Eighth Dimension Gems

Eighth Dimension Gems specializes in Extra-Fine Untreated Natural Gemstones over 3 carats.

15/07/2026

ETHIOPIAN “PARAIBA-TYPE” TOURMALINE. BUYER BEWARE!

Most of the new production of claimed “paraiba-type” tourmalines discovered north of the Shakiso emeralds producing area of Southern Ethiopia DO NOT QUALIFY as paraiba-type. Some dealers have spent over US$1M on parcels only to later discover that only a small percentage gemologically qualified as genuine paraiba-type tourmalines.

The major error buyers in the field make is judging by color alone, since it is not possible to transport advanced gemological equipment to remote mining areas to perform advanced examination. An excellent example of this visual error are the vivid neon blue “lagoon” tourmalines from Afghanistan which are visually indistinguishable from paraiba-type tourmalines, yet they lack copper chromophores. A rough buyer in a remote location could easily mistake a vivid neon blue rough as genuine paraiba-type, only to eventually discover it did not geologically qualify as paraiba-type, and they over-paid by 10X market value.

Late June of 2026, Vincent Pardieu published the result of a preliminary study he performed with colleagues from the LFG (Laboratoire Français de Gemmologie) in Paris, and the C. Dunaigre laboratory in Bangkok on some stones acquired by one of his friends from Bangkok who travelled to Ethiopia. Their preliminary study showed SOME stones rich in copper produced near Abuloo are eligible to be called paraíba tourmaline (according to the terminology on LMHC Info sheet number 6 about Paraiba tourmaline) but some others, even if they had similar aspect to the copper rich ones, were not eligible for "paraiba" as they are colored by iron. The findings by Pardieu et al. were confirmed one day later by German gemologists from DSEF in Idar Oberstein who studied some of the stones acquired in Addis by some German buyers.

Paraiba-type tourmaline reported from Southern Ethiopia May 25th, 2026 - https://www.instagram.com/p/DaYJ20cCPdL/?img_index=3&hl=bn

First examinations on paraiba and other copper-bearing tourmalines from Abuloo, Ethiopia - https://www.instagram.com/p/DaElBi6Gvjb/

New source of Paraíba tourmalines reportedly discovered in Ethiopia - https://www.ssef.ch/new-source-of-paraiba-tourmalines-reportedly-discovered-in-ethiopia/

GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN DETERMINATION OF PARAÍBA TOURMALINE -https://www.gia.edu/dam/jcr:944b534a-7089-445e-8e2e-4a5c03f30e4e/WN19-paraiba-tourmaline-geographic-origin-determination.pdf

04/07/2026

Asteriated diamond rose cut-like slices from Zimbabwe typically present with three leg star-like features caused by trapped hydrogen cloud inclusions, tiny gas pockets inside the gem as with the 9 piece set belonging to SITR. Perhaps 1 in 1,000 will present a six-legged trapiche-like, or a reverse-trapiche-like six legged pattern which is extremely rare.

This opposing pair are 0.29ct 9.2mm x 6.6mm x 0.4mm and 0.28ct 8.2mm x 6.4mm x 0.4mm.

SSEF - https://www.ssef.ch/three-historical-asteriated-hydrogen-rich-diamonds/

GIA - https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/summer-2025-lab-notes-unusual-patterns-in-diamonds

The Rhodesian Star: An Exceptional Asteriated Diamond Thomas Hainschwang, Franck Notari and Erik Vadaszi - https://ggtl-lab.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/hainschwang,-t.,-notari,-f.,-&-vadaszi,-e.-(2014).-the-rhodesian-star-an-exceptional-asteriated-diamond.-the-journal-of-gemmology,-34(4),-p-306.pdf

Video and photo by Jeffery Bergman www.EighthDimensionGems.com Bangkok

22/06/2026

Another padparadscha sunset in Monaco…

25/01/2026

WORLD RECORD SIZE DOES NOT EQUATE TO HIGH VALUE!

JAN 17, 2026, Media outlets around the world broke the the story of a 'Purple Star Sapphire' weighing 3,563 carats supposedly discovered in Sri Lanka, and named the 'Star of Pure Land', believed to be the world's largest natural purple star sapphire, and valued at an ABSURD $300 million to $400 million dollars. See: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15476863/Rare-Purple-Star-Sapphire-220-million.html

In reality, such giant low grade corundum specimens have a real market value of under US$1/carat. Yes, you read that correctly, REAL MARKET VALUE OF UNDER ONE US DOLLER PER CARAT! It seems like at least once every year, some ignorant fools announce another “world record” gemstone falsely claimed to be worth many millions of dollars, only later to be exposed as an attempted scam, with the actual value in the low thousands at best. Here are some examples:

Scams involving fraudulent rough gemstone appraisals have resulted in huge losses to investors. The BBC reported in 2013 of a 2 kg rough ruby specimen from Tanzania appraised at £11 Million used to boost the balance sheet of Wrekin Construction, a UK company. The valuation was exposed as fraudulent, the ruby specimen was sold at auction for a mere £8,000, and the company declared bankruptcy with losses of more than £45 Million to creditors. See: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-shropshire-25281577

2.8kg Burj Alhamal ruby from Tanzania on display in Dubai claimed it was a new world record and worth a whooping $120 million. It was exposed as an attempted scam with a real market value of about US$1,000. See: https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/the-unique-ruby-in-dubai-could-be-worth-1000-3794708

Another fraud out of Sri Lanka took place in 2021 when what was called the world's largest star sapphire cluster weighing 510 kilograms was discovered and said to be worth around USD 200 Million. However, at the Sri Lankan Committee on Public Enterprises revealed that it was only worth a mere USD 10,000, had only an antique value, and was only suitable to be placed in a museum. https://www.newsfirst.lk/2023/05/26/world-s-largest-star-sapphire-cluster-given-fake-value-only-worth-usd-10-000

CONSULT WITH AN EXPERIENCED GEMOLOGIST APPRAISER BEFORE BELIEVING MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR APPRAISALS!

With over 5 decades of broad-based international experience in natural gemstones, diamonds, and fine jewelry, I was declared “a profound expert in gems” by SSEF President Häuselmann and Director Dr. Krzemnick. My extensive international market knowledge through visiting several international gem and jewelry fairs and auction previews annually greatly contribute my demand as an expert consultant, and for formal appraisal services. See: https://eighthdimensiongems.com/appraisals-consultation