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^^ The Journal of - Volume 29 No. 5/6 Gemmology January/April 2005 The Gemmological Association and Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain Gemmological Association and Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain 27 Greville Street, London EC1N 8TN Tel: +44 (0)20 7404 3334 • Fax: +44 (0)20 7404 8843 e-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.gem-a.info President: E A jobbins Vice-Presidents: N W Deeks, R A Howie, D G Kent, R K Mitchell Honorary Fellows: Chen Zhonghui, R A Howie, K Nassau Honorary Life Members: H Bank, D J Callaghan, E A Jobbins, J I Koivula, I Thomson, H Tillander Council: A T Collins - Chairman, S Burgoyne, T M J Davidson, S A Everitt, L Hudson, E A Jobbins, J Monnickendam, M J O'Donoghue, E Stern, P J Wates, V P Watson Members' Audit Committee: A J Allnutt, P Dwyer-Hickey, J Greatwood, B Jackson, L Music, J B Nelson, C H Winter Branch Chairmen: Midlands - G M Green, North East - N R Rose, North West -DM Brady, Scottish - B Jackson, South East - C H Winter, South West - R M Slater Examiners: A J Allnutt MSc PhD FGA, L Bartlett BSc MPhil FGA DCA, Chen Meihua BSc PhD FCA DGA, S Coelho BSc FCA DCA, Prof A T Collins BSc PhD, A G Good FCA DCA, D Gravier FGA, J Greatwood FGA, S Greatwood FGA DCA, G M Green FGA DGA, He Ok Chang FGA DGA, G M Howe FGA DGA, B Jackson FGA DGA, B Jensen BSc (Geol), T A Johne FGA, L Joyner PhD FGA, H Kitawaki FGA CGJ, Li Li Ping FGA DGA, M A Medniuk FGA DGA, T Miyata MSc PhD FGA, M Newton BSc DPhil, C J E Oldershaw BSc (Hons) FGA DGA, H L Plumb BSc FGA DCA, N R Rose FGA DGA, R D Ross BSc FGA DGA, J-C Rufli FGA, E Stern FGA DGA, S M Stocklmayer BSc (Hons) FGA, Prof I Sunagawa DSc, M Tilley GG FGA, R K Vartiainen FGA, P Vuillet a Ciles FGA, C M Woodward BSc FGA DGA, Yang Ming Xing FCA DGA The Journal of Cemmology Editor: Dr R R Harding Assistant Editors: M J O'Donoghue, P G Read Associate Editors: Dr C E S Arps (Leiden), G Bosshart (Horgen), Prof A T Collins (London), J Finlayson (Stoke-on-Trent), Dr J W Harris (Glasgow), Prof R A Howie (Derbyshire), Dr J M Ogden (London), Prof A H Rankin (Kingston upon Thames), Dr J E Shigley (Carlsbad), Prof D C Smith (Paris), E Stern (London), Prof I Sunagawa (Tokyo), Dr M Superchi (Milan) Production Editor: M A Burland Vol 29, No.5/6, January/April 2005 ISSN: 1355-4565 257 Tribute Professor Dr Edward Joseph Gübelin A tribute by E. Alan Jobbins It is with great sadness that we report became a mentor to generations of gem- the passing of Edward Gubelin on the 15 mologists (including this writer) through March 2005, only a day before his 92nd his enthusiastic writings and beautiful birthday. With his death the worldwide inclusion photomicrographs and topo- gemmological fraternity has lost a most graphical photographs, remarkable and inspirational scientific leader. He was a very early proponent of Edward Joseph Gubelin was born in the use of inclusions in the identification Lucerne, Switzerland, on the 16 March of gem materials and their treatments. He 1913 into a family of grands joailliers was widely respected internationally and where he was given great encouragement © Gemmological Association and Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain ISSN: 1 355-4565 257 by his father, even to the extent of being inception and was made an Honorary treated to a new winter overcoat when he Member in 1985. His seminal paper made a particularly successful jewellery 'Differences between Burma and Siam sale. Following his father's establishment rubies' using their distinctive inclusions of a private gemmological laboratory in appeared in Gems & Gemology as early as the early '30s, he continued its develop 1940. In 1953 his classic book Inclusions as ment with constant updating with the lat a Means of Gemstone Identification was est instrumentation. He initially studied published in monochrome, and he intro mineralogy and the history of art at duced a systematic classification of inclu Zürich. In 1936/37 in Vienna he worked sions based on their age relative to the under Professor H. Michel (who had host gemstone mineral. This was fol introduced 'microgemmology' some years lowed in 1974 by his inspirational book earlier) where his fascination for inclu Internal of World of Gemstones with colour sions in gemstones was nurtured. Later in plates. Over the decades he wrote over 1937 he was working with Professor K. two hundred papers - many of ground Schlossmacher in Idar Oberstein - a breaking research importance - and pub major lapidary centre. He also worked, lished in many international journals and began a firm friendship, with Basil with fine colour illustrations. Anderson at the London Gem Testing Laboratory. They shared a passion for In 1978 he met John Koivula at the Burmese gems and many fine specimens Gemological Institute of America in from A.C.D. Pain in Burma were then California; both had visions of a pro available and being marketed by Charles fusely illustrated work on gemstone Mathews in Hatton Garden in the 1940s inclusions, and the Photoatlas of Inclusions and '50s. in Gemstones was the outcome, published in 1986 - a significant work of science Edward gained his doctorate in 1938 and art. By 1989 gemmological research and his formal gemmological qualifica had moved on and planning for a second tion (GG) in residence at the Gemological volume of the Photoatlas was initiated on Institute of America in California in 1939, an excursion of the International and was the first recipient of their Gemmological Conference from the Alps Research Diploma. He was awarded his to Vesuvius in Italy. The work involved in FGA in 1946 with Distinction and the GA producing such a volume inevitably Research Diploma followed in 1957 for meant a long gestation period. The final his work on Inclusions that occur in text and photographs for this volume, gemstones'. which will contain a cornucopia of over 2000 plates of gemmological 'works of Edward was the founder member of a inclusion art' by the two gifted authors, small group of early laboratory special was completed in late 2004, but tragically ists, including B. W. Anderson (UK), O. Edward did not live to see their opus mag Dragsted (Denmark), G. Gobel (France), num, now expected to be published in K. Schlossmacher (Germany) and H. late 2005. His interest and comprehension Tillander (Finland), who met in various of art history continued throughout his European countries to discuss ongoing life, and he was eager to take opportuni problems facing the gemstone industry, ties to visit art galleries on his journeys such as synthetic corundums and spinels. around the world. In 1999 his popular These annual meetings widened in scope book Gemstones: Symbols of Beauty and and developed in the early 1950s into the Power, co-authored with Franz-Xavier International Gemmological Conference. Erni, appeared in German, followed by Edward was an active participant from its an English edition in 2000. Aimed at a J. Cemm, 2005, 29, 5/6, 257-259 257 wider readership, it was graced by a He was a prolific correspondent, stunning series of colour plates by the always ready to provide helpful advice gifted photographers Harold and Erica and information, invariably written in his Van Pelt and others. own inimitable and flowing English, and I treasure my file of letters from him Edward was an intrepid traveller and going back nearly forty years. visited gem deposits in many inhos pitable lands. In the early 1960s, before His lovely wife Idda died in 1991, but the military government was in power, he he is survived by his five daughters, 12 was able to visit Mogok in Upper Burma grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. with his eldest daughter, Marie-Helen, and made an excellent and timely film of He was a kind and generous man, a the traditional gemstone workings, which gemmological polymath and visionary. he subsequently took great pleasure in Throughout the world many gemmolo- showing to many audiences - Mogok gists and mineralogists will share with then being difficult of access until the me the thought that our distinguished early '90s. He was also a great collector, friend Edward will be as in the words and I remember an occasion in his home of Homer 'Torever honour 'd, forever in Lucerne discussing with him the rare mourn'd" (Iliad). colourless chrysoberyls and pale bluish- green alexandrites from Mogok, where upon he produced several fine specimens from his Burma (locality) collection only to follow them with other beauties from his equally comprehensive species collection. In honour of Professor Dr Edward J. Gübelin Contributed by John I. Koivula Reflecting an adventurous life, this 10 mm spray of acicular tourmaline crystals protogenetically embellished with microcrystals of quartz rests for eternity encased in rock crystal, a true symbol of beauty in nature. Sample personally collected in 1987 by Edward j Gübelin and John I. Koivula at the Golconda Mine in Minas Gérais, Brazil, during a field excursion at the XXI International Gemmological Conference. Polarized light with compensator. Photomicrograph by John I. Koivula, courtesy of microWorld of Gems. Professor Dr Edward Joseph Gübelin - A tribute by E. Alan jobbins 252670 If you think it's child's play to spot synthetic and treated gems, grade diamonds and identify antique jewellery, you can buy loupes in some pretty _„__ colours For the rest of you we supply the building blocks G em The Gemmological Association and Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain 27 Greville St., London EC1N 8TN T: +44 (0)20 7404 3334 - F: +44 (0)20 7404 8843 - E: [email protected] - W: www.gem-a.info Worldwide Gemmological Training - Seminars Instruments - Books - Laboratory Services 252671 HPHT treatment of different classes of type I brown diamonds Thomas Hainschwang1, Andrey Katrusha2 and Heiner Vollstaedt3 1.