A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER:

DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN

Robert E. Kane, Edward W. Boehm, Stuart D. Overlin, Dona M. Dirlam,
John I. Koivula, and Christopher P. Smith

During a career that spanned more than 65 years, the eminent Swiss gemologist Dr. Edward J.
Gbelin (19132005) built a monumental legacy. He is perhaps best known for his pioneering
work on gemstone inclusions. He established the first systematic classification of inclusions in
natural gem minerals, and his research demonstrated the importance of these internal features
in determining a gems identity as well as its country of origin. He wrote extensively on nearly
all aspects of gemology, eloquently recording his observations in 13 major books and more
than 250 articles. A widely traveled explorer, Dr. Gbelin also reported on some of the worlds
most important gem localities. In addition, he was an innovator in gem-testing instruments, an
influential educator, a major gem collector, and one of gemologys most ardent and respected
global ambassadors.

To those who are able to explore their secrets, precious several generations of gemologists. In addition, he
stones relate a story as interesting as that of the huge was an explorer who chronicled many of the worlds
pyramids erected by the Pharaohs at Memphis, and it major gem sources, both classic and new.
would seem that their sublime internal spheres might As a tribute to one of the most remarkable fig-
best be called, The Fingerprints of God. ures in the history of gemology, this article exam-
Edward J. Gbelin ines the many dimensions of Edward J. Gbelins
Inclusions as a Means of Gemstone Identification, career, from his early academic training to the
1953 enduring legacy he has left behind.

T
he late Dr. Edward J. Gbelin (19132005; fig-
ure 1) will forever be linked to the study of THE EARLY YEARS
inclusions in gemstones, an area of research The story of Edward J. Gbelin begins with the
he pioneered in the early 1940s. His lifelong studies founding of a family business. In 1854, Jakob Josef
yielded breakthroughs in determining a gems iden- Mauritz Breitschmid opened a watchmakers shop
tity and geographic origin based on these internal in the picturesque lakeside city of Lucerne, Switzer-
features, thus helping to establish the foundation of land. Breitschmids apprentice, Eduard Jakob
modern gemology. In many ways, he transformed Gbelin, married his masters daughter in 1886 and
the way we look at and study these very special purchased the company in 1899. Their son, Eduard
minerals. Yet his acclaimed research on inclusions Moritz Gbelin (18881945), took the reins in 1919
tells only part of the story. Dr. Gbelin was also an (150 Years of Gbelin, 2004).
insightful and prolific writer whose works on nearly
all aspects of gems and their study have been widely
read and translated into several languages. He was See end of article for About the Authors and Acknowledgments.
an inventor of gem-testing instruments, an impor- GEMS & GEMOLOGY, Vol. 41, No. 4, pp. 298327.
tant gem collector, and an educator who influenced 2005 Gemological Institute of America

298 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
 Figure 1. The pioneering
Swiss gemologist
Edward J. Gbelin
(19132005) looks at a
set of gems from his per-
sonal collection, which
contains more than
5,000 specimens. Best
known for his landmark
research on gemstone
inclusions, Dr. Gbelin
was a renowned author,
photographer, educator,
and explorer whose con-
tributions to the field
may never be surpassed.

Eduard Joseph Gbelin, the eldest son of Eduard side of the business. This facility would become the
M. and Maria (Schriber) Gbelin, was born March foundation for the Gbelin Gem Lab (150 Years of
16, 1913. Young Eduard (figure 2) attended grammar Gbelin, 2004).
and high school in Lucerne, with a special focus on
natural science and languages. He eventually
became fluent in four languagesGerman, French, THE ACADEMIC AND HIS
English, and Italianin addition to his native Swiss THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE
German, and he could read and write Latin and Academic Career. In 1932, at the age of 19, Edward
Greek. Because Dr. Gbelin preferred the English J. Gbelin joined the family business. While work-
spelling of his given name when publishing for an ing part-time, he majored in mineralogy at the
English-speaking audience, the balance of this arti- University of Zurich, with additional studies in art
cle will refer to him as Edward. history, literature, and ancient languages (Jaeger,
Edward J. Gbelins lifelong passion for gems 2005).
was sparked while walking home from grammar A crucial period in Dr. Gbelins gemological
school one day, when he saw a brooch set with education was the winter 193637 term, which he
rubies and diamonds in a shop window. To nurture spent at the Institute of Precious Stones in Vienna.
his sons budding interest, watchmaker Eduard M. There he studied under Prof. Hermann Michel, his
Gbelin took the remarkable step of adding a jewel- fathers tutor a decade earlier. The professor was
ry division to the company: an early pioneer in practical gemology whose
books included the English-language Pocketbook
It must have been about 1922 or 23 when my for Jewelers, Lapidaries, Gem & Pearl Dealers
father wanted me and my younger brother to
decide which profession we wanted to take. And
(1929). Prof. Michel taught his young protg to
I told my father Id like to become a jeweler. He observe and distinguish inclusions within gem-
said, Okay, I like the idea. And under the cir- stones and to appreciate their diagnostic value
cumstances, I shall add a jewelry section to the (Gbelin, 1953). Dr. Gbelins detailed notes from
firm. However, he was a watchmaker and he this class reveal a systematic rigor and enthusias-
didnt know much about gemstones and jewelry.
So he took a gemological course with Prof.
tic curiosity that would characterize his work over
Michel, whofrom Viennawas the European the next seven decades.
pioneer in gemology. (Gbelin, 2001) Another influential figure during these formative
years was the renowned German gemologist and
In 1923, the senior Gbelin also established a mineralogist Prof. Karl Schlossmacher, who had
small gemological lab to support the fledgling jewelry revised Dr. Max Bauers classic book Edelsteinkunde

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 299
 Dr. Gbelin traveled by steamship to the United
States in January 1939 to work in the Gbelin
firms New York office and improve his salesman-
ship and English skills. At this same time, he con-
tacted Robert M. Shipley, founder of the
Gemological Institute of America, and enrolled in
the Institutes correspondence classes. Dr. Gbelin
arrived at GIA in Los Angeles in July 1939 to com-
plete the coursework and prepare for his examina-
tions. He later recalled, The deeper I delved [into
the courses], the more enthusiastic I grew
(Shuster, 2003, p. 66). In August 1939, he received
GIAs title of Certified Gemologist (the forerunner
of todays Graduate Gemologist, or G.G., diploma;
Certified Gemologist later became the title given
by the American Gem Society).
After graduating from GIA, Dr. Gbelin returned
Figure 2. Edward J. Gbelin, second from the left, to Lucerne, where he married Idda Niedermann
excelled from an early age in natural science and lan- and rejoined the family business. During World
guages. Also shown, left to right, are his younger sib- War II, he served in the Swiss Army as an intelli-
lings Werner, Walter, Hans Ulrich, Robert, Maria, and gence officer while continuing to pursue gemologi-
Albert Gbelin. Courtesy of Gbelin AG. cal studies and independent research when his mil-
itary duties allowed (figure 3). In 1945, he earned
his Diamond Certificate from the Swiss
[Precious Stones] in 1932. During his university time Gemmological Society. He continued his studies
in Zurich, Dr. Gbelin attended a summer course with the Gemmological Association of Great
taught by Prof. Schlossmacher, who remained a Britain and became a Fellow of the Gemmological
friend and guiding influence for many years Association of Great Britain (FGA) with distinction
(Gbelin, 2001). in 1946. This was followed by a gemological certifi-
Dr. Gbelins doctoral dissertation, written in cate from the German Gemmological Society and
1938, examined the minerals in dolomite from the Institute of Gemstone Research, both in Idar-
Campolungo, in the Tessin region of the Italian Oberstein, in 1954. The next year, Dr. Gbelin was
Swiss Alps (Gbelin, 1939). He was formally awarded the Gemstone Expert Diploma of the
awarded his doctorate from the University of Swiss Gemmological Society.
Zurich in 1941. His university studies completed, When Dr. Gbelin was asked recently what

1854 1913 1923 19361937 1938 1939 1940

March 16, 19361937 1938 Completes doctorate in The

1913 Edward J. mineralogy at the University of Gbelin
Edward J. Gbelin is Zurich (diploma awarded in 1941) company
Gbelin born introduced begins
in Lucerne to the study issuing
of inclusions 1939 Earns Certified diamond
under Prof. Gemologist diploma at GIA and col-
Hermann ored stone
Michel in certificates
Vienna 1940 Returns to the signed by
family business in Edward J.
1923 Jewelry division added Lucerne and marries Gbelin
to the watch company, as Idda Niedermann Publishes his first
well as the precursor to the Gems & Gemology
1854 Jakob Breitschmid opens article, Differences Joins the
watchmaking shop in Lucerne, Gbelin Gem Lab
between Burma and Swiss Army,
forerunner of the Gbelin group Siam rubies serves until
of companies 1945

300 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
 other people, but remain curious to find out every-
thing you can about gemstones (Gbelin, 2001).

Lifelong Thirst for Knowledge. Throughout his life,

Dr. Gbelins yearning for gemological knowledge
never diminished. Into the 21st century, he rigor-
ously read gemological journals in at least four lan-
guages and frequently wrote letters to the authors of
these articles to compliment, critique, comment on,
or politely question their findings and conclusions.
Perhaps one reason Dr. Gbelin stayed so pro-
ductive for so long was that his vocation was also
his hobby, and as such he did not make any distinc-
tion between work and pleasure. In 1991, at the age
of 78, he commented on his retirement from busi-
ness 15 years earlier. Gemology has become a
necessity to me, something that I have to do, he
said (Berenblatt, 1991, p. 30). Im still studying
gemological literature. Im still receiving gems
from all over the world. I enjoy analyzing the
nature of the gems.

Figure 3. Dr. Gbelin began publishing on gemstone UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF

inclusions in 1940. Here he is using the darkfield GEMSTONE INCLUSIONS
Gemmoscope, which he developed in 1942 using the
latest in Zeiss optics. Inset: One of Dr. Gbelins early Inclusions in gemstones speak eloquently of the
photomicrographs, of curved striae and elongated gas geological origins and subsequent history of their
bubbles in a flame-fusion (Verneuil) synthetic ruby. costly host. All we need to do is open our eyes and
explore.
Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones, 1986
(p. 518)

advice he would give a young gemology student No one in the history of gemology has had as pro-
today, he responded, The best advice I can give found an impact on the research and appreciation of
him is to be curious. Ask questions [of] yourself, [of] inclusions as Edward J. Gbelin. When he first

1942 1945 1946 1950 1952 1953 1962 1963

1945 1952 Helps found 1954 Receives 1962 First trip to

Takes over the International gemological certificate Burma (now Myanmar)
1946
the Gbelin Gemmological from the German
Receives FGA 1963 Produces the film
company Conference (IGC) Gemmological Society
with distinc- Mogok, Valley of Rubies
with brother
tion from the with daughter Marie-Helen.
Walter after
Gemmolo- 1953 Publishes the classic He is the last Western
the death of
gical Associa- Inclusions as a Means of gemologist to visit Mogok
their father
tion of Great Gemstone Identification for nearly 30 years.
Britain

1942 Develops the Gemmoscope,

a darkfield-illuminator-equipped 1950
microscope, and creates a diamond Develops
cut gauge the first
desk-model
gemological
Founding member of the Swiss spectroscope
Gemmological Society

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 301
 gazed into a microscope in the 1920s, inclusions Epigenetic (post-growth) inclusions: Epigenetic
were considered little more than undesirable flaws inclusions formed after the host completed
and imperfections. As a direct result of his pioneer- growing, anywhere from immediately to mil-
ing research and photomicrography, inclusions are lions of years later. Perhaps the best-known
now recognized as valuable indicators of a gems examples are rutile needles in rubies and sap-
identity, geographic origin, and natural or treated phires, as well as the fingerprints that occur
condition, as well asin many casesconclusive in many gemstones, including rubies and sap-
proof of whether a gem is natural or synthetic. They phires. Rutile needles occur in corundum
are also appreciated as objects of natural beauty in through exsolution of trace amounts of titani-
their own right, in gems cut or carved to showcase um forced out of the gems crystal structure
their internal features. during cooling, while fingerprint-like inclu-
sions result from the healing of internal sur-
Classifying Gemstone Inclusions. In his 1953 book face-reaching fractures by growth fluids, some-
Inclusions as a Means of Gemstone Identification, times long after the host crystals formation
Dr. Gbelin proposed a classification of mineral (figure 4, bottom).
inclusions based on when they formed in relation to
the host gem crystal. In addition to when they were created, Dr.
Gbelin classified inclusions by their physical form.
Protogenetic (preexisting) inclusions: Proto- This allowed for better description of the inclusion,
genetic inclusions formed before the growth of which has become increasingly important with the
the host. These inclusions are always miner- multitude of treatments that often alter the internal
als; preexisting gases and liquids are not con- characteristics of a gemstone. Here he also broad-
sidered protogenetic. Examples include actino- ened the definition of inclusion beyond internal
lite and biotite in emerald, and pyrrhotite in solids, liquids, and gases within a host gem to
diamond. Calcite and dolomite in ruby can be encompass characteristics such as cracks and fis-
either protogenetic or syngenetic (figure 4, top). sures and growth phenomena (e.g., twinning, color
zoning, and textural growth structures).
Syngenetic (contemporaneous) inclusions: Today, Dr. Gbelins various inclusion classi-
Mineral inclusions, as well as fluids (liquids fications are widely accepted, and their usefulness
and gases), that formed and were imprisoned only grows as new localities are discovered and
as the host crystal was growing are syngenetic. new synthetics and treated materials continue to
Classic examples of syngenetic inclusions are emerge. The just-released Photoatlas of Inclu-
the well-known three-phase inclusions in sions in Gemstones, Volume 2 (Gbelin and
Colombian emeralds, and pyrite in quartz or Koivula, 2005) presents a new classification of
emerald (figure 4, middle). gemstone inclusions based on specific diagnostic

1967 1968 1969 1974 1975 1976 1980 1982

1967 Publishes 1969 1975 Writes 1980 Receives the Jewelers of 1982 Named
Burma, Land der Publishes groundbreak- America's International Award first honorary
Pagoden Edelsteine, ing articles 1976 for Jewelry Leadership member of the
translated on green Officially American Gem
1968 Publishes
in 1975 as grossular gar- retires from Trade Associ-
Die Edelsteine der
The Color net (tsavorite) the Gbelin ation (AGTA)
Insel Ceylon
Treasury of deposit in company
Gemstones Kenya
Photo by Robert Weldon

Founding organizer
of the International
1974 Publishes Colored Stone
Photo by Robert Weldon

Internal World of Association (ICA)

Gemstones

Writes seminal article on cause

of color in alexandrite and
alexandrite-like gems in Neues Jahrbuch
fr Mineralogie Abhandlungen

302 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
 Figure 4. Dr. Gbelin classi-
fied mineral inclusions
according to when they
formed in relation to the
host gem crystal. Top: These
inclusions of actinolite in
Austrian emerald (left, mag-
nified 32) and calcite in
Burmese ruby (right, 32)
are protogenetic (formed
before the growth of the
host). Middle: This pyrite
crystal in Brazilian quartz
(left, 25) and the three-
phase inclusions in
Colombian emerald (right,
50) are syngenetic (formed
and then imprisoned as
the host crystal was grow-
ing). Bottom: These rutile
needles in Burmese ruby
(left, 50) and fingerprints
in Burmese sapphire (right,
20) are epigenetic (formed
after the host completed
growing). Photomicrographs
by Edward J. Gbelin, from
the Photoatlas of Gemstone
Inclusions (1986); used with
permission from Opinio
Verlag, Basel, Switzerland.

mineral species, colors, morphology, and fluid Inclusions as Diagnostic Tools. How did Dr.
inclusions. It also makes correlations between the Gbelin use these microscopic features as diagnos-
inclusions and their hosts on the basis of their tic tools? His understanding of mineralogy and of
geologic formation. how and where certain minerals formed in the

1986 1988 1991 1993 1994 1997 1999 2003 2005 20052006

1993 1999 March 15, 2005

Presented Publishes Dies in Lucerne
1991
with the Edelsteine: at the age of 91
Receives the
coveted Symbole der
ICA Lifetime 20052006
Medal of Schnheit und
Achievement Posthumous publication of
the City der Macht (with
Award Photoatlas of Inclusions in
of Paris Franz-Xaver
Erni), translat- Gemstones, Volumes 2 and 3
1986 Publishes the classic 1994 Receives the ed in 2000 as (with John I. Koivula)
Photoatlas of Inclusions in American Gem Society's Gemstones:
Gemstones (with John Koivula) Robert M. Shipley Award Symbols of
Beauty and
1988 Publishes the 1997 Gems & Power
World Map of Gem Gemology's Most
Deposits (with the Swiss Valuable Article 2003 Inducted into GIA's
Gemmological Society) Award is renamed League of Honor
in his honor
One of the first Westerners to
return to the gem areas of Mogok

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 303
 emeralds probable geographic origin using only a
microscope.

Characteristics of Gem Species. In some cases, Dr.

Gbelin stressed, an inclusion type alone will con-
clusively identify a particular gemstone species or
variety. For instance, thread-like trichites indi-
cate tourmaline, and lily pads are typical of peri-
dot from most localities. Octahedral negative crys-
tals filled with white dolomite identify spinel.
Heat-wave or roiled-effect growth structures
are characteristic of hessonite. When such internal
features are present, no further tests are necessary to
identify the gemstone host (Gbelin, 1999).
Figure 5. These amphibole fibers, which Dr. Gbelin
His research also revealed that the internal fea-
believed were tremolite, are characteristic of emeralds tures of many gemstones are globally analogous, or
from Sandawana, Zimbabwe. Photomicrograph by even the same. A few examples of gems where the
Edward J. Gbelin, magnified 20, from the inclusions are the same from one locality to the
Photoatlas of Gemstone Inclusions (1986); used with next are beryl (other than emerald), kyanite, spo-
permission from Opinio Verlag, Basel, Switzerland. dumene, and zircon.
Over the course of his long career, Dr. Gbelin
identified hundreds of mineral species as inclusions
earth enabled him to surmise a great deal of infor- in the tens of thousands of gems he examined. There
mation simply by looking at an inclusion with is scarcely a gem material he did not report on, from
magnification. With polarized-light microscopy, for the most common stones on the market to the
example, Dr. Gbelin could observe long, slender, rarest collector gems, such as ekanite, taaffeite, axi-
fibrous clusters of highly birefringent transparent nite, and cassiterite. If a gemstone had inclusions, he
crystals in an emerald and conclude that they were was intent on learning as much as he could about it.
amphibole inclusions, such as tremolite or actino- Dr. Gbelin was the first to observe many inclusion
lite. He knew that such inclusions, with their relationships, such as chromium-pyroxene in dia-
slightly rounded edges and lack of sharp crystal monds and apatite and calcite in hessonite. Also
faces, indicated a protogenetic formation. Proto- consider quartz, which Dr. Gbelin once said he
genetic amphibole inclusions in emerald are regarded as the most interesting gem mineral. In an
known to occur only in certain metasomatic geo- October 1995 International Gemmological Con-
logic environments, such as those at the mines in ference (IGC) lecture in Thailand, he reported that
Sandawana, Zimbabwe (see, e.g., Gbelin, 1958). he had discovered 136 different inclusions in quartz,
Thus armed with a profound knowledge of the rela- 40 of them in material from the Swiss Alps.
tionships between gem minerals, their host rocks,
and their internal features, Dr. Gbelin could look Genetic Conditions. In 2000, Dr. Gbelin (with
through his microscope and ascertain within sec- Franz-Xaver Erni) wrote, Just as fossils in rocks
onds that these protogenetic inclusions were give paleontologists information about past geolog-
amphiboles and, on the basis of their morphology, ical periods in the earths history, the inclusions in
that the emerald in question grew in a geologic precious jewels bear witness to formation and
environment similar to that at Sandawana (figure growth conditions as well as to the gemstones
5). The shape, size, quantity, distribution, and fis- place of origin (p. 218). Conclusions about the
sure patterns of these amphibole inclusions differ- geologic conditions under which the original crys-
entiate Sandawana emeralds from those found at tal grew can be drawn by studying the internal par-
other sources, such as Habachtal in Austria or the agenesis (mineral association) of a gemstone. Dr.
Ural Mountains in Russia, which also contain Gbelin published his initial observations on this
amphibole crystals. It was remarkable that Dr. in a 1943 Gems & Gemology article titled Survey
Gbelin could identify these amphibole inclusions of the genesis of gem stones (figure 6). Calcite and
without chemical analysis, and determine the dolomite inclusions in a ruby are proof of the

304 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
 Figure 6. This illustra-
tion from Dr. Gbelins
Winter 1943 Gems &
Gemology article,
Survey of the genesis of
gem stones, shows a
system for classifying
primary and secondary
gem deposits.

metamorphic cycle that created the marble in genesis of diamond and the composition of the
which the original crystal grew, whereas earths mantle at depths of approximately 200 km.
pyrrhotite in ruby betrays its igneous (basaltic) ori- These depths are far beyond mans capability to
gin. Some (igneous) peridot contains small black reach, and thus the information contained in these
chromite crystals, which are remnants from the inclusions is of much scientific interest (H. O. A.
earths mantle, just as they are in some (ultramaf- Meyer in Gbelin and Koivula, 1986, p. 271).
ic) diamonds.
Dr. Gbelin (1999) pointed out that not only do Natural versus Treated. In some gemstones, inclu-
certain inclusions indicate origin in a specific mag- sions supply evidence of treatment or the absence
matic environment, but they also provide evidence thereof. With rubies and sapphires, for example, the
of where within the earth their gemstone hosts unaltered or altered state of the inclusions may indi-
formed. For example, chromium-rich diopside, cate whether or not the stone has been heat treated
enstatite, and pyrope indicate origin in metamor- at moderate to high temperatures. In emeralds, the
phic ultramafic rocks of the upper mantle, whereas microscope reveals visual evidence of the oils and
actinolite, diopside, epidote, and ilmenite predomi- other foreign fillers that are commonly used to
nate in metamorphic rocks of the lithosphere, reduce the visibility of fractures. As gemstone treat-
which extends to the earths surface. ments became prevalent in the trade, Dr. Gbelin
Diamonds contain a multitude of mineral inclu- began reporting on them (see, e.g., his 1964 Gems &
sions (olivine, garnet, pyroxene, spinel, etc.), as well Gemology article, Black treated opals), and the
as diamond itself. Because diamonds formed deep in 1986 Photoatlas contains an entire chapter devoted
the mantle and were carried to the surface by a to inclusions in treated corundum.
magma, inclusions in diamond do not serve as indi-
cators of geographic origin and typically are similar Natural or Synthetic Origin. Inclusions are essential
from one locality to the next. They do, however, to identifying the vast majority of synthetics avail-
offer scientists great insights into deciphering the able today. Dr. Gbelins first report on a synthetic

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 305
gem material was The synthetic emerald (Gbelin
and Shipley, 1941), which described the new products
from German manufacturer IG Farben. This article
detailed the gemological properties of the Farben syn-
thetics and compared them to natural emeralds from
Colombia, Brazil, Russia, and Africa, with several
exceptional photomicrographs of the synthetic emer-
alds characteristic inclusions. This was the first of
many articles on the subject, and nearly every book
Dr. Gbelin published featured a discussion accom-
panied by photomicrographs of inclusions showing
the reader how to identify what he dubbed usurpers
from the factory (Gbelin, 1974a, p. 197). The 1986
Photoatlas devoted an entire section, comprising 10
chapters, to synthetics and imitations.

Locality Characteristics (Country of Origin). His-

torically, certain gemstones with a legendary prove- Figure 7. The two sapphires in this photo illustrate the
nancesuch as Burmese rubies, Kashmir sapphires, commercial importance of determining a gems geo-
and Colombian emeraldshave commanded higher graphic origin, which was one of Dr. Gbelins spe-
prices than comparable stones from other sources cialties. Although the natural-color 8.92 ct loose sap-
(figure 7). Dr. Gbelin learned this fact as early as phire on the right looks remarkably similar to a clas-
sic Kashmir sapphirewhich many dealers argued
the mid-1930s, even before his formal gemological
that it wasthe fact that it was actually from
training, when the Gbelin firm was dealing with a Madagascar resulted in its selling for less than one-
Colombian emerald: fifth the price of a comparable gem from Kashmir. The
price per carat of the 20.97 ct natural-color Burmese
They sent the emerald to Prof. Michel, and [he] sapphire in the ring would fall between the prices for
decided it was a genuine emerald from
comparable Kashmir and Madagascar stones. The
Colombia. I wondered, Why is it so important
to know about Colombia? My father gave me matched pair of heated Burmese rubies weighs a total
[the] rudimentary information he had, but it of 4.02 ct. Photo Erica & Harold Van Pelt and Robert
impressed me very much. And especially after- E. Kane; courtesy of Fine Gems International.
wards when I learned about Burmese rubies and
the emphasis on Burmese rubies and Kashmir
sapphires, I wanted to know why. . . . I started
studying inclusions, and thats how I noticed Ruyil (Nepal), Hunza Valley (Pakistan),
that [there were] visible differences, so I started Morogoro (Tanzania) and Luc Yen (Vietnam)
classifying inclusions. (Gbelin, 2001) manifest specific local differences, by which the
gems from these deposits may be ascribed to
their particular place of origin. While pargasite
Dr. Gbelin systematically studied geographic may be an inmate of rubies from Mogok and the
origin during his 193637 term under Prof. Michel, Hunza Valley, it has not been observed in rubies
who had a collection of gemstones that were classi- from other similar sources. Hunza rubies also
fied according to localities and their typical inclu- usually boast margarite mica and pyrite inclu-
sions, whereas calcite, scapolite, sphene, spinel,
sions. He learned that certain inclusions form only and sometimes pyrite as well, characterise
in specific geologic environments. Dr. Gbelin rubies from Mogok. Rubies from Mong Hsu are
(1999) acknowledged the almost incalculable devoid of this inclusion assemblythey excel
number of factors that contribute to the variation of rather in fluorite, which has not been encoun-
inclusions from one gem deposit to another, but are tered in rubies from any other locality. Rutile
usually with acicular habit and oriented along
frequently consistent at one particular geographic three . . . directions (forming so-called silk)is
locality: a regular inhabitant of rubies from most of those
places. . . .
[E]ven gems formed in identical parent rocks e.g. However, it is not merely the presence of a
dolomitic marbles at Jagdalek (Afghanistan), specific, single guest mineral which may indi-
Mogok and Mong Hsu (Myanmar), Chumar and cate a particular mother rock, but more often the

306 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
 internal association of various repeatedly occur- The Science and Art of Capturing Inclusions on
ring guest minerals is symptomatic of a specific Film. Dr. Gbelins introduction to photographing
source. . . . The guest mineral assembly such as
inclusions through the microscope came during his
apatite, rutile, zircon, etc., in sapphires from
metamorphic rocks (e.g., from Sri Lanka) is com- 193637 gemological studies with Prof. Michel in
pletely different from that in sapphires from Vienna. Learning to take photomicrographs, he
basaltic beds (volcanic origin: Australia, recounted, was a great experience . . . to put down
Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam) encom- on paper documents what I had seen with my eyes
passing columbite, plagioclase, uraniumpy-
(Gbelin, 2001). In the early 1940s, he began provid-
rochlor [sic] (uranpyrochlore). On the other hand,
allanite, pargasite, plagioclase, tourmaline and ing Gbelin jewelry store customers with a pho-
zircon specify sapphires of pegmatitic origin in tomicrograph of a gems inclusions along with a cer-
Kashmir. (pp. 2022) tificate (Peet, 1957). Over the decades, he took tens
of thousands of photomicrographs, many of which
Dr. Gbelin was particularly adept at recogniz- he published or presented to captivated audiences
ing combinations of features that were characteris- during his lectures. Dr. Gbelins enthusiasm for
tic of a particular locality. A classic example he photographing inclusions never waned: He took his
described was ruby from Mogok: The combination last photomicrographs on March 5, 2005, just 10
of calcite- or dolomite- crystals (with their typical days before his passing.
lamellar cleavage and poly-synthetic twins) with In his 1974 Internal World of Gemstones (p. 28),
small gratings of rutile needles in swirly surround- Dr. Gbelin wrote, For research and documentation
ings, is the privilege of the sought-after Burma the employment of microphotography is more or less
rubies (Gbelin and Koivula, 1986, p. 48). mandatory. Only photomicrographsif possible, in
He observed that fibrous inclusions in some colourallow comparison of objects, provide material
gemstones emphatically hint to definite places of for proof of gemstone identity, and at the same time
origin, such as almandine with fibrous sillimanite preserve in permanent visual form the inner glories of
from Okkampitiya, Sri Lanka; andalusite with silli- the world of inclusions for everyone. Indeed, Dr.
manite fibers from Santa Teresa, Minas Gerais, Gbelins artistic photomicrography, particularly
Brazil; and quartz with fibrous, hair-fine sepiolite with the widespread use of color in his books and arti-
from Finland (Gbelin, 1999, p. 22). cles beginning in the 1960s, gave gemologists an
Conversely, Dr. Gbelin reported, the lack of a entirely new appreciation of the natural beauty of
particular mineral inclusion may also exclude a par- inclusions. I was always fascinated by looking at
ticular origin and therefore indicate another source gemstones under the instruments, he once noted
(Gbelin, 1999, p. 22). A well-known example he (Berenblatt, 1991, p. 30). What has always motivated
cited, demantoid from Namibia, was found to be me to continue my work has been the beauty of gem-
devoid of the horsetail chrysotile inclusions that stones and the beauty of inclusions.
are characteristic of its counterpart from Russias Dr. Gbelins photomicrographs were exception-
Ural Mountains and Val Malenco, Italy. al not only for their technical content, but also for
Starting with the issuance of his first gemologi- their visual quality. He had an artistic eye and an
cal report in the early 1940s, and propelled by his intense curiosity, which he combined with an abili-
continuing research and the trades widespread ty to build and adapt his equipment.
acceptance of geographic locality origin in the Dr. Gbelin began taking photomicrographs in
1960s, Dr. Gbelin in effect began what is now a the 1930s with a monocular microscope before turn-
gemological cottage industry. Using techniques ing to the binocular Gemmoscope he developed in
pioneered by Dr. Gbelin, today many gemological 1942. He also modified Prof. Schlossmachers hori-
laboratories around the world issue reports on a zontal immersion microscope to take many of the
gems probable country of origin by analyzing a photomicrographs that appeared in his 1953 book
combination of properties such as inclusions, trace- Inclusions as a Means of Gemstone Identification
element chemistry, spectral characteristics, and (see Development of Practical Gem-Testing
internal growth structures. Because origin determi- Instruments section below). In recent years, his
nation is not an exact science, in situations where microscopes of choice were the Zeiss SV8 (with a
ambiguity exists or properties overlap, most of these custom adapter for a Nikon SLR camera; figure 8) and
labs will not provide a report opinion on the geo- a Zeiss petrographic research microscope. With the
graphic origin of that specific gemstone. Zeiss research microscope and its built-in camera, he

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 307
 It is unlikely that there is a gemologist anywhere
in the world who has not consulted one of Dr.
Gbelins invaluable photomicrographs. It is com-
mon practice for many gemologists to compare
what they observe in their microscopes to photomi-
crographs in Dr. Gbelins many published works.
This started with his landmark articles in the
1940s, and continued with his many books such as
Inclusions as a Means of Gemstone Identification
(1953), Internal World of Gemstones (1974a), and
the original Photoatlas of Gemstone Inclusions
(1986). His recently published Volume 2 (2005) and
the forthcoming Volume 3 (in preparation for 2006)
of the Photoatlas will continue to provide gemolo-
gists with the most current inclusions in gemstones
for many years to come. Without a doubt, his bril-
Figure 8. Throughout his career, Dr. Gbelin continu- liant execution of photomicrography helped bring
ously refined his photomicrographic techniques. Here the science of gemology to where it is today.
he is shown taking a photomicrograph with his Zeiss
SV8 microscope with custom darkfield illumination.
PROLIFIC AUTHOR
Since his early years, when he was one of only a few
could attain 600 magnification and capture highly gemological researchers, Dr. Gbelin sought to
detailed inclusion scenes. His last microscope was a inform jewelers and gemologists of new develop-
Zeiss SV11 with an advanced camera attachment and ments in synthetics, treatments, and localities, as
special exposure timing device, which he used for the well as inclusions. Although he achieved this
new Photoatlas volumes (2005 and 2006). through his frequent lectures and classes around the
Dr. Gbelin constantly experimented with the world (figure 9), Dr. Gbelins greatest impact was in
best micro-optics available and continued to refine his numerous landmark articles and books. He was a
his techniques. He worked with different light
sources from the early lamps through fiber optics in
his later years. In Internal World of Gemstones, Dr. Figure 9. Dr. Gbelin began lecturing and teaching
Gbelin describes how he combined darkfield and gemological classes in the early 1940s. In this photo,
transmitted light (lightfield) illumination, as well as he is giving a lecture in Sweden (Swenska Dagblad
other techniques, to bring out the contrast between et, August 20, 1946). Courtesy of the Edward J.
the host mineral and the inclusion (1974a, pp. Gbelin family.
2728). More recently, he used oblique fiber-optic
illumination and shadowing techniques to better
illuminate the desired inclusion. As he upgraded his
microscopes and camera equipment, he also adopt-
ed new and better film. His recent favorite was
Kodak Tungsten 64.
For his photomicrographs, Dr. Gbelin took
detailed notes in shorthand that included the date,
film type, magnification, exposure time, and descrip-
tion of the subject inclusion. As part of a larger acqui-
sition, GIA obtained many of these log books along
with the entire collection of more than 22,000 slides
(see the Gem Collection section below). These
slides actually represent less than half the number he
developed, since he routinely disposed of duplicates
or those that did not meet his high standards.

308 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
 ing when one considers that he accomplished this as
co-director of the Gbelin group of companies, head
of its gemological laboratory, a devoted family man
with a wife and five daughters (figure 10), and an
international traveler. To assist in his prolific output
of gemological research, Dr. Gbelin always main-
tained two sets of fully equipped gemological labora-
toriesone at the company, and another at his
homeso that he could work in the evenings and on
the weekends (figure 11). Even after his retirement in
1976, Dr. Gbelin dedicated more hours to his gemo-
logical pursuits than many do during their most pro-
ductive working years.

Books. During his career, Dr. Gbelin wrote 13 major

books (see Box A for an annotated bibliography).
Many of these were subsequently revised or pub-
lished in various languages, for a total of at least 34
volumes. In addition, he wrote more than a dozen
promotional gem and jewelry booklets for the
Gbelin company. Each new book marked a unique
contribution to the gemological literature.
My favorite book is the Internal World of
Figure 10. This 1987 photo shows Edward and Idda
Gemstones, because it is the most beautiful. I prefer
Gbelin and their five daughters. Standing (left to
right): Birgitta Burkart, Franziska Greising, Mrs. it, to a certain extent, to the Photoatlas because it is
Gbelin, Dr. Gbelin, Marie-Helen Boehm. Seated:
Isabelle Morelli and Daniela Strub. Courtesy of the
Edward J. Gbelin family. Figure 11. Dr. Gbelins tremendous research output
was aided by his having access to two fully equipped
gemological laboratoriesone at the company and
gifted writer, with the ability not only to present his another at his home. This photo shows his private lab-
ideas in an informative manner, but also to poetical- oratory as it appeared between 1942 and 1947.
Courtesy of the Edward J. Gbelin family.
ly stimulate the readers interest in the science and
beauty of gemstones. This excerpt from Internal
World of Gemstones (1974a, p. 137) offers a glimpse:

The saturated green crystal-clear calm mountain

lake is the image of the most beautiful emeralds.
Such a peaceful mountain lake magnetizes our
gaze into its depths. As we sink into it we attain a
world where, in the shimmer of a distant greenish
light, fronds of weed cast shadows, rigid growths
stretch their limbs like chandeliers, vistas open
up in bizarre forests of plants motionless in the
eternal tranquility of the deep. . . . This, too, is the
scene in the depths of the loveliest emeralds, in
whose clear interior we find again vegetation of
the deeps and the green foliage; floating between
them, we dream our way into it, marvelling, as
we admire them under the microscope.

Dr. Gbelin was a dominant force in 20th century

gemological literature, with many books and more
than 250 articles. His output is all the more astonish-

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 309
 BOX A: BOOKS BY EDWARD J. GBELIN
Schmuck- und Edelsteinkund-
liches Taschenbuch [Jewelry and
Gemology Pocketbook] (with Karl
F. Chudoba, 1953): In the intro-
duction, the authors suggest that
this is the first German-language
pocket reference on precious
stones. It contains brief character-
izations of the major gems, plus
information on inclusions, syn-
thetics and imitations, and instruments.

Echt oder Synthetisch? [Natural or

Between 1940 and 1957, Dr. Gbelin wrote more than Synthetic?] (with Karl F. Chudoba,
a dozen promotional booklets for the Gbelin jewelry 1956): This succinct volume on the
stores, covering a wide range of gem-related topics. differences between natural and
These handsome booklets were written for the gem synthetic gems provides a brief his-
and jewelry buying public, both to educate and to gen- tory of the development of syn-
erate excitement about precious gems. Most were in thetics and describes how they can
German, and the topics included diamonds, color grad- be identified by growth marks,
ing of diamonds, precious stones, rubies and sapphires, inclusions, and other features. It
emeralds, pearls, gems and jewelry, inclusions, and contains exceptional black-and-white photomicrographs
birthstones. of inclusions in synthetic and natural gemstones.

Edelsteine [Gemstones] (1952): Edelsteinkundliches Handbuch

This small but comprehensive [Gemology Handbook] (with Karl
book was intended for the layper- F. Chudoba, 1966): This retitled
son, with 18 beautiful watercolors and significantly revised second
of rough and faceted gemstones. edition of the 1953 Schmuck- und
First published in German in 1952, Edelsteinkundliches Taschen-
it was translated into French buch had considerable text and
(Pierres Prcieuses), with 1953 and photographs added. A third edi-
1955 editions. An English version tion, with an expanded dictionary
(Precious Stones) was published in and important new material on synthetics, followed
1963, followed by a second edition and a third in 1973. in 1974.

Inclusions as a Means of Burma, Land der Pagoden

Gemstone Identification (1953): [Burma, Land of Pagodas] (1967):
This is the first book in gemolo- Researched in various parts of
gy to provide a comprehensive Burma in 1963, this volume is
classification of gemstone inclu- illustrated with extraordinary
sions and explain their useful- photos by Dr. Gbelins eldest
ness in identification. Detailed daughter, Marie-Helen Gbelin
text and 256 black-and-white Boehm. This German-language
photomicrographs describe the text is a general-interest book on
internal features in diamond as Burma with a section on Mogok
well as ruby, sapphire, emerald, and ruby mining. It was an important commentary on
and other major colored stones. This book is a compila- this country, published just as a military regime took
tion of Dr. Gbelins popular series of Gems & power and foreign entry became severely limited for
Gemology articles on inclusions in gemstones, which the next several decades. A French version was later
were published between 1940 and 1946. issued.

310 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
 Die Edelsteine der Insel Ceylon Photoatlas of Inclusions in
[The Gemstones from the Island Gemstones (with John I.
of Ceylon] (1968): Based on Dr. Koivula, 1986): The Photoatlas
Gbelins numerous travels to is considered one of the most
Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), it important gemological texts of
provides information on the the 20th century, and is the
geology, mining, and production crown of Dr. Gbelins 50
of the islands gem wealth. It years of intensive research on
also contains many of Dr. gemstone inclusions. It contains
Gbelins exceptional locality some 1,400 color photomicrographs of inclusions in
photos and inclusion photomicrographs. Aside from diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, quartz, and many
descriptions of individual gemstones, sources, and other gems, as well as in the synthetic and treated
inclusions throughout various chapters, the gemologi- gems introduced up to that time. First published in
cal properties and data are summarized in a tabular for- both German and English in 1986, a second revised
mat in the last part of the book. English edition came out in 1992, followed by a third
revised edition in 1997, and a fourth edition in 2004. A
Chinese version was released in 1991.
Edelsteine [Gemstones] (1969):
This all-new work with the
same German title as his 1952 Gemstones: Symbols of Beauty
book was also written in a and Power (with Franz-Xaver
nontechnical style that empha- Erni, 2000): This book, which
sizes the beauty of gems. In followed a 1999 German edi-
addition to profiles of the tion, and preceded a 2001 Polish
major gemstones, it touches on edition, is intended for a broad
subjects such as rarity, cause of audience. It is lavishly illustrat-
color, lapidary arts, phenome- ed with several hundred color
nal gems, and ornamental photos, many by celebrated
stones. It is accompanied by gem and mineral photographers
superb color photographs, many of which were taken Harold and Erica Van Pelt, with exceptional gem
by Dr. Gbelin. The German version sold 50,000 mining photos by Dr. Gbelin.
copies; it was also published in Italian as Pietre
Preziose, in French as Pierres Prcieuses, and rereleased
in German as Schmuck- und Edelsteine aus aller Welt Photoatlas of Inclusions in
in 1977. The English edition was published in 1975 as Gemstones, Volumes 2 [2005]
The Color Treasury of Gemstones. and 3 [scheduled for late 2006]
(with John I. Koivula): These
two new volumes add to the
Innenwelt der Edelsteine: Urkunde aus Raum und already comprehensive work
Zeit [Internal World of Gemstones: Documents from contained in the Photoatlas of
Space and Time] (1973, followed by the English Gemstone Inclusions (1986).
translation in 1974): This successor to Dr. Gbelins They cover the many new local-
1953 book on inclusions contains 350 color pho- ities for natural gems, the latest synthetics, and all the
tomicrographs and additional text on the genesis of treatments that the authors encountered in the 20
these internal features. Sinkankas (1993) wrote of years since the publication of the first Photoatlas.
this work, The photographs Thousands of original photomicrographs have been
of superb quality and sharp- included, along with an expanded inclusion classifica-
ness of detail are expected to tion system and a chapter
provide ready reference as focusing on geologic correla-
the student examines inclu- tions in origin determinations.
sions in the microscope. A first draft for this work as a
This book was ideally suited single volume was prepared
for the gem expert as well. shortly before Dr. Gbelins
Second and third English passing. Due to its length, how-
editions appeared in 1979 ever, the manuscript was divid-
and 1983. ed into two separate volumes.

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 311
Figure 12. The 1988 World Map of Gem Deposits, with more than 750 localities and color-coded designations for
the type of gem as well as its geologic environment, remains the most comprehensive map of its kind. On the back
are 40 photos of gem localities with descriptions of the mines and mining operations, as well as 24 photos of gems
from Dr. Gbelins collection. Inset: One of the locality photos, taken by Dr. Gbelin, which shows the alluvial
mining of gems in Southeast Asia.

more of a pictorial, while the Photoatlas is more of 750 deposits worldwide, with color-coded designa-
a study book, he recalled (Berenblatt, 1991, p. 30). tions for the type of gem as well as its geologic envi-
But I am most proud of the Photoatlas, which I co- ronment. The text was presented in English, French,
authored with John Koivula. I would call it the German, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. The
crown of my work of investigation of inclusions in reverse side of the map contains 65 photos of gems
gemstones. and gem localities, with descriptions of the mines,
Dr. Gbelin also contributed entire chapters to mining operations, and the gems themselves.
other authors books. A few examples include: The This world map was one of Dr. Gbelins proud-
Great Book of Jewels (Heiniger and Heiniger, 1974); est achievements. Its the work that gave me the
Diamonds: Myth, Magic, and Reality (Legrand, greatest pleasure to accomplish, he recalled
1980); Edelsteine und ihre Mineralieneinschlsse (Berenblatt, 1991, p. 30). It was just like traveling
(Weibel, 1985); and Emeralds of Pakistan (Kazmi around the world, though I never left my desk in
and Snee, 1989). my living room. Traveling and visiting these
deposits always gave me great pleasure.
World Map of Gem Deposits. In 1988, Dr. Gbelin It remains the most complete gem deposit map
published a remarkable reference guide, the World ever produced, and can be seen in jewelry stores and
Map of Gem Deposits (figure 12). The map, which gemological laboratories around the world.
took two years to produce, was designed to com-
memorate the 50th anniversary of the Swiss Articles. During his career, Dr. Gbelin published
Gemmological Society in 1992. It shows more than more than 250 scholarly articles (visit www.gia.edu/

312 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
gemsandgemology and click on G&G Data Over the years, Dr. Gbelin delivered hundreds of
Depository for a complete list). He was a frequent lectures on various aspects of gemstones for both
contributor to a host of gemological journals from scientific and popular audiences (figure 13). Some
Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, were at regularly occurring events, such as the
India, Switzerland, and the U.S. annual meetings of the Swiss Gemmological
Dr. Gbelins longest affiliation, however, was Society and the biennial International Gem-
with Gems & Gemology. From 1940 to 2003, he mological Conference. Other speaking venues
contributed 54 articles to the journal. Dr. Gbelins included the American Gem Society Conclaves in
first report, Differences between Burma and North America, the CISGEM Gemmologia Europa
Siam rubies, featured inclusion photomicro- in Milan, the Gemmological Association of Great
graphs and engaging, descriptive text. This began Britain meetings, the 1981 International Gemolo-
a popular six-year series in Gems & Gemology on gical Symposium in Los Angeles (figure 14), and
inclusions in gemstones, which in 1953 was com- assemblies of gemological associations and trade
piled into the book Inclusions as a Means of shows worldwide. His superabundance of enthusi-
Gemstone Identification. His last contribution to asm (Ruff, 1948, p. 125) was infectious for the
Gems & Gemology, which he co-authored with many thousands who attended his lectures and
six other researchers, was Poudretteite: A rare courses over the decades.
gem species from the Mogok Valley (Smith et al., Dr. Gbelin took pains to combine scientific rea-
2003). The article was published in the Spring soning with ethics to protect consumer confidence
2003 edition, a special issue celebrating Dr. and promote the economic vitality of the gem and
Gbelins 90th birthday. jewelry trade. He invariably stressed that the con-
sequence of applied gemology should culminate
The Dr. Edward J. Gbelin Most Valuable Article
Award. Dr. Gbelin also exerted a lasting influence
on the gemological literature with his support of
Gems & Gemologys annual Most Valuable Article Figure 13. In this photo from a 1967 Swiss Gemmolo-
Award. The award was established in 1982 to recog- gical Society meeting, Dr. Gbelin uses a pair of
nize outstanding contributions, as voted by the jour- models to demonstrate crystal structure. His dia-
nals readers. (Dr. Gbelin himself received an grams on the blackboard illustrate refractive indices
award for his 1982 article The gemstones of of various gem materials. Photo by Jrg H. Meyer.
Pakistan: Emerald, ruby, and spinel.) In 1996, GIA
officials approached the eminent gemologist about
renaming the award in his honor. Dr. Gbelin
accepted, and 1997 marked the first Dr. Edward J.
Gbelin Most Valuable Article Award.
Dr. Gbelins generosity went beyond just lend-
ing his name and prestige to the award. Each year,
he insisted on writing a check that would cover the
prize money. In 2003, he established a fund that
would be used in perpetuity to provide a financial
award for the winning authors and thus promote
continuing excellence in gemological writing.

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATOR AND MENTOR

Dr. Gbelins charm, elegance and intellect com-

bined with an artists eye, a poets heart and a
philosophers approach to life has instilled in him a
unique talent to convey complex topics in a manner
which is readily understood and the ability to inject
others with his infectious adoration of gemstones.
Gbelin Gem Lab, 2005

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 313
 searcher, Dr. Gbelin served as an inspiration and
mentor to countless gemologists for more than six
decades.

INTREPID EXPLORER
His academic pursuits made Edward J. Gbelin a
scholar, but his travels to hundreds of gem localities
and trading centers across the globe for nearly 50
years gave him rare practical experience (figure 15).
Dr. Gbelin relished these extensive, often rugged
expeditions to remote locales. Indeed, he was as
Figure 14. In addition to speaking on inclusions at the comfortable at a gem mine in mud-splashed khakis
1981 International Gemological Symposium hosted as he was in a freshly pressed tuxedo at a sympho-
by GIA in Los Angeles, Dr. Gbelin also participated
ny. He and his wife, Idda, also journeyed the world
in this panel with other prominent gemologists. From
as tourists interested in art and culture, to places
right to left: Richard T. Liddicoat, Edward J. Gbelin,
Edward Tiffany, Bert Krashes, and G. Robert such as Afghanistan, Egypt, Greece, and South
Crowningshield. Photo GIA. Africa. Sometimes they were accompanied by one
of their five daughters, all of whom became world
travelers themselves.
in ethical behavior for the benefit of the clientele Dr. Gbelin was often one of the first gemolo-
(Hays, 1989, p. 20). gists to write a detailed study about a major gem
As far as gemology was concerned, Dr. Gbelin locality. Many were classic sources, such as
had no competitors, only colleagues. His work with Mogok and the jadeite mines of Upper Burma (see,
the Swiss Gemmological Society illustrates his ded- e.g., Gbelin, 19641965, 1965, 1966c, 1978); the
ication to training other gemologists. Each summer ancient turquoise mines of Iran (see, e.g., Gbelin,
he would devote one or (in later years) two weeks to 1966a,b); the gem-rich island of Ceylon (Gbelin,
teaching gemology at the national meeting. Then 1968); and Zabargad, the ancient peridot island in
he would travel to each of the regional chapters and the Red Sea (Gbelin, 1981). Among the newer
lecture on a specific gem or other gem-related topic. localities he documented were the emerald and
He could conduct the courses equally well in alexandrite deposits at Lake Manyara in Tanzania
English, French, German, or Italian. (Gbelin, 1974b, 1976), and later the Merelani
His friend and colleague from the Swiss tanzanite mines in that same country (Gbelin
Gemmological Society, Daniel Gallopin, recently and Weibel, 1976); the tsavorite mines in Kenya
marveled that Dr. Gbelin could give an hour-long (Gbelin, 1975; Gbelin and Weibel, 1975); the
lecture (in perfect French) illustrated with 100 emerald, ruby, spinel, and topaz areas of Pakistan
inclusion slides and accurately identify all the (Gbelin, 1982; Gbelin et al., 1986); and the sap-
obscure mineral inclusions without any notes or phires of Andranondambo, Madagascar (Gbelin,
script. Dr. Gbelin exemplified the Universal 1996; Gbelin and Peretti, 1997).
Spirit, said Mr. Gallopin (pers. comm., 2005). It For nearly 50 years, he repeatedly visited the
was not enough that he knew and could state the most important gem sources on five continents,
scientific details accurately, but he could also say it examining the inclusions in gemstones and field-
and write it in the proper manner. collecting or purchasing material for subsequent
Even as he limited his appearances in later investigations back in his Lucerne laboratory. The
years, Dr. Gbelin still maintained an avid corre- knowledge he acquired from his many journeys to
spondence with fellow gemologists around the gem deposits in Asia, Africa, North and South
world. Colleagues, including many of the authors America, and Australia appeared in his books, arti-
of this article, have retained those letters, which cles, lectures, and films.
are unique in their professional wisdom, kindness, Not only did Edward Gbelin have a passion
and encouragement. Just as the legendary Profs. for the photomicrography of gemstone inclusions,
Michel and Schlossmacher helped guide his own but he also mastered landscape, still life, and
professional development as a gemological re- action photography, as well as motion picture

314 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
 Figure 15. Over the course of more than 50
years, Dr. Gbelins travels took him to
hundreds of gem localities and trading cen-
ters across the globe. Upper left: Purchasing
rubies in Mogok, Burma, 1963 (photo by
Marie-Helen Gbelin Boehm). Upper right:
Buying gems in Bangkok with C. Supanya,
1970 (photo by Daniela Gbelin Strub).
Lower left: Sailing in 1980 to the oldest
known source of peridot, the Red Sea island
of Zabargad (photo by Peter Bancroft).

filming (see the Filmmaker section below). Figure 16. After washing of the illam (gem-bearing grav-
During these trips, he excelled at capturing on film els), miners in Sri Lanka examine them for gem rough.
the occurrence, mining, and recovery of gems at Today, these time-honored recovery methods are still
their source (figure 16). What comes through most used by many gem miners in Sri Lanka and elsewhere.
vividly in Dr. Gbelins travel photography, how- Photo by Edward J. Gbelin, from the early 1960s.
ever, is his fondness for people and their unique
cultures.
As a gem collector and, for more than 30 years,
the co-owner and president of the Gbelin group of
jewelry stores, Dr. Gbelin was also a major buyer
of fine gemstones for nearly five decadesa unique
situation for a research gemologist. One notable
incident occurred during a single 24-hour visit to
Rangoon, Burma, in 1964. Dr. Gbelin later
recounted, They showed me their goods . . .
Burmese rubies and sapphires and spinels, and
whatever the heart could ask for, and I just pur-
chased like that. . . . I purchased for $2 million that
day between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (Gbelin,
2001).

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 315
DEVELOPMENT OF PRACTICAL the Institute, and Robert Shipley granted him per-
GEM-TESTING INSTRUMENTS mission to develop a similar instrument. The GIA
Edward J. Gbelins accomplishments in instru- unit used an incandescent bulb (producing yellow-
ment development, though typically overshadowed ish light) that was covered by a blue filter to simu-
by his famed inclusion research and literary works, late natural daylight. To improve the accuracy of
stand alone as monuments to his innovative genius. diamond color grading, Dr. Gbelin utilized a day-
Much of Dr. Gbelins early research was performed light-equivalent fluorescent tube and created a
using instruments he invented or improved on dur- trough with slots in which ring-mounted diamonds
ing the 1940s and 50s. Gem-testing equipment was could be inserted in the proper position for color
not readily available in those days, and Dr. Gbelin grading. Like most of the instruments he designed,
often recognized a need and filled it by developing a the Koloriskop incorporated elements of practicality
particular instrument. This impulse, he later and ease of use.
recounted, grew out of his student days at GIA:
The Detectoscope. Dr. Gbelin also made improve-
I never had [seen] any of these instruments. Id ments to the Detectoscope (figure 17C), an instru-
never seen a Diamondscope or other instru- ment first created by Prof. Michel and Gustav Riedl
ments [GIA] had developed. And that was a great in the mid-1920s (Eppler and Eppler, 1934) to exam-
experience for me. So these were my first activi-
ties when I returned to Switzerland, to improve ine the absorption of light in a gemstone when
instruments. (Gbelin, 2001) placed over filters of different colors or a lumines-
cence filter. A magnifying lens and a dichroscope
Back in Lucerne, Dr. Gbelin was full of enthu- could also be inserted into a special holder in the
siasm, and soon gemological instruments began to original Detectoscope (Michel, 1929). Dr. Gbelin
emerge from his workshop. Many of the following added a Chelsea color filter, a daylight filter, and to
instrument descriptions were from a January 20, further improve the instruments use in combina-
1983, letter to one of the authors (REK) from Dr. tion with a dichroscope, a milk glass diffuser
Gbelin, while others mentioned in the last para- (Pough, 1949).
graph of this section were cited in a curriculum
vitae written by Dr. Gbelin in the early 1980s; The Gemmoscope. This darkfield illuminator
copies of both documents are archived at GIAs equipped binocular microscope (figure 17D) was
Richard T. Liddicoat Library and Information devised by Dr. Gbelin in 1942. He drew upon
Center. newly developed Zeiss optics and improved the
darkfield illumination from a GIA Diamondscope.
The Horizontal Immersion Microscope. One of the Not only was this microscope useful for the obser-
existing instruments Dr. Gbelin modified and vation and photography of inclusions, but it was
improved was the horizontal immersion micro- also compatible with Prof. Michels pearl-testing
scope (figure 17A), which he later used to take device, enabling the visual examination of half- or
many of the more than 250 photomicrographs that fully drilled pearls to determine whether they were
appeared in his 1953 classic Inclusions as a Means natural or cultured. The Gemmoscope even fea-
of Gemstone Identification. The main body of this tured an ergonomically designed base for resting the
instrument had been invented by his friend and col- hands and forearms during use. It is interesting to
league, Prof. Karl Schlossmacher. With the help of note that the logo at the top of Dr. Gbelins per-
a few changes and additional accessories, Dr. sonal stationery was a stylized depiction of the
Gbelin later wrote in his 1983 letter to REK, it microscope objectives on the Gemmoscope posi-
became a very efficient photomicroscope. tioned over a round brilliantcut gemstone.

The Koloriskop. The first instrument Dr. Gbelin The Cut-Measuring Device. That same year, Dr.
designed and had built was the Koloriskop, a self- Gbelin created the Schliffmessgert fr Edelsteine
contained device that provided a controlled light (gemstone cut measuring) diamond gauge (figure
source for color grading diamonds (figure 17B). His 17E). This innovative handheld device was
design was directly inspired by GIAs Diamolite (an designed to measure the facet angles and propor-
early version of the modern DiamondLite). Dr. tions of faceted diamonds. A mere 6.5 cm (2 1 2 in.)
Gbelin had first used the Diamolite as a student at in diameter, with a thickness of only 5 mm (316 in.),

316 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
 A

B C D

E F G

Figure 17. Dr. Gbelin developed a number of diagnostic gem-testing instruments during the 1940s and 50s, including:
(A) the horizontal immersion photomicroscope, (B) the Koloriskop, (C) the Detectoscope, (D) the Gemmoscope, (E) the
cut measuring device, (F) the Jewelers Spectroscope, and (G) an innovative device that allowed the user to magnify and
then photograph a gems spectrum. With the exception of photo E, which was taken by Harold & Erica Van Pelt, all the
other photos were commissioned or taken by Dr. Gbelin shortly after the development of the instrument.

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 317
it could be used to measure crown angles and pavil- unit during the 1951 Gemmological Exhibition
ion angles, as well as the girdle thickness, table in London. On the second day of the exhibition,
diameter, crown height, pavilion height, and total Dr. Gbelin and Dr. G. F. Herbert Smith of the
height of a cut gem. The back of the gauge listed Gemmological Association of Great Britain person-
two separate sets of proportionsboth the ally gave Queen Mary a special tour through the
Tolkowsky and Eppler cut calculationsfor handy event (Bruton, 1951).
reference. Along with his Swiss Army knife, Dr.
Gbelin carried this instrument with him almost Photographing Absorption Spectra. In addition to
everywhere he went. the Jewelers Spectroscope, Dr. Gbelin designed
another innovative device that allowed him to
The Gemmolux. In 1945, Dr. Gbelin designed the magnify and then photograph a gems spectrum
Gemmolux (Gbelin, 1945), a small, portable light (figure 17G). Dr. Gbelin was keen on being able to
source for examining gemstones. This instrument photograph spectra, and since such instruments
had built-in darkfield illumination and could be were not available, he developed his own.
fitted with a removable loupe or dichroscope. The
Gemmolux was especially handy when the user Zeiss Spectrometer Optical Bench. Working with
was buying gems away from the office. the German optical company Zeiss, Dr. Gbelin
developed an ingenious optical bench spectrome-
The Jewelers Spectroscope. One of Dr. Gbelins ter setup, whereby two spectra could be observed
influential mentors and teachers was B. W. simultaneously, one above the other. This was
Anderson, the father of gem spectroscopy, accomplished by using a comparison prism. This
whom the young Edward Gbelin met on his instrument was particularly useful for checking
return from the U.S. in 1939. Anderson inspired in the spectrum of an unknown gem against those of
Dr. Gbelin a great appreciation for the diagnostic standard reference stones (Pough, 1949). Not only
value of spectra in gem identification. In 1950, Dr. could the spectra be observed through an eyepiece
Gbelin invented the worlds first desk-model lens apparatus, but at the same time a 35 mm
spectroscope unit (figure 17F) designed solely for camera mounted perpendicular to the eyepiece
use with rough and cut gemstones (Bruton, 1951; could take photographs of the spectra.
E.J. Gbelin, pers. comm., 1983). Prior to the intro-
duction of this instrument, gemologists had to rely Other Instruments. Dr. Gbelin also developed a
on handheld spectroscopes that were designed for custom-made polariscope, suspension equipment
use in other fields. for specific gravity determination using heavy liq-
Dr. Gbelins spectroscope unit featured a clip uids, an electrical conductivity meter to differenti-
to hold the stone and a light built into the base of ate treated blue diamonds from natural-color type
the instrument, which enabled the gemologist to IIb blue diamonds, a fluoroscope for measuring flu-
position the gem and adjust the light intensity orescence emission lines, and an apparatus for
(with a rheostat knob on the side of the instru- examining the absorption spectra of gemstones
ment) so as to bring out the clearest spectrum pos- while they were exposed to long-wave ultraviolet
sible. The spectroscope tube could be raised to per- radiation. In addition, he was particularly adept at
mit observation by reflected light. The design also getting the most out of commercially available
allowed delicate opening and closing of the slit. In instruments. One example was his own Erb &
addition, the unit sat on a work surface and was Gray refractometer, which he mounted on a spe-
inclined at such an angle that the gemologist could cially designed stand that had a compact sodium
sit comfortably for long periods of time while light source, providing sharper refractive index
examining spectra and still have both hands free to readings (Pough, 1949).
take notes or draw the spectrum being observed. Some of Dr. Gbelins state-of-the-art instru-
Dr. Gbelin even added a forward-thinking ments, including the Koloriskop and Jewelers
ergonomic touch: special eyepiece lenses that Spectroscope, became important tools for gemolo-
could be used to lengthen the blue end of the spec- gists around the world. Yet the place where these
trum and accommodate an observer who wore devices made their greatest contribution was in
eyeglasses. Lucerne, both at his personal home laboratory and
Dr. Gbelin debuted his Jewelers Spectroscope at the Gbelin Gem Lab.

318 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
ROLE IN DEVELOPING
THE GBELIN GEM LAB
In 1923, not long after young Edward J. Gbelin
expressed his desire to become a jeweler, his father
established a small but well-equipped gem-testing
laboratory. This facility was staffed by Charles
Salquin, whom the senior Gbelin also had sent to
study with Prof. Michel. Having opened two years
before the London Laboratory, it is credited with
being one of the worlds first privately owned gemo-
logical laboratories (Gbelin, 2001). The lab was
added on to the firms Lucerne headquarters (figure
18) to ensure consumer confidence in the authentic-
ity of gems purchased from the Gbelin jewelry
stores, at a time when the undisclosed sale of cul-
tured pearls and synthetic rubies posed a major Figure 18. This photo provides a glimpse of the early
threat to the international jewelry industry. Gbelin Gemological Laboratory, circa 1930s. Note
In late 1939, after completing his studies at GIA, the gemological property tables, which were hand-
Dr. Gbelin assumed leadership of the laboratory. written by Dr. Gbelin when he was a 19-year-old
He immediately began acquiring more gem-testing student at the University of Zurich. Courtesy of the
instruments, and for many years it was considered Edward J. Gbelin family.
the best-equipped gemological laboratory in the
world (figure 19):
tors, and museums were sending their gems to
The main laboratory . . . is probably without Lucerne for reports (150 Years of Gbelin, 2004).
peer. Certainly, the GIA laboratories and the fine Today the Gbelin Gem Lab is a leader in ruby, sap-
London Laboratory do not have the full variety
phire, and emerald locality-of-origin determinations.
of equipment that the Gbelin Laboratory
boasts. Here Dr. Gbelin maintains X-ray
diffraction and radiographic equipment; a quartz
spectrograph; a variety of spectroscopes and Figure 19. This represents only some of the gem-test-
spectroscope light sources, including a versatile ing equipment at the Gbelin Gemological
light and spectroscope mount of his own design; Laboratory from 1946 to 1952. For many decades, it
a variety of ultraviolet light sources; separate
was the regarded as the worlds best-equipped gem-
balances for weighing and S.G. determinations;
petrographic and binocular microscopes of testing lab. Courtesy of the Edward J. Gbelin family.
recent vintage (and the only darkfield-illumina-
tor-equipped binocular microscopes we saw in
European laboratories); and many other instru-
ments. Each of the three refractometers, includ-
ing one of [only] three Rayner has made with a
diamond hemisphere, is equipped with its indi-
vidual monochromatic sodium light source.
(Liddicoat, 1961, p. 138)

After taking over the laboratory, Dr. Gbelin

began issuing written gemological reports for the
customers of the Gbelin jewelry stores and gem
dealers (Gbelin, 2001). These included diamond
grading reports (figure 20), based on the system he
had learned while studying at GIA, as well as locali-
ty-of-origin reports for colored stones.
By the early 1960s, demand for the Gbelin labs
locality-of-origin services was growing, and a num-
ber of auction houses, insurance companies, collec-

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 319
 Through his publications, lectures, and extensive
correspondence, he broadcast the importance of
these advanced analytical tools to the international
gemological community.

LEADER OF THE GBELIN

GROUP OF JEWELRY STORES
The Gbelin watch and jewelry company thrived
during the 1920s and early 30s, opening stores in
New York, St. Moritz, and Zurich, successively (The
House of Gbelin 18541954, 1954). Under the
senior Eduard Gbelins leadership, the firm weath-
ered the Great Depression and World War II. When
the patriarch died suddenly in 1945, Dr. Gbelin and
Figure 20. By 1940, Dr. Gbelins expertise enabled
his younger brother Walter took over the family
the family firm to issue diamond grading reports. This business. Walter was the watchmaker, while Dr.
certificate, signed by him, is dated May 28, 1940. Gbelin was the driving force in the gem and jewel-
ry realm. He led the companys gem purchasing
activities, buying millions of dollars worth of fine
While Dr. Gbelins early inclusion investiga- stones from various sources (figure 21). He also com-
tions relied primarily on the microscope, he later bined his gem expertise and literary flair to pen
championed the application of advanced technolo- Gbelin company promotional books and jewelry
gies in his laboratorys inclusion analyses and catalogs. During these years, the firms reputation
locality-of-origin determinations. As early as the benefited from articles about Dr. Gbelins gemolog-
mid-1960s, he began having lapidaries grind down ical work and expertise that appeared in many popu-
rough and faceted research samples to expose min- lar magazines and newspapers (see, e.g., figure 22). In
eral inclusions in order to have them analyzed by the words of the late Richard T. Liddicoat (1961, p.
university scientists with an electron microprobe 138), Dr. Gbelins enthusiastic appreciation of the
or by X-ray diffraction, methods that allowed beauty of gemstones and fine jewelry craftsmanship,
definitive identification. He also had microthermal as well as his knowledge of both, permitted him to
analyses performed on fluid inclusions (Gbelin increase jewelry sales rapidly.
and Koivula, 1986). UV-visible spectroscopy has With the two brothers at the helm, the postwar
been used in the Gbelin lab for origin determina- years saw continued growth of the Gbelin compa-
tions (particularly of sapphires) since the 1960s ny, which boasted nine retail stores by the time Dr.
(see, e.g., Hnni, 1990; Schwieger, 1990). As tech- Gbelin retired from the business. Under the leader-
nology advanced, lab gemologists were able to use ship of his nephew, Thomas Gbelin, the Gbelin
features in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum group of watch and jewelry stores, the gem laborato-
and later in the near- and mid-infrared regions. ry, and associated companies continue to flourish.
Origin-of-color determination in fancy-color dia-
monds using spectral analyses was also an interest
and a specialty of Dr. Gbelins. THE DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN
After his official retirement in 1976 until his GEM COLLECTION
passing in 2005, Dr. Gbelin remained a forceful Dr. Gbelin was a world-class collector of many
advocate of integrating advanced technologies into objects, including books; antiques; paintings;
gemological research. These included energy-disper- Russian icons; stamps; Greek, Egyptian, Roman,
sive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis, Raman Burmese, and Nepalese artifacts; andnot surpris-
spectroscopy, and even laser ablationinductively inglygemstones. His main gem collection,
coupled plasmamass spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS). acquired over a period of more than 70 years from
Once a particular analysis had been conducted on gem dealers and on-site at gem localities around the
an inclusion or the host gem, Dr. Gbelin would world, comprises approximately 2,700 gemstones,
incorporate the data into his ongoing research. at a total weight of some 24,000 carats, representing

320 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
 Figure 21. This circa
1963 Gbelin Atelier
bracelet features excep-
tional natural-color
Mogok rubies pur-
chased in Burma by
Dr. Gbelin in the
early 1960s. Courtesy
of JOEB Enterprises;
photo Harold &
Erica Van Pelt.

more than 250 different gem varieties and mineral 1. The Geographic Collection. This is the largest
species (Boehm and Morelli, 2005). of the four major collections, with more than
When viewing any of the four main collections 1,000 gemstones from Brazil, India, Kenya,
(see, e.g., figure 23), one is immediately impressed Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar
with the fact that there are as many as seven exam- (figure 24), Namibia, Nepal, Sri Lanka,
ples of each gemstone type. The vast majority of Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, the United
these gems are faceted. He arranged the main collec- States, and Zimbabwe. The total weight is
tion into four separate categories: more than 10,000 carats.

2. The Species Collection. This includes varieties

of beryl, corundum, feldspar, fluorite, garnet,
Figure 22. This 1956 photo of Dr. Gbelin sorting gem- opal, quartz, sapphirine, spinel, topaz, tourma-
stones prior to setting into jewelry at the Gbelin line, and zircon. The total weight of the more
company appeared in the weekly Swiss newspaper
insert, Wochenbltter (Zurich).
Figure 23. Dr. Gbelin arranged his main gemstone
collection into four categories (geographic, species,
rare, and collector gems), comprising approximately
2,700 stones, at a total weight of some 24,000 carats.
Shown here are a few of the more than 70 boxes in the
main collection. Photo by Robert E. Kane.

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 321
 38 different mineral species, from apatite to
zoisite. The total weight is approximately
3,500 carats.
4. The Collector Items Collection. Many of the
gem species in the Rare Gemstone Collection
are also represented in this fourth collection,
with more than 95 additional species; samples
range from anglesite to zincite. It contains just
over 300 gems for a total weight of over 2,000
carats.

Among the highlights of the Edward J. Gbelin

Gem Collection are:
420 pieces from Sri Lanka, including a 6.22 ct
ruby, an 18.86 ct sillimanite, and a 13.23 ct
violet taaffeite
290 pieces from Brazil, including a 16.88 ct
deep-red tourmaline and six different colors of
Paraba tourmaline
215 pieces from Myanmar (Burma), including a
3.16 ct Mogok ruby, a 9.98 ct red spinel, and a
4.02 ct violet taaffeite (see figure 24, bottom
right)
The largest gemstone in the collection, a
100.99 ct morganite from Minas Novas, Brazil

Figure 24. Included in this 1993 photo are some of the

In addition to the main collections, there are
many fine Burmese gemstones in Dr. Gbelins collec-
tion. By vertical columns, from top to bottom: several important specialty collections, comprising
Column 1 (far left)16.55 ct danburite, 14.18 ct several thousand gems, which are organized under
kornerupine, 5.13 ct tourmaline, 6.23 ct citrine, and the headings of Ornamental, Synthetics, Treated
3.15 ct amblygonite. Column 28.08 ct scapolite, Stones, Imitations, Opals, Organics, Testing, and
15.39 ct tourmaline, 8.98 ct aquamarine, 10.13 ct zir- Inclusion Research. These study and display collec-
con, and 4.62 ct apatite. Column 325.30 ct danbu- tions contain virtually all materials ever cut for use
rite, 10.77 ct chrysoberyl, 11.31 ct apatite, 8.38 ct as gemstones in the above categories. They contain
topaz, 4.84 ct zircon, and 1.69 ct chrysoberyl. Column at least one sample of each type of gem, and nearly
4 (far right)11.79 ct sillimanite, 6.78 ct amethyst, all treated gems, synthetics, and imitations (in
5.51 ct fluorite, 9.09 ct zircon, and 4.02 ct taaffeite.
many cases, there are several to dozens of each).
Note that the 15.39 ct tourmaline, 10.77 ct
Aside from the sheer beauty and rarity of the
chrysoberyl, 5.13 ct tourmaline, and 1.69 ct
chrysoberyl are part of the permanent collection at the gems, this is one of the most important gemological
British Museum (Natural History) London, and were research collections ever assembled. Much of its
part of a study Dr. Gbelin and one of the authors research value stems from its completeness and the
undertook (Kane, 1993). Photo by Shane F. McClure, known provenances, but it is also remarkable for
Robert E. Kane. the thoroughness of the documentation. Many gem-
stones in the various collections were used for
research reported in Dr. Gbelins various publica-
than 750 gems in this collection is approxi-
tions, as well as in his teaching seminars over the
mately 7,800 carats.
last six decades. In addition, among his records are
3. The Rare Gemstone Collection. This consists much unpublished data collected from many of
of just under 500 gems, representing more than these gems. The fact that he personally obtained

322 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
many of these specimens at their sourcesin large a practice then unheard of in Switzerland, many of
part before modern treatment techniques existed the firms Swiss competitors bitterly objected and
greatly enhances our understanding of gems from began planning legal action. Learning of this, the
the various localities. senior Gbelin persuaded the jewelers to join him
The main gem collection and significant portions instead. He convinced them that forming an associ-
of the specialty collections are now part of the GIA ation and studying diamond grading and gem test-
Museum, where they will be used for public display, ing, in seminars taught by his eldest son, would
research, education, and as a source of inspiration for actually benefit their businesses (Gbelin, 2001).
future generations of gemologists and other scien- The new organization, established in 1942 and
tists. As part of the overall purchase, GIA also modeled after the American Gem Society, was
acquired Dr. Gbelins vast collection of color slides named the Swiss Gemmological Society.
and literature reference files, as well as a number of The one condition Eduard M. Gbelin imposed
important early gemological instruments. was that his son could never be president of the
organization, only an adviser. And so for the first 40
years, until 1982, Dr. Gbelin served as scientific
ESTABLISHMENT OF TRADE AND counselor to the Swiss Gemmological Society.
GEMOLOGICAL ORGANIZATIONS Beginning in the early 1940s, the new Society held
An active member of virtually every gemological annual five-day educational meetings, during which
association in the world, Dr. Gbelin also founded Dr. Gbelin gave lectures and taught hands-on prac-
or co-founded several professional and trade organi- tical diamond grading and gem testing (figure 25),
zations, with the vision of fostering professional generously sharing gemstones from his extraordi-
education in gemology, as well as the ethical pro- nary collection and presenting his latest inclusion
motion and sale of gemstones. He contributed his research (Pough, 1949). He would dazzle the audi-
vast energy and intellect to these associations, ence with his colorful and didactic inclusion slides.
which continue to thrive. As the decades passed, and gemology became
increasingly complex, the annual teaching sessions
Swiss Gemmological Society. This organization, of were expanded to two weeks. Even after retiring
which Edward Gbelin was a co-founder, emerged from the post of scientific counselor in 1982, until
over a controversy. When the Gbelin company October 2004, he continued to give lectures and
began issuing grading reports on diamonds in 1940, courses at the Societys annual meetings.

Figure 25. Dr. Gbelin

served as scientific
counselor to the Swiss
Gemmological Society
from 1942 to 1982. In
this 1940s photo, he is
seen standing at the
back of the classroom
giving personal instruc-
tion to one of the atten-
dees of the organiza-
tions annual five-day
educational meetings,
which were held in vari-
ous Swiss cities.

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 323
International Gemmological Conference. Dr. Gbe- International Colored Gemstone Association. Dr.
lin also helped found the International Gemmological Gbelin was also a founding organizer of the non-
Conference (IGC), one of the longest running aca- profit International Colored Gemstone Association
demic gatherings in the field today. The conference (ICA), established in 1984. Headquartered in New
was an outgrowth of the early Bureau International York City with bureaus in Idar-Oberstein and Israel,
pour la Bijouterie, Orfvrerie, Argenterie (BIBOA), ICA is a trade association that has more than 500
which eventually became the present-day CIBJO, members in 45 countries worldwide.
the World Jewellery Confederation. At a 1951
nomenclature meeting, Dr. Gbelin and fellow Dr. Eduard Gbelin Association for Research and
BIBOA members such as Prof. Schlossmacher and Identification of Precious Stones. In 2003, Dr.
B. W. Anderson agreed to gather regularly to share Gbelin co-founded, with other members of the
their latest gemological research, thereby establish- Swiss gem trade and scientific community, what is
ing the framework of the IGC (figure 26). now known as the Dr. Eduard Gbelin Association
The first International Gemmological Con- for Research and Identification of Precious Stones.
ference took place in October 1952 in Locarno, This nonprofit organization, based in Lucerne, was
Switzerland. At this inaugural assembly, Dr. Gbe- established to initiate, promote, and support gemo-
lin was joined by seven other leading European logical research projects.
researchers. Initially an annual event, the IGC
became biennial after 1958, held in a different coun-
try alternating between Europe and the rest of the FILMMAKER
world. An accomplished filmmaker (figure 27), Dr. Gbelin
Dr. Gbelin regularly attended the IGC confer- narrated and produced a number of high-quality 16
ences for nearly 50 years. He remained a member mm films, which were shown to lecture groups
of the executive committee through the 29th IGC, around the world and in public theaters in Lucerne
held in September 2004 in Wuhan, China, which and elsewhere. One of them, Mogok, Valley of
was attended by delegates invited from 33 coun- Rubies, (1963) appeared in German, French, and
tries on six continents. English and was sold internationally as a videotape.
His other films include:
Ceylon, Fairyland of Gemstones (German,
Figure 26. Dr. Gbelin and B. W. Anderson, seen in a English, and French versions)
lighthearted exchange at the 1951 BIBOA Congress in
Ceylon, Island of the Lion Folk (German)
London, were two of the founders of the International
Gemmological Conference the following year. Jade: Prehistoric Tool Material, Present-Day
Gem Material (German and French versions)
Sri Lanka: Pearl of the Tropics, Island of
Gems (German and French versions)
Ruby Mining in Burma (German and French
versions)

In addition to the films he produced, Dr. Gbelin

shot hundreds of hours of raw footage during world-
wide travels to gem deposits. Occasionally, he would
film other aspects of a country that interested him.
One entire reel of film captures a traditional Burmese
folk dance accompanied by native music. Part of this
footage is featured in Mogok, Valley of Rubies.

HONORS AND AWARDS

In recognition of his achievements, Dr. Gbelin
received many awards, honorary memberships, and
commendations. Among the most prestigious are:

324 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
 Honorary memberships in the gemological
associations of many different countries,
including Australia, Germany, Great Britain,
Japan, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, his native
Switzerland, and the United States
First Research Member of GIA (1943)
Research Diploma of the Gemmological
Association of Great Britain (1957)
Honorary Professor at the University of
Stellenbosch in South Africa (1973)
Jewelers of America International Award for
Jewelry Leadership (1980; figure 28)
First honorary member of the American Gem
Trade Association (1982)
ICA Lifetime Achievement Award (1991)
The Medal of the City of Paris (1993)
The American Gem Society Robert M. Shipley
Award (1994)
GIA League of Honor (2003)

Figure 27. Dr. Gbelin, shown filming in Mogok in

ENDURING LEGACY 1963, shot hundreds of hours of footage from his trav-
Long after he had revolutionized gemology, els and produced several gem-related films. This photo
Edward J. Gbelin was voted one of JCK maga- was taken by his daughter Marie-Helen Gbelin
zines Gemstone People of the Century (Roskin, Boehm, with whom he published the 1967 book
1999). Yet even into the 21st century, until his Burma, Land der Pagoden.
passing on March 15, 2005, one day shy of his
92nd birthday, Dr. Gbelin remained closely
involved in the science he had helped pioneer (fig- Figure 28. Among his many honors, Dr. Gbelin
ure 29). He still exuded palpable enthusiasm when received the Jewelers of America International Award for
Jewelry Leadership in 1980. (Harry Winston also received
discussing his gem collection, a recent trip, a fine
this award, posthumously, that same year.) Presenting
gemstone, or a new discovery. Dr. Gbelins abid-
the award is former JA president Michael Roman.
ing passion for gemology was captured in these
words, which hung on the wall in his home labora-
tory for many years:

The job of a laboratory trade gemologist is an inter-

esting occupationwe seldom see the same thing
twice and feel constantly the challenge or possibility
of something new, unusual or demanding.

Dr. Gbelin will be remembered not only for

his monumental contributions to gemology over
more than seven decades, but also for his extraor-
dinary humanity. Despite the often solitary nature
of his research, he touched the lives of thousands
around the world. Whether you were his colleague,
his friend, his student, or simply one of the thou-
sands of people around the globe who once met
him, you would undoubtedly remember his cour-
teous way, his warmth and quick wit, and how he

A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005 325
 Figure 29. Dr. Edward J.
Gbelin had an enthusi-
asm that never dimin-
ished, as evident in this
1997 photo of him riding
along the Ngorongoro
Crater, Tanzania, at the
age of 84. This gem and
animal safari trip was
organized by the
Gemmological
Association of Great
Britain. Photo by Eric
Van Valkenburg.

treated even the youngest colleague with respect. of his grandchildren have followed in his footsteps,
Gem dealer David Atkinson said it well: He was one as a goldsmith and the other as a gemologist.
a 19th century gentleman, with 20th century Edward J. Gbelin has left behind an indelible
mobility. legacy through his writings and photomicrographs,
Dr. Gbelin and his wife of 51 years, Idda, had his laboratory, his gem collection, the instruments
five daughters and many grandchildren and great- he developed, the organizations he helped estab-
grandchildren. He instilled in them an appreciation lish, and the future generations of gemologists he
of nature, including gems and minerals. In fact, two will inspire.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The authors thank the Edward J.

Mr. Kane (finegemsintl@msn.com) is president and CEO Gbelin family for generously providing information, pho-
of Fine Gems International, Helena, Montana, and former tographs, and access to Dr. Gbelins personal laboratory
director of the Gbelin Gem Lab in Lucerne, Switzerland. and library. Thomas Gbelin kindly allowed the use of histori-
Mr. Boehm, Dr. Gbelins grandson, is president of JOEB cal photos from the Gbelin company. They also thank the
Enterprises and a former staff gemologist at the Gbelin following staff members of GIAs Richard T. Liddicoat
Gem Lab. Mr. Overlin is associate editor of Gems & Gemological Library and Information Center for their assis-
Gemology, and Ms. Dirlam is director of the Richard T. tance: Caroline Nelms, Ruth Patchick, Lynn Lewis, Valerie
Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center, at Power, and Kathleen Dillon. Richard W. Hughes of the AGTA
GIA in Carlsbad, California. Mr. Koivula is chief gemolo- Gemological Testing Center provided a comprehensive bibli-
gist at the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) ography. E. Alan Jobbins of Gem-A and Dr. Henry Hnni of
Gemological Testing Center, and co-author with Dr. the SSEF Swiss Gemmological Institute offered excellent sug-
Gbelin of the Photoatlas of Gemstone Inclusions. Mr. gestions. Charles Schiffman, who worked with Dr. Gbelin for
Smith is director of Identification Services at the GIA many years, provided helpful historical information. Tammy
Laboratory in New York and former director of the Reich of Fine Gems International is thanked for her unwaver-
Gbelin Gem Lab. ing assistance in the preparation of the final manuscript.

326 A GEMOLOGICAL PIONEER: DR. EDWARD J. GBELIN GEMS & GEMOLOGY WINTER 2005
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