The Accredited Gemologists Association has named Dr. John Emmett the recipient of the prestigious Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology. On Feb. 5, Emmett accepted the award for his contributions to the gemological field, including for his thorough knowledge of ruby and sapphire heat-treatment methods. (Emmett has long cooperated with industry gemological groups to advance know-how about treatments.) Works such as largely self-funded research into beryllium diffusion identification of corundum have helped gemologists around the world, according to the AGA.

Emmett earned his Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University and served as associate director for lasers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif., from 1975 to 1988.

JCK