Johachidolite
INTRODUCTION Johachidolite is a very rare mineral of a borate group. Thismineral was first discovered by Japanese scientists E. Iwase and N. Saito in 1942 in the territory of occupiedKorea, in a place that in the…
Gem NotesAppraisals – PDF Formats
A common request from clients to the appraiser is to email a PDF of the appraisal to them or directly to their insurance agent (which you will soon see is not a good practice). Some…
News ArchiveTucson Gem Shows 2019
Tucson sets expectations for 2019. Good demand for an array of colored stones. Two industries, one new and one old. Sapphires are king but everyone loves garnets. The emeralds of Ethiopia surprisingly scarce. Emerald disclosure or blunder? The…
Colored Stone MarketLarge Bead Nucleated Round Freshwater Cultured Pearls, A.K.A. Edison Pearls
Fine quality nucleated Chinese freshwater pearls have earned widespread consumer appeal as one of the fastest growing sectors in the gem trade. However, visual similarity of these pearls to the once dominant seawater varieties like Akoya…
Market TrendsPearl Varieties
Pearls are a vast subject worthy of years of study. There are nacreous and non-nacreous pearls, each with subcategories of varieties. Prices, colors, qualities, sizes are seemingly endless and it takes great effort to learn about all…
Featured ArticlesColorful Start to the Year
Tucson had diamonds! Colors, slices, and more could all be found in Tucson. While some fancy color prices rose or were stable, fancy yellows declined in price due to an abundant supply including many from Canada. Round…
Diamond MarketGem Focus – Feb 2019
Amethyst: The Royal Purple Famous American gemologist G.F. Kunz has written in his book, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, “while the special and traditional virtue of the amethyst was the cure of drunkenness, many other…
**Gem Focus (Free Subscriber)Gem Focus – Jan 2019
There are many ways we think of garnet: as the birthstone for January, or as an affordable alternative to ruby. We may perceive it as a collection of shiny burgundy beads for fun jewelry. To…
**Gem Focus (Free Subscriber)AMAZON Foe or Friend?
A positive year for jewelry but not entirely for some diamond manufacturers. One in five Americans in the market for diamonds. Amazon entering jewelry market in a big way. Gahcho Kué mine in Canada, in joint…
Diamond MarketFancy Zoisite
In recent years following the continued popularity of tanzanite, fancy colors of zoisite have been increasing in demand. Pink, green, orange, and even brownish yellow colors are being sought after. Prices are rising not only…
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