AGA Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology Recipient: Dr. John Emmett

Dr. Emmett obtained his Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University. From 1975–1988, Dr. Emmett was Associate Director for Lasers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, CA. John is considered a world authority on the physics and chemistry of corundum.

Dr. Emmett’s contributions to gemological research are numerous. In the 1990s, John became involved with heat treatment of ruby and sapphire and today is the world’s foremost corundum enhancement expert. But it is his work in educating traditional gemologists where he has really excelled. For nearly two decades he has cooperated with the former AGTA GTC and the GIA, along with a host of other gemological organizations and individual gemologists.

John was instrumental in unmasking the beryllium diffusion of corundum through a series of experiments that he designed and conducted. He has worked tirelessly since then to train gemologists in modern scientific methods and encourage gemology to move beyond theory to experimentation in the quest to understand the identification and treatment issues facing this industry. This work has been largely self-funded, donating his time and home lab. Because of his work, with its emphasis on experimentation as a fundamental part of the gemological process, gemologists now have a better understanding of the causes of color not just in corundum, but in gemstones across the board. This idea of experimentation as a means to understanding has revolutionized the science of gemology.

John has repeatedly stressed that knowledge is the common property of all humanity and has willingly shared his expertise with that principle in mind.