The color of the year announcement by Pantone is an exciting concept for gem professionals. What gemstones can be matched with these colors? How popular would they be? The colors of 2021 “Illuminating” and “Ultimate Gray” create a jewelry-friendly combination.
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Brightly colored crystals of fluorite, a.k.a., fluorspar, in large sizes have been a prized possession of mineral collectors for hundreds of years. This calcium fluoride mineral was first named by Carlo Antonio Galeani Napione in the late 18th century. He was inspired by the Latin word “fluere” meaning “to flow" because the mineral is used as a flux in iron smelting for industrial purposes.
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Gem quality feldspar species are more commonly sought as collectors’ stones and seldom for jewelry since they are not very durable. They tend to be colorless, light yellow, sometimes gray. The unusual variety of microcline feldspar, which displays an attractive greenish blue color is called amazonite.
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Value of pyrite is as diverse as its use. While pyrite crystal specimens or pyritized fossils from famous localities would fetch thousands of dollars, small faceted pieces or beads would be sold in bulk for a few dollars only. Naturally, any custom jewelry piece would be valued based on the design and the designer, not the pyrite itself.
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)A lustrous image of a white round object with subtle iridescence is the first thing that comes to mind when the word “pearl” is mentioned. The rare product of oysters from the vast oceans or unassuming mussels of rivers have always mystified human beings. Until pearl culturing was understood and studied over 100 years ago, many civilizations created divine stories about pearls and their origin. Technically, a reject of a bivalve, natural pearls are celebrated as a beautiful gemstone, not only due their rarity but also for their minimum processing for jewelry. Even though, pearl culturing gave access to much more common and affordable products. Iridescence, specifically “orient” for pearls has been one of the most desirable features of a pearl regardless of origin.
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Pricing of chalcedony varies greatly. While small, calibrated cabochons are sold at very low-price points, the unusual and rare ones are priced individually, especially if they are custom cuts.
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Amber: An organic gem that serves as mother nature's enigmatic time capsule.
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Black gems tend to be ranked towards the lower end of value chain in the gem market. Thanks to increasing interest in unusual gem materials and advertising, they recently have acclaimed quite a recognition.
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Beads; The Original Jewelry Style The discovery of 13 deliberately perforated shell beads that were stained with red ochre and showed significant wear in the Grotte des Pigeons at Tafora in Eastern Morocco in late 2000s…
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)While colorless zircon was considered a convincing substitute of diamond for centuries before cubic zirconia or moissanite appeared in the market, all other colors were enjoyed in their own merit thanks to its high dispersion.
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