Internal Features of Gemstones by Valentin Fejoz and Francoise Besset

Step into the world of gemstones, a journey filled with color and wonder. Inclusions bear witness to geological phenomena that occurred millions of years ago, long before life existed on Earth. Observing them is like traveling through time, uncovering the planet’s history across the ages. It is also a way to identify crystals so rare and beautiful that they are destined to grace the finest jewelry. From the Hellenistic era to the maharajas, kings and contemporary master jewelers, gemstones have fascinated humankind for millennia. As a gemology enthusiast, my focus has been drawn to inclusions and their observation under the microscope. Sometimes so astonishing, they go beyond the realm of identification and enter the sphere of pure artistry. It is both my admiration for nature’s marvels and my passion for science that inspired this project. A significant part of the work involved assembling a wide variety of minerals from Madagascar to Pakistan, from Brazil to Colombia, including Sri Lanka and China. The goal was to present a broad spectrum of inclusions in order to create ‘’Internal Features of Gemstones.” The microscope is an instrument accessible to all. With 45x magnification and the use of various lighting techniques, it becomes possible to observe nearly all the inclusions featured in this book and reach solid conclusions. At the beginning of the volume, Dr. Françoise Besset, a geologist, invites the reader to explore the mechanisms that lead to crystal formation, including extraordinary geological events such as diamonds being transported from great depths within the Earth by rapidly ascending, explosive magmas. With her ability to make complex processes accessible, Françoise guides us through the world of geology and minerals, enriched with anecdotes and accounts of remarkable gems.