Hughes graduated from the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS) in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1980, and became a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (F.G.A.)

[1] Hughes has authored or co-authored a number of books on gems as well as numerous articles on gemology over the past 34 years.

[3][4] In 2010, Hughes received the Antonio Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology from the Accredited Gemologists Association,[5] in recognition of his contributions to promoting gems and the countries that produce them through his travelogues, as well as his scientific writings and the sharing of this information through trade journals and his website.

In 2017, Lotus Gemology published Hughes' book Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist's Guide,[7] covering the corundum gem species.

[10] Van Cleef & Arpels' L’École, School of Jewelry Arts ran an exhibit in Hong Kong featuring photomicrographs from Lotus Gemology in 2020.