The Practical Gemologist
Kathleen Marino grew up in the gem industry. Working her way from the ground up starting at her parent’s amethyst mine in NW Ontario, Canada. There she learned about the processes of mining, gemstone cutting, gemological and mineral identification, and jewelry creation. Through her work in Canada she was afforded the unique opportunity to travel to gem shows where she gained an invaluable education in the gem industry. She attended the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom Where she completed her masters, specializing in Historical Archaeology, specifically Anglo-Scandinavian decorative metalwork. After a few years in the educational field she decided to pursue her Graduate Gemology certificate at GIA Carlsbad. Afterwards she again rejoined the family business, now located in Minnesota, as a gemstone and jewelry appraiser. Deciding to test her skills in gemology she joined the jewelry team at Heritage Auctions as a gemologist and cataloger. An experience and education she then carried back into her private practice. Currently Kathleen works in Ohio as an independent appraiser of gemstones and fine jewelry, as well being a gemological writer and educator.

Education/Affiliation: BA Anthropology and History Honors (Dalhousie University), MA Historical Archaeology: Decorative Metalwork in the Anglo Scandinavian Period (Sheffield University), Graduate Gemologist and AJP (GIA, Carlsbad), NAJA member. Recent winner of the Howard Rubin Educational Foundation Scholarship.
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CONTACT
Please feel free to contact me using the form below. I always welcome questions and comments!
Please not that I will not identify jewelry or gemstones through photographs, nor will I provide you with a valuation. It is impossible for me to provide you with accurate information without seeing items in person.

Fede rings depict two hands clasped. They are named for the Italian phrase mani in fede; "hands in faith" though the imagery dates back much further to Ancient Grece and Rome. The imagery is referred to as  dextrarum iunctio in La

The delicate magic of art created by René Lalique is unique in the way it enchants the viewer. This brooch entitled "L'Anémone de Bois" is no exception.
The romance of dappled light touching the delicate flowers of the fores

Kingfisher feathers with their iridescent ultramarine to turquoise-blue hues featured in Chinese ornaments as early as the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). Kingfisher feather jewelry and ornaments were highly valued and were a way to display the wearer

Tiara with corn featuring moonstones and carved horn by English jeweler, silversmith, and teacher of jewellery making Frederick James Partridge (1877-1942).
In 1910, Partridge set up a studio in Soho London where he designed for Liberty & Co. amo

🔹Aquamarine is a blueish green, blue-green, greenish blue, blue variety of beryl (emerald is a green variety of beryl).
🔹Aquamarine's coloring is due to trace amounts of ferrous iron.
🔹Aquamarine’s name comes from the Latin for seawater an

Mrs Philip (Charlotte) Newman was a pupil of, and assistant to, the jeweler John Brogden and worked between the years of 1870 and 1910. She created Classical and Renaissance revival style jewelry and her pieces were shown with John Brogden at the Int

On this day in 1911 Jean Harlow was born.
In 1936, actor William Powell gave her a ring that is described below:
"William Powell just gave Jean Harlow a ring— a big, flashy, perfectly gorgeous ring such as any woman would give her eye-teet

"An engraved amethyst bearing the figure of a little Cupid is said to have been worn in a ring by Saint Valentine. While this may be somewhat doubtful, it is by no means impossible, for many pagan gems were worn by pious Christians, who reconcil

Gold pendant with amethysts and enameling on the back. Spain circa 1625-50. Photo courtesy of the V&A Museum

One of my favorite things about the ornate jewelry from the 16th and 17th centuries is the attention paid to the entire piece. Jewelry

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