The Hamlin Necklace is a treasure of the Mineralogical and Geological Museum at Harvard University (MGMH) that was designed and commissioned by Augustus Choate Hamlin in the late nineteenth century. (See cover photo.) Apreeminent piece in…
Featured ArticlesThe spectroscope is a very useful gemological instrument that is underutilized by gemologists worldwide. Learning to master this tool will greatly help in practical gem testing and identification. CORRECT METHODS AND APPROACH IN GEM TESTING Spectroscopy…
Featured ArticlesINTRODUCTION At Lotus Gemology, our Bangkok-based gem testing laboratory, we only test for two types of stones: corundum (ruby & sapphire) and spinel. As a result, we often get parcels of stones with similar attributes. This…
Gem NotesDemand for pink gemstones has been fairly strong in recent years. Morganite, the light pink to orange-pink variety of beryl, has been entering the market in greater than typical quantities during the past few years…
Market TrendsDeBeers to sell polished diamonds using auctions. Alrosa sales up 33% over last year. Diamond Producers Association to quadruple advertising budget. Diamond tracking to origin programs increasing. Mismatched fancy color earrings set world record. De Beers…
Diamond MarketShow traffic down and buyers mostly cautious. Social media increasingly important to marketing success. Buyers reporting that prices more negotiable this year. Price corrections seen beyond corundum but mostly modest. Green gems proving very popular…
Colored Stone MarketRough-gem-set jewelry maintains its popularity among entry-level buyers and shrinking violets for its understated glam and one-of-a-kind effects. Offer rough options to clients who have everything or their daughters with tighter budgets; you may be surprised at…
Featured ArticlesMIXED EXPECTATIONS FOR THE JCK LAS VEGAS SHOW FEATURED GEM: FANCY ZOISITE In the US, the current economic outlook highlights the complexity of the retail market. The strong surge in consumer confidence observed after last November’s election…
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