In November, the NRC issued a fact sheet, available on their website www.NRC.gov that addressed issues regarding the safety and sale of irradiated gemstones and most notably blue topaz. The fact sheet is in response…
Featured ArticlesDuring the 1980s, a revolution swept through the jewelry appraisal profession and the cover letter became standard appraisal practice. It seemed that every course, seminar and book endorsed the use of a cover letter. Now there…
News ArchiveWhile much has been written about glass filled ruby and its sudden surge of presence in the marketplace and ease of identification, little has been written regarding the instability of this material. About a year…
Gem NotesAt press time we are only a few days away from the end of the holiday shopping season and unless there is a dramatic shift in the current trend, many jewelers are in for disappointing…
Colored Stone MarketAs the final quarter comes to a close, we find the market in disarray. No one knows what to charge anymore and that makes pricing diamonds that much more challenging. Take for example a recent…
Diamond MarketIn the early part of the 1990s, a strong presence was seen in the marketplace for low commercial diamonds. Supply was good, prices were low, and consumers seemed willing to sacrifice quality for price. By…
Featured ArticlesIn late August, Buddhist monks numbering in the hundreds, joined prodemocracy activists in protesting hardships faced by the greater population of Myanmar (herein after identified in this article by its proper name Burma) due to…
Featured ArticlesThe stores are complaining. The business is slow. As I write this, we are crawling into the fourth and final quarter of the year. Lets hope its a good one. In the last issue of…
Diamond MarketIn the colored stone market the big story of the past month was the movement toward a ban on gems mined in Burma. The previous ban imposed in 2003, excluded gems mined in Burma but…
Colored Stone MarketIn the past five years, Brazil has stepped outside the comfort zone of its domestic market to push its products from meats and wines to shoes, fashion and fine jewelry to a broader international audience…
Featured Articles