gemmologue.ch is an independent project devoted to gemology, to the materials it studies and to the relationships people have built with them.
The books published on this site are designed, organized and supervised by Ramon Cortes, Graduate Gemologist (GIA). He draws on professional experience in gemology, on scientific, historical and institutional sources, and on contemporary tools for research and editorial assistance.
Verifying information
Scientific, historical and technical information is checked, as far as possible, against several sources.
Particular attention is paid to data liable to change: mining production, regulation, markets, scientific discoveries, nomenclature and recent research results.
When a piece of information remains uncertain, disputed or insufficiently documented, that limit is stated in the text.
Selecting sources
The preferred sources are scientific publications, reference works, recognized gemological laboratories, institutions, museums, universities, and historical documents held in identified collections.
Secondary sources are used when they provide a relevant synthesis, a testimony or a complementary perspective.
Each book has its own bibliography, which will evolve with research and revisions.
Editorial work
Observing stones, expert appraisal work, meetings with professionals in the field and firsthand experience are at the root of this work. The choices, the organization of the books and the selection of the information retained rest with the author.
AI took part in the making of gemmologue.ch. It was used as a tool for research, for cross-checking information, for structuring, proofreading and technical assistance in the development of the site.
Photographs, diagrams and illustrations
The images on this site serve different purposes.
Photographs show a real object, stone, place, phenomenon or document.
Diagrams and infographics have an explanatory function. They deliberately simplify certain phenomena to make them easier to grasp at once.
Illustrations offer a visual representation when no suitable photograph exists, or when the purpose is above all educational or evocative. When an image does not depict a real specimen or situation, that distinction is stated.
The sources, authors, licenses and any modifications of the images are detailed in the image credits of each book.
Corrections
Despite the care taken in research and verification, an error, an imprecision or a more recent source may always come to light.
Readers, researchers, gemologists and professionals are invited to report any information they believe should be checked or completed.
A reported and verified error is corrected.
When a correction significantly alters a scientific or historical statement, the content concerned is re-examined against the available sources.
Updating the content
Fundamental knowledge is revised when new data justifies a change.
Contemporary content (in particular on production, markets, regulation, technology, traceability and the state of research) receives particular attention.
The date of the last revision may be shown on pages where the currency of the information matters.
A living work
gemmologue.ch is not conceived as a fixed text.
The books may be refined, enriched or corrected as new sources become available and knowledge advances.
This possibility of revision is part of the project: to pass on rigorous, understandable and honest information, and to keep the right to return to whatever can be improved.