Month: July 2009

Riding the C-Saw

Lets face it - most diamonds are sold based on a laboratory report. Ask the appraisal customer if they were told the color and clarity grade (and sometimes the cut grade), were based on the…

Colored Stone Market

May and early June brought more industry headlines reporting bankruptcies and layoffs at major retailers and manufacturers. However, that is not the complete story. In at least a few of these cases the firms were…

Diamonds in Brief

Although the diamond section at the JCK show was among the slowest of the show, the overall feeling in the industry is that prices and business have bottomed out and there is hope for the…

The Golden Opportunity

A study by Indias Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council and the consulting firm KPMG reports annual worldwide retail sales of newly manufactured jewelry totaled $146 billion in 2005 (most recent data available). Broadly speaking…

Market Trends: Zircon

Recently there has been consid- erable discussion of gems that have increased market profile due to the price point or suit- ability for color substitution. Zircon is a prime example of such a stone. Currently…

Raw Talent

Watch for jewelry styles that incorporate a more organic, rough-hewn approach in raw gems and rustic finishes to be especially popular through 2010. Earthy yet elegant, designs flaunting uncut crystals, often set in textured metals…