The synthetic diamond market continues to expand. Although dealers and manufacturers of natural diamonds express concerns that synthetics pose a risk to the market and as such should not be graded using the GIA diamond nomenclature, the reality…
Market TrendsWhen the early February temperatures hover around zero here in Chicago, even the unseasonably low fifties that greeted us as we arrived in Tucson were a welcome relief. We accepted them knowing that Tucson never…
News ArchiveThe holidays are behind us. While the industry as a whole did seemingly ok with total jewelry sales increasing by 7%, the trend was definitely toward certain product categories. Finished jewelry did better than loose…
Diamond MarketOnly two people know the origin of a gem: God and the miner and the second is suspect. C.R. Beesley, American Gemological Laboratories, 1982. The father of origin determination is considered to be the late Dr…
Featured ArticlesThis seems logical enough since most finished rubies and sapphires are less than one carat in size. But that little fact does not stop the ethically challenged from singing the praises of gem quality corundum…
Featured ArticlesIn a story we first reported in the May 2006 GMN (Fraud in the Gem and Jewelry Industry), an investigation was pending on a California company. When we first broke the story, AMX Global Funding…
Featured ArticlesThe annual AGA conference, held in Tucson each year, has become the forum for confronting the challenges facing the international gem industry. This year was no exception. The day long program ambitiously tackled issues of…
Featured ArticlesWatches can be the easiest or hardest jewelry to evaluate. Take, for example, the price of a current Rolex model that a simple phone call or catalog check reveals pretty easy. But take another Rolex example…
News ArchiveThis tsavorite was exhibited in Tucson at the gem show. Weighing 325.13 carats, it is reported to be the largest tsavorite ever cut. According to Michael Couch & Associates, the stone was found in the…
Gem NotesWhile we are not strong believers in the origin issue, especially when origin overshadows quality, we do recognize that the market will set the price. If collectors desire origin and are willing to pay a…
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