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What's New: Version 9.0 released July 12, 2011

75 New Inclusion Photos from the Master John Koivula, Conny Forsberg, FGA, Tim Spauwen, FGA, and Hamid Usman Khattak-Pakistan Accredited Gemologist

See below for all the 9.0 changes.

SpectraGroup03, Gemology Tools Professional

Version 8.0 - Diffraction Spectral Images!

Ruby, Gemology Tools Professional
Ruby

It may have taken nearly six months but spectral images have finally made it to GT Pro!

GEM-A, the marketing arm of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, is now selling Gemology Tools Professional.

How can Gemology Tools Professional save you time? Consider a colored stone weight estimation. If the stone is rare you  would have to look up the SG in one book. Then, to find the formula for  the shape of the stone you would have to look up that up in another  book. Then you have to wade your way through the math. This saves you time, but if you need to do gem identification then GT Pro will really save you time. Using GT Pro you have all the tools you need right at your fingertips.

Liddicoatite, Gemology Tools Professional

Liddicoatite

Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D.C.
Photo © 2010 Bill Wise

The Liddicoatite pictured above is just one of over 1270 gemstone photographs you can access from Gemology Tools

The Inclusion Gallery has over 565 excellent  photomicrographs from some of the best inclusion photographers that show you examples of such things as internal graining, laser drilling,  naturals, included crystals, feathers, laser inscription, fractures and  much more. These examples include colored stones as well as diamonds .

 

Errata

With a project this large there are bound to be errors in the  program. Some of them have remained hidden for years!

May 31, 2011. Goldstone, a man-made glass was listed under Natural Glass. Will be corrected in the next version.

May 23, 2011. Speaking being hidden for years, I misspelled the gem Taaffeite. It is spelled Taafeite in version 8.5 and earlier.. This will be fixed in the next version due out at the end of the summer / early fall. My apologies to Count Taaffe.

Versions 7.2 and  earlier may contain the following errors:

  • Cat’s Eye Jade - This oversight has been in the  database for years but it was just pointed out to us that Cat’s Eye Jade doesn’t exist. Although Cat’s Eye Nephrite Jade has been reported even  it is best described as Cat’s Eye Actinolite. Fixed in Version 8.4  released 12/1/2008.
  • Inclusion Gallery: Engine-turned effect on Ivory misidentified as Walrus Ivory. It should be labeled Mammoth Ivory.

Ivory
Mammoth Ivory showing the engine-turned effect. Photo © 2010 Barbara Smigel www.acstones.com
  • Elbaite: the birefringence (double refraction) of Elbaite is listed as +.134 -.021. It should be +.034-.021.
  • Zircon: It was discovered that we didn’t list pink as a possible color for Zircon. This is particularly irritating since we  have a beautiful Pink Zircon photo by Barbara Smigel from Artistic Colored Stones.

Prehnite incorrectly lists as B+ instead of DR B+. This will cause it not to show up in a Gemstone Separator Query. Fixed in version  8.2.2.

Radiant Diamond weight estimations show the wrong total depth  percentage. This doesn’t affect the estimated weight. Fixed in version  8.2.3.

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Gemology Tools Professional Revision Tracker

Changes are made on a regular basis to Gemology Tools  Professional. Here is where you can find out what changes have been  made. You can tell which version you have (and the date is was  published) by clicking on Help (on the main menu) and then on About.  Since you can download free updates within one year you can decide when  you want them.

 

9.0.0 - July 12, 2011 - Added The Feral System of Magnetic Testing For Gemstones. We made a how-to video of this simple but powerful system. All you need is a $10 1/2” x 1/2” N-52 neodymium magnet and GT Pro, of course. Added the Specific Gravity Estimator. Due to variations in gem cutting this is not a reliable way to get an SG.  It’s only use is to give you a rough idea of the SG. It can tell you if your stone is a diamond or a CZ because of the wide disparity in SG for those stones. This was only added because of user requests. Again, WE DO NOT RECOMMEND the use of this module for serious work. It is only for fun and very rough estimates. Made numerous corrections to the Gemstone Database. Added 148 gemstone images, 75 inclusion photos and 40 gems to the Gemstone Database. Totals: 1272 gemstone photos, 567 inclusion photos, 578 gems in  the Gemstone Database, 2019 gemstone species, varieties, trade names and misnomers available via the Find A Gemstone button.

8.5.0 - 4/7/2011 - Added a calculated birefringence field to the Gemstone Separator and a birefringence column. This allows you to see what your measure birefringence is and compare it to the list. You can then manually delete gems that are obviously out of your birefringence range. Added magnetic attraction data to the Gembase. There will be more usefulness for this in the next update. Added a Web Help button for those who have Vista or Windows 7 and an internet connection. This will allow you to go to our GTProHelp.com web site. Added additional wallpaper photos. Totals: 1124 gemstone photos, 492 inclusion photos, 538 gems in  the Gemstone Database, 1983 gemstone species, varieties, trade names and misnomers available via the Find A Gemstone button.

8.4.6 - 3/13/2011 - More corrections to the Gemstone Database. Added some Wallpaper photos.

8.4.4 -12/01/2010 - More corrections to the Gemstone Database.

8.4.3 - 12/01/2009 - Made minor corrections to the Gemstone Database.

8.4.0 - 11/27/2008 - Added the Specific Gravity  Calculator. This utility will take as many readings as you enter and  provide you with an average SG. This helps ensure more accuracy than  taking only one reading. Fixed the aforementioned Cat’s Eye Jade error.  Straightened out the confusing issue of Praseolite/Prasiolite. We had  Praseolite listed as green Quartz (which it is) but failed to list it as an altered form of Iolite.

8.3.0 - 10/24/2008 -1) We have added 69 high quality inclusion photos from some of the biggest names in gemology including Barbra Voltaire, John Huff, Ron theimage.com and the Master of ALL inclusion microphotographers John Koivula MicroWorld of Gems. 2) Also in this release are prism spectral images. And, since so many of  you asked for it you can now view the spectral images with the red end  (700nm) on the left or the right! 3) Now you can view the demo  movies from inside the program. Visually this is the best update we have had in years. 1061  gemstone photos, 426 inclusion photos, 522 gems in the Gemstone  Database, 1972 gemstone species, varieties, trade names and misnomers  available via the Find A Gemstone button.

8.2.9 - 6/1/2008 - Many small changes, mostly to data  (correcting or improving).

8.2.5 - 12/02/2007 - Because  of the huge amount of data in this program it was necessary (a few years ago) to use a screen resolution greater than 800x600. People that use  800x600 can still use the program but will sometimes find it necessary  to use the scroll bars on the right and bottom. One problem area is the  Gemology Review. A couple of users weren't able to close the module. The solution is simple. Hit the Finish button and use the Escape key to  close the module. All version 8.2.5 does is make it so the user can  close the module at any time using the Escape key. This is not a necessary update unless you use 800x600 screen resolution AND want (or need) to bail out of the Gemology Review prematurely.

8.2.4 - 11/22/2007 - Fixed an improperly opening window in the diamond cut grader. Added 10 gemstone  photos. Totals: 1054 gemstone photos, 357 inclusion photos, 521 gems in  the Gemstone Database, 1970 gemstone species, varieties, trade names and misnomers available via the Find A Gemstone button.

8.2.3 - 11/21/2007 - Fixed an error in the data output screen for a Radiant Diamond weight  estimation. It incorrectly reported the depth percentage. This didn't  affect the estimated weight.

8.2.2 - 11/20/2007 - Fixed  optic character of Prehnite in the Gemstone Database. It was incorrectly listed as B+ instead of DR B+. This caused it not to show up in a  Gemstone Separator Query.

8.2.1 - 11/15/2007 - This is a repair of two labels. The first two column headers in the Gemstone Database should read Species and Group. Because we have two programmers working at the same time an older form  was inadvertently used. In version 8.2 (and before 7.1) the first two  headers read Variety/Species and Species/Group where they should read Species and Group.

8.2 - 10/30/2007 -  Fluorescent (ultraviolet) colors have been added to the Gemstone Data  Page. You could always access U.V. colors via the Gemstone Separator but now you can view the possible U.V. colors for each gem.

8.1 - 10/18/2007 - One of our users nearly failed an exam because he entered greenish blue in the  Gemstone Separator. This happened because greenish blue wasn’t included  for the gem he needed although blue was. We have come up with Color Near Hits to alleviate this problem. Now, when you enter a base color with a modifier, ALL gems that have the base color will be possibilities. Note: If you don’t use the Separator you won’t need the update. This is the only change from version 8.0.

8.0 - 8/19/2007 - Finally, spectral  images have been drawn. This project took nearly six months to create  over 80 spectral images. Fixed inaccuracies in the Gemstone Database.  Added over 50 inclusion photos.  Totals: 1044 gemstone photos, 355  inclusion photos, 519 gems in the Gemstone Database, 1963 gemstone  species, varieties, trade names and misnomers available via the Find A Gemstone button.

7.2 - 6/15/2007 - New inclusion photos. Fixed inaccuracies in  the Gemstone Database. Totals: 981 gemstone photos, 295 inclusion  photos, 514 gems in the Gemstone Database. 1962 gemstone species,  varieties, trade names and misnomers available via the Find A Gemstone  button.

7.1.0 - 2/4/2007 - Fixed some data that was unclear in the  database. Added much more content, including over 50 fantastic inclusion photos, 40 new gemstone photos, 6 stones in the Gemstone Database and  202 new gemstone species, varieties, trade names and misnomers. Totals:  974 gemstone photos. 279 inclusion photos. 514 gems in the Gemstone  Database. 1962 gemstone species, varieties, trade names and misnomers  available via the Find A Gemstone button.

7.0.0 - 8/2/2006 - New items include the Custom Piece  Calculator, a Glossary, the Gemology Review module, over 100 new  gemstone photos and over 50 new, interesting and informative inclusion  photos. You can now access inclusions from the gemstone (not just  viewing them in the Inclusion Gallery).  The Custom Piece Calculator  allows you to work up a value for a piece of custom made jewelry (it  even outputs a text description to the Windows clipboard so you can  paste it directly into your word processor, if you work that way). The  Gemology Review module allows you to answer over 900 questions about  gemology with a few thrown in about metals and jewelry. Great for test  prepping or studying gemology. Other changes include corrections to the  Gemstone Database. Totals: 934 gemstone photos. 227 inclusion photos.  508 gems in the Gemstone Database. 1760 gemstone species, varieties,  trade names and misnomers available via the Find A Gemstone button.

6.7.0 - 5/3/2006 - Made extensive changes to both the Diamond  Weight Estimator and the Colored Stone Weight Estimator. An information  window has been added to both weight estimation modules. The information windows provide tips on the proper way to measure each cut and, more  importantly, shows the formula we've used. Unless the cut requires a  length-to-width ratio factor you can follow along with a calculator to  ensure that GT Pro is accurate. We added a long overdue Weight  Correction Factor field in the Colored Stone Weight Estimator. Simply  enter 5 if you want to add 5% to the formula (or -5 if you want to  subtract 5%). We have added five new shapes to Diamond Weight Estimator  (for a total of 18 diamond shapes) and nine new shapes to the Colored  Stone Weight Estimator (for a total of 20 colored stone shapes).

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6.6.3 - 2/26/06 - Made minor corrections to the Gemstone Database.

6.6.2 - 2/16/06 - Made minor corrections to the Gemstone Database.

6.6.1 - 2/01/06 - Made minor corrections to the Gemstone Database.

6.6.0 - 9/15/05 - Reformatted the Gem Data page, enlarging the text slightly to make it easier to read. Added a cleavage field to all  504 gemstones. Added the "Pleochroism Colors" button for gems where the  data is too large to fit into the normal field. Totals: 831 gemstone  photos. 172 inclusion photos. 504 gems in the gemstone database. 1724  gemstone species, varieties, trade names and misnomers available via the Find button.

6.5.4 - 7/31/05 - Added varieties and trade names. Added 8  gemstones. Totals: 828 gemstone photos. 158 inclusion photos. 504 gems  in the gemstone database. 1721 gemstone species, varieties, trade names  and misnomers available via the Find button

6.5.3 - 7/13/05 - Reworked Amphibole Group, Tourmaline Group  and Sodalite Group to make them more clear and consistent. 828 gemstone  photos. 158 inclusion photos. 496 gems in the gemstone database. 1575  gemstone species, varieties, trade names and misnomers available via the Find button.

6.5.2 - 7/3/05 - Fixed minor problem in Separator. 2 or 3  color stones not showing up properly. Expanded Magnification fields in  the Separator to hold more data. 825 gemstone photos. 158 inclusion  photos. 486 gems in the gemstone database. 1572 gemstone species,  varieties, trade names and misnomers available via the Find button

6.5.1 - 7/2/05 - Changed RI Range to 0% to 2% (was 0% to 3%  which was too broad), changed color of toggles to fuchsia (was lime, too hard to see). Cleaned up stones of Trigonal crystal system. Changed  name of Round Diamond Cut Analyzer to Round Diamond Recut Planner to  more accurately reflect its job. Added photos and gemstones to the  gemstone database. 825 gemstone photos. 158 inclusion photos. 482 gems  in the gemstone database. 1572 gemstone species, varieties, trade names  and misnomers available via the Find button.

6.5.0 - 6/11/05 - Fixed a minor bug in the SG field of the  Gemstone Separator for < and > signs. The problem was that the  < and > signs were reading off the "normal" SG rather than both  the low SG and high SG. Normally this shouldn't be a problem but in rare instances is could cause a stone from making the Hit list.

6.4.5 - 6/8/05 - Added Chemical Composition field and data.

6.4.4 - 6/1/05 - Added FTC Gemstone Codes to Info menu.

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6.4.3 - 5/22/05 - Added Pleochroism Colors field to Data Page and fixed numerous errors in the Gemstone Database.

6.4.2 - 5/15/05 - Finally fixed the infamous disappearing Variety label problem on the Gemstone Data page.

6.4.1 - 5/1/05 - Now known as Gemology Tools Professional.  Simultaneously released GT Gemstones. Gemstone Separator optimized to  run 5 times faster than the previous version.

6.4.0 - 4/12/05 - Beta version released. Adds buffers zones for RI and SG in the Gemstone Separator. Now shows Near Hits.

6.3.9 - 4/1/05 - Fixed some minor problems in Gemstone Database.

6.3.7 - 3/14/05 - Added Serial Number to installation program. Fixed some minor problems in Gemstone Database.

6.3.0 - 12/15/04 - Added the Cabochon Weight Estimator.

6.2.12 10/5/04 - Fixed minor depth problems with Diamond Cut Grader.

6.2.9 7/27/04 - Added 27 gemstone photos. Added missing colors in Diopside (blue, purple). 468 Gems in Gemstone Database. 1457 gems in Find list. 730 Gemstone Photos.

6.2.8 - 4/21/04 - 468 Gems in Gemstone Database. 1457 gems in Find list. 703 Gemstone Photos.

6.2.7 - 4/04/04 - Added 25 gemstone photos. 459 Gems in Gemstone Database. 1345 gems in Find list. 630 Gemstone Photos.

6.2.6 - 3/26/04 - Added 50 gemstone photos. 459 Gems in Gemstone Database. 1342 gems in Find list. 605 Gemstone Photos.

6.2.5 - 3/15/04 - Added ability of Separator to read off of 2  or 3 decimals, solving the 1.54 No Quartz problem. 458 Gems in Gemstone  Database. 1340 gems in Find list. 555 Gemstone Photos.

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6.2.4 - 3/13/04 - Added over 100 photographs and fixed several errors in Gembase. 458 Gems in Gemstone Database. 1335 gems in Find  list. 455 Gemstone Photos.

6.2.3 - 2/5/04 - Photos and Gemstones added. 456 Gems in Gemstone Database. 1343 gems in Find list. 550 Gemstone Photos.

6.2.2 - 1/18/04 - Install problem solved by upgrading to  Q-Setup. 451 Gems in Gemstone Database. 1260 in Find List. 426 Gem  Photos.

6.2.1 - 1/04/04 - Problem has developed where the Install program no longer works with Win 98.

451 Gems in Gemstone Database. 1260 in Find List. 385 Gem Photos.

6.2.0 - 12/21/03 - Added Info List on Data Page. Info now  searchable from the Data Page as well as the Find List. Rearranged the  Gemstone Database (moved Variety/Species to front). 451 Gems in Gemstone Database. 1260 in Find List. 350 Gem Photos.

6.1.2 - 12/5/03 - Added Info Button. 451 Gems in Gemstone Database. 1244 in Find List. 350 Gem Photos.

6.1.1 - 11/21/03 - Fixed 0 problem in the calculator. 450 Gems in Gemstone Database. 1026 gems in Find list. 350 Gem Photos.

6.1.0 - 11/17/03 - Added Find button in Gemstone Database.  Previous versions of Gembase.dat are now incompatible with version 6.1.  Added 101 gems to database. 442 gems in Gemstone Database. 961 Gems in  Find List. 350 Gem Photos.

6.0.4 - 11/5/03 - Added 32 gems to database. 341 gems in Gemstone Database. 350 Gem Photos.

6.0.3 - 10/29/03 - 11/04/03 - Added 64 gems to database. 309 gems in Gemstone Database. 350 Gem Photos.

6.0.2 - 10/23/03 - 10/29/03 Added 31 gems to database. 245 gems in Gemstone Database. 350 Gem Photos.

6.0.1 - 10/19/03 - Added mm/crown height % double-click  selector in Prin/Em/Radiant cut graders. Updated Help file to reflect  change.

6.0.0 - Release date Friday, September 26, 2003 350 Gem Photos. 214 Gems in the new Gemstone Database.

5.1 - Last release date: 4/1/2001 - 214 Gems in the Gemstone Quick Reference. 0 Gemstone Photos

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GT Pro is in use in these countries. Most recent country: Fiji (9/1/2011).

  1. Argentina
  2. Australia
  3. Austria
  4. Belgium
  5. Brazil
  6. Canada
  7. Chile
  8. Costa Rica
  9. Cyprus
  10. Denmark
  11. Ecuador
  12. England
  13. Fiji
  14. Finland
  15. France
  16. French Polynesia
  17. Germany
  18. Greece
  19. Guinea
  20. Hong Kong
  21. Hungary
  22. India
  23. Indonesia
  24. Iran
  25. Iraq
  26. Ireland
  27. Israel
  28. Italy
  29. Japan
  30. Kuwait
  31. Lebanon
  32. Malaysia
  33. Malta
  34. Mexico
  35. Netherlands
  36. New Zealand
  37. Nigeria
  38. Norway
  39. Oman
  40. Pakistan
  41. Panama
  42. Philippines
  43. Poland
  44. Portugal
  45. Puerto Rico
  46. Romania
  47. Russia
  48. Saudi Arabia
  49. Scotland
  50. Singapore
  51. Slovakia
  52. South Africa
  53. Spain
  54. Sri Lanka
  55. Sweden
  56. Switzerland
  57. Tanzania
  58. Thailand
  59. Turkey
  60. Ukraine
  61. United Arab Emirates
  62. USA
  63. Zambia

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