Category: News Archive

Red Tape Tango

15 SIMPLIFIED TAKEAWAYS FROM THE REVISED FTC JEWELRY GUIDELINES In late July, as many in jewelry were happily taking summer vacations, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was putting the finishing touches on its revised Guides for…

Appraisal Organizations and Credentials

One of the frequently asked questions from subscribers that are considering entering the appraisal field is, “What credentials do I need to become an appraiser?” The short answer is, “it depends.” Unlike real estate appraisers…

Maxixe Beryl

Maxixe (pronounced mah-she-she) beryl is not frequently seen in the market but when it does occasionally surface, it can cause a bit of confusion. It is a distinct variety of beryl that is commonly mistaken…

The Practical Guide to Jewelry Appraising

The Practical Guide to Jewelry Appraising Fourth Edition 285 pp., soft cover ISBN: 978-1-5136-3660-3 ©2018 by American Gem Society $99.99 available through Altobelli Jewelers www.altobelli.com On the American Gem Society website, the opening sentences describing this book says it all. “First published…

Bi-Colored Sapphire

Ruby and blue sapphire may be the most popular varieties of corundum but nature is capable of producing other interesting varieties too. Although commonly known for tourmalines (watermelon) and quartz (ametrine), multicolored examples exist in…