Lotus Gemology

Lotus Gemology is a gemology laboratory located in Bangkok, Thailand. It was founded in 2014 by Richard W. Hughes & Wimon Manorotkul and their daughter, E. Billie Hughes.[1] Their idea was that, while precious stones were articles of great beauty, the lab reports issued by gem labs better resembled blood tests from a doctor than a celebration of that beauty. Thus they set about creating lab reports that were both scientifically accurate and aesthetically beautiful. Lotus Gemology's lab report covers are color coded. Gold reports are reserved for gems that are completely untreated, while silver reports are for gems that have been subjected to industry-standard treatments. Black reports are reserved for heavily treated and man-made gems. This consumer-friendly approach is unique in the industry.

Lotus Gemology Co. Ltd.
TypeGemological Laboratory
IndustryGem Trade
FoundedJune 1, 2014 (2014-06-01) in Bangkok, Thailand
Headquarters
Bangkok
,
Thailand
Key people
Richard W. Hughes, Wimon Manorotkul, E. Billie Hughes
Websitelotusgemology.com

When Lotus Gemology first opened, they specialized in testing only ruby, sapphire and spinel. Due to customer demand, they began testing other colored gemstones in 2018.

Richard Hughes and Wimon Manorotkul began their gemological careers in Bangkok in 1979. Since then, this family team has over 200 publications to their name. This includes eleven gemology books that they have either authored, co-authored, or edited.[2] In 2017, Lotus Gemology published Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide[3], arguably the most complete book ever to appear on a single gem species (corundum).[4][5]

Lotus Gemology gemologists are in high demand as speakers and have delivered over a hundred lectures and classes around the world on various gemological topics.[6] In 2019, Shanghai's Tongji University created a special exhibit dedicated to Lotus Gemology's photography.[7] 2020 saw Van Cleef & Arpels' L’École, School of Jewellery Arts run an exhibit in Hong Kong featuring photomicrographs from Lotus Gemology's E. Billie Hughes.[8]

Laboratory Services

Lotus Gemology issues reports on all types of gemstones with the exception of diamonds and pearls. For certain types of gemstones (mostly ruby, sapphire and spinel), opinions on geographical origin may be given. All gems are tested for treatments of any kind and Lotus gemologists have been at the forefront of treatment identification for decades, with many papers having been published on this subject.[9]

Laboratory Equipment

Lotus Gemology is equipped with a full suite of modern gemological instruments such as both gemological and research microscopes, photomicrography stations for both normal and ultraviolet photography, micro Raman spectroscopy and standard Raman analysis, UV-Vis-NIR and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for chemical analysis. A full set of standard gemological instruments is also employed.

Education

A big part of what Lotus Gemology does is in the realm of education. For example, their Hyperion Inclusion Database[10] is the first of its kind, a public, fully curated keyword-searchable database of inclusions in gemstones to help gemologists better understand and identify the gems they work with.[11][12][13]

Lotus Gemology also has created a free reference search engine for gems and gemology. Dubbed the "Four Treasures" after the Chinese phrase for writing implements, this database contains over 6000 references on gemological topics. This allows anyone to research various subjects. The majority of references relate to ruby, sapphire, spinel and jade.[14]

In addition to Hyperion and the Four Treasures databases, LotusGemology.com contains dozens of open-access articles on all aspects of gemology. This includes regularly updated articles that track the prices of ruby, sapphire, spinel and jade at auction.[15][16]

Memberships

The laboratory and/or its staff are members of several gem trade organizations, including the Accredited Gemologists Association (AGA), the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A), the invitation-only Gemstone Industry & Laboratory Conference (GILC), the International Colored Stone Association (ICA) and the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association.[17]

Founders

The following founders information is based in part on that at LotusGemology.com:[18]

Richard W. Hughes

Richard W. Hughes is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on ruby and sapphire. Involved in gemology since 1979, he has authored or co-authored nearly 200 papers and many books on various aspects of gemology. Richard has received numerous industry awards for both his writings and research work. These include:

  • Co-winner of the Edward J. Gübelin Most Valuable Article Award from Gems & Gemology magazine in 2004[19]
  • Richard T. Liddicoat Journalism Award from the American Gem Society in 2004[20]
  • Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology from the Accredited Gemologists Association in 2010[21][22]
  • In 2013, the Association Française de Gemmologie (AFG) named Richard one of the 50 most important figures that have shaped the history of gems since antiquity.[23]
  • Awarded visiting professorship at Shanghai's Tongji University in 2016
  • For his photo of a jade market in China, Richard was named Photographer of the Year by the Gemmological Association of Great Britain in 2018[24]

Wimon Manorotkul

Wimon Manorotkul has been involved in gemology since 1979, as a teacher, lab gemologist and photographer. She qualified as a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain with Distinction in 1985 and her gem and field photography has graced many publications, including Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide,[25] Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide[26] and Inside Out: GEM•ology Through Lotus-Colored Glasses[27].[28]

E. Billie Hughes

Billie Hughes qualified as a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain in 2013. She has travelled to scores of gem-producing localities, including Thailand, China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and East Africa, and has lectured on gemology in Thailand, France, the UK, and USA. A noted photomicrographer, she created Lotus Gemology's Hyperion database, the world's first fully searchable inclusion database that now contains over a thousand images.[10] Her photomicrographs are regularly featured in Gems & Gemology's "G&G Microworld" column. Some of Billie's awards include:

  • Photographer of the Year from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain in 2016.[29] Her photos have also won awards in 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
  • Clemson University Light Imaging Facility’s Hooked on Microscopy Competition • 2018 • Winner of People’s Choice Award[30]
  • Close Up Photographer of the Year • 2019 • Finalist, Micro category[31]
  • Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition • 2019 • 18th place out of 2,000+ entries from nearly 100 countries.[32]

Select Bibliography

Books
  • Inside Out • GEM•ology Through Lotus-Colored Glasses (2020), ISBN 978-0-9645097-3-3[33]
  • Ruby & Sapphire • A Gemologist's Guide (2017), ISBN 978-0-9645097-1-9
  • Ruby & Sapphire • A Collector's Guide (2014), ISBN 978-616-91450-3-5
  • The Book of Ruby & Sapphire by J.F. Halford-Watkins (2012; from an unpublished manuscript from 1935; edited by Richard W. Hughes), ISBN 978-0-9645097-0-2
  • Terra Spinel • Terra Firma by Vladyslav Y. Yavorskyy & Richard W. Hughes (2010), ISBN 978-0-615-40901-6
  • Ruby & Sapphire (1997), ISBN 0-9645097-6-8
  • Corundum (1990), ISBN 0-7506-1007-7

Papers

References
  1. Ressigeac, Mariaveronica Favoroso (26 July 2018). "IGT Inspirational Interview Series: Conversation with Richard W. Hughes". igtthailand.com. Institute of Gem Trading. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  2. Lotus Gemology. "Lotus Gemology Publications • Substance". Lotus Gemology. Lotus Gemology. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  3. Hughes, Richard; Manorotkul, Wimon; Hughes, E. Billie. Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok: RWH Publiishing/Lotus Publishing. p. 816. ISBN 978-0-9645097-1-9. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  4. Minieri, Paolo (26 October 2017). "Driving gemstone lovers to corundums. A twenty years tireless work for the most accurate survey on rubies and sapphires". rivistaitalianadigemmologia.com. Italian Gemological Review. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  5. Skalwold, Elise (Winter 2016–17). "Book Review • Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide" (PDF). InColor: 68–73. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  6. "Lecture Venues/Groups Addressed by Lotus Gemology's Expert Gemologists". LotusGemology.com. Lotus Gemology. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  7. Lawson, Lynda. "Lotus Gemology's Gem Exhibit "Inside Out"". sustainablegemstones.org. Gemstones and Sustainable Development Knowledge Hub, University of Delaware. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  8. Knott, Kylie. "Precious gems go under the microscope in Hong Kong exhibition". scmp.com. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  9. Hughes, E. Billie (2019). "Madagascar sapphire: Low-temperature heat treatment experiments". Gems & Gemology. 55 (2): 184–197. doi:10.5741/GEMS.55.2.184. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  10. "Hyperion • The Lotus Gemology Inclusion Search Engine". LotusGemology.com. Lotus Gemology. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  11. Brecken, Bransrator. "This Database of Gemstone Inclusions Is Now Open to All". NationalJeweler.com. National Jeweler. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  12. Chabrol, Marie. "Hyperion – Inclusions Search Engine". LeGemmologue.com. Le Gemmologue. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  13. Simon, Dussart. "A gem dealer´s journal: The Birth of Hyperion". AsiaLounges.com. Asia Lounges. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  14. "Four Treasures: The Lotus Gemology reference database". LotusGemology.com. Lotus Gemology Co. Ltd. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  15. Hughes, Richard. "Ruby, Sapphire & Spinel Auction Records • Under the Hammer". LotusGemology.com. Lotus Gemology Co. Ltd. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  16. "Jade Buying Guide • Jade Auction Records". LotusGemology.com. Lotus Gemology Co. Ltd. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  17. "Memberships • Lotus Gemology". LotusGemology.com. Lotus Gemology. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  18. "Lotus Gemology Staff Bios & Accomplishments". LotusGemology.com. Lotus Gemology Co. Ltd. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  19. "Clean sweep for Pala Webmaster Richard W. Hughes at the 2004 Richard T. Liddicoat Journalism Awards". Palagems.com. Pala International. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  20. "Clean sweep for Pala Webmaster Richard W. Hughes at the 2004 Richard T. Liddicoat Journalism Awards". Palagems.com. Pala International. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  21. "The AGA Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology". Accredited Gemologists Association. Accredited Gemologists Association. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  22. JCK Magazine. "Richard Hughes to Receive Bonanno Award". JCKOnline.comRichard Hughes to Receive Bonanno Award. JCK Magazine. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  23. "50 personnalités et événements qui ont façonné l'histoire des gemmes depuis l'Antiquité" (PDF). Revue de l'Association Française de Gemmologie (185): 38. 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  24. "Gem-A Photographer of the Year Competition Returns for 2019". Gem-A.com. Gemmological Association of Great Britain. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  25. Hughes, Richard W. (2014). Ruby & Sapphire: A Collector's Guide. Bangkok: Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand. p. 384. ISBN 978-616-91450-3-5.
  26. Hughes, Richard W. (2017). Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide. Bangkok: RWH Publishing/Lotus Publishing. p. 732. ISBN 978-0-9645097-1-9. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  27. Hughes, E. Billie (2020). Inside Out: GEM•ology Through Lotus-Colored Glasses. Bangkok: RWH Publishing/Lotus Publishing. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-9645097-3-3. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  28. Vesilind, Emili. "Lotus Gemology Lab Debuts Esoteric New Gem Book". jckonline.com. JCK. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  29. "Worth a thousand words…". Gems&Jewellery. 25 (6): 32–33. 2016.
  30. Hughes, E. Billie. "Congratulations to the winners of our 2018 Contest". Clemson Light Imaging Facility. Clemson University. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  31. Hughes, E. Billie. "Micro Finalist • Billie Hughes • Rainbows and Sunstone". Cupoty.com. Close-up Photographer of the Year. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  32. Hughes, E. Billie. "Cristobalite crystal suspended in its quartz mineral host". NikonSmallWorld.com. Nikon Small World. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  33. Branstrator, Brecken. "Lab Takes 'Inside Out' View of Gemology with New Book". NationalJeweler.com. National Jeweler. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  34. Emmett, John L.; Scarratt, Kenneth; McClure, Shane F.; Moses, Thomas; Douthit, Troy R.; Hughes, Richard; Novak, Steve; Shigley, James E.; Wang, Wuyi; Bordelon, Owen; Kane, Robert E. (Spring 2003). "Beryllium diffusion of ruby and sapphire" (PDF). Gems & Gemology. 39 (2). Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  35. Hughes, Richard W. (2000). "Burmese jade: The inscrutable gem" (PDF). Gems & Gemology. 36 (1): 2–26. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
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