Colorimeter and an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, making my small lab one of the best equipped private Gemmology labs in North America.
Intense study of gem and mineral specimens from all over the world will be my primary focus for years to come. It has further fueled my original love of gemstones and minerals as my personal collection continues to grow. Looking toward the not too distant future I plan to open a small mineral / gemstone museum and learning centre further completing the circle of learning, educating, and rediscovery.
