Gemstone Detective Blog

The sunstone mine was just half an hour’s walk away in a westerly direction. It was now virtually the hottest part of the day.

Plan plan plan! For some of the shows, you will need to register in advance.

A good example of an artisanal mine, this was one of those caves with a 3ft x 5ft opening

This gemstone discovery tour is more than just a treasure hunting expedition; it's a transformative journey that will leave you with ...

Getting up the mountain was no mean feat! The track was dusty, rocky and treacherous. This really was an off-the-beaten-track adventure!

A gemstone tour of Tanzania took us to a ruby-zoisite mine. Photos taken by Kim Rix give a glimpse of the ruby-zoisite mine 210 meters down.

Visiting the tanzanite mine can be a bit of an ordeal so be prepared for any number of unexpected holdups.

The tour comprised a small group of 12 intrepid travellers: a few professional jewellers, gem cutters, geologists, and a few gemmologists.

Learn about the history and be inspired to start a new hobby gold panning in Scotland.

Use these tips and tricks for a successful day out gold panning in the UK.

If you're a serious gold panner or just want to witness the excitement of such a competition, the British Gold Panning Association gold panning championships will be taking place over the weekend of the 27th and 28th of May at the Lead Mining Museum in Wanlockhead, Scotland.

Here are my top recommendations for family days out in England, Scotland and Wales.

We may not be one of the world’s bigger countries, but there are certainly plenty of reasons to visit Britain for your holiday.

I wonder how many UK gemstone enthusiasts, jewellers and collectors know just what treasures can be found in Scotland’s beautiful landscape!

Vietnam’s scenery is absolutely jaw dropping.  From the other-worldly beauty of UNESCO listed Ha Long Bay (featured in many films) to the blazing red and white sand dunes of Mui Ne, you will be spoilt for natural wonders on your Vietnamese adventure.  

You may have heard that there’s gold in them thar (Welsh) hills, but did you know that Welsh gold has adorned the ring finger of every royal bride since the Queen Mother’s wedding in 1923?  What is it that makes only Welsh gold good enough for Britain’s monarchy?  I’ve just come back from my research trip around Britain, hunting down our native gemstones and precious metals for a forthcoming book . Along the way, my travels took me to the wondrous wilds of Wales in search of

What are the essential items to take gemstone hunting? Here are my top ten essential items to take gemstone hunting

Travelling in a group can be an incredible and life-affirming experience as long as everyone understands group etiquette and expectations, and the same is true for a Gemstone Tour with The Gemstone Detective. If you’ve read about my travels with renowned field gemmologist, Vincent Pardieu , you’ll know that we had to spend a few lunches getting to know each other before he would invite me on one of his expeditions into the field. Vincent won’t travel with people he doesn’

The majority of American gemstones are produced by 13 states, with the greatest concentration in the west of the country—states like California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. And it is to these 13 states that the USA’s passionate community of rockhounds, collectors and enthusiasts flock to mine, trade and hold gemstone conventions.

On one of my trips last year to Mogok, Myanmar, I had the opportunity to sit and watch a gem-painting being made.