Ruby, the birthstone of July, is the king of gemstones. Ruby, the king of gemstones, has traditionally been much rarer than sapphire in nature, although both are varieties of the same mineral. This vibrant slightly purplish red colored…
**Gem Focus (Free Subscriber)Identifying an old European cut diamond may seem simple but there is a set of GIA standards that determine from their perspective whether it is or is not. This set of standards is not widely…
Featured ArticlesOnce a rare treasure attainable by only the elite of society, through a significant part of the 20th century, pearls held status as a fashion staple of the women in most economic classes, a trend…
Market TrendsHardness 10 Diamonds3rd EditionHistory—Cutting—TradeEddy Vleeschdrager ISBN: 978-9-0902-9847-41362 pp., hard cover€110 Available to order through website:www.hardness10.bewww.idavid.be/books According to the website, this, the 3rd edition has grown from 300 pages in the 1st edition 20 years ago to now more…
Book ReviewINTRODUCTION Diaspore is a mineral species with the formula, AlO(OH). It was first discovered in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia (the type locality) in 1801. Since the initial discovery, diaspore has been found in numerous localities around the…
Featured ArticlesOptimistic expectations mostly missed the mark this year in Las Vegas. The new venue and size made navigating just too difficult in year one. Sourcing fine quality ruby at affordable prices has become very challenging…
Colored Stone MarketLas Vegas was slow for diamond dealers there with few claiming successful sales. Rapaport poll results are a strong no towards lab-grown diamonds yet a desire to disclose treatments. With melee prices on the decline…
Diamond MarketOne evening last January, I just couldn’t get to sleep. As I lay in bed wondering what I could do to pass the time, it struck me, “I will look for gemstones on eBay.” Little…
Featured ArticlesMOONSTONE: SOLIDIFIED MOONLIGHT FOR LOVE AND PASSION… Legendary gemologist G.F. Kunz in his “The Curious Lore of Precious Stones” writes that moonstone is believed to bring good fortune and regarded as sacred in India so much…
**Gem Focus (Free Subscriber)EMERALD: THE BIRTHSTONE OF MAY, HAS RECENTLY BEEN A GROWING TREND AFTER A LONG TERM PAUSE. Emerald is the most prized variety of Beryl. The use of emeralds in jewelry and objects of personal adornment date…
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