Fun with inclusions - Being a laboratory gemologist isn't always boring

It isn’t only work, work, work at the lab. Sometimes we “play” with the stuff we are appraising by photographing neat inclusions - especially the ones that look like something interesting, like
birds, Abe Lincoln an so on.
We, of course photograph a lot of specimen inclusions for classroom use and the occasional
“doesn’t that look just like a…” formation. Sometimes the inclusions aren’t anything special by themselves, but when reflected off of other facets become more interesting. For instance, take a
look the feather we photographed in a diamond the other day. Oriented in the center of the stone near the culet, it reflects into a pattern resembling a palm tree. Or fireworks. Cool, huh?
With the release of Photoatlas of Inclusions in Gemstones , Vol. 2, John Koivula/Edward Gübelin we have another fabulous collection of microphotographs that aid in identification, show the beauty in crystals and are just plain fun to look at. It’s books like these (with the last in the series due in ‘07) that showcase gemstones - not the jewelry they often become part of and keep our profession interesting.