Purely Paraiba
“a gorgeous coffee table book introducing the new gem of gems, the spirited neon blue and green Paraiba Tourmaline.”
Book ReviewCobalt Spinel
Vivid cobalt spinels are particularly rare and more expensive than the other blue spinels. Recently, a new source outside Mahenge in Tanzania has excited the gem trade.
Market TrendsGem Focus August 2022: Rhodochrosite; a rose-colored ornamental gem rarely seen in transparent form…
Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral (MnCO3) with low hardness of 4 and three directional perfect cleavage. The structure is very similar to calcite since it is a calcite group mineral with remarkable coloration thanks to manganese.
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Gem Focus July 2022: Andalusite; warm contrasting greens and reds in one gem…
Gemstones are arguably the most aesthetic representatives of minerals in nature. Common understanding of a gem’s beauty is attributed to its color and transparency. However, there are other mineralogical properties that might make a gemstone attractive, even unusual.
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Treatments Applied to Garnet and Spinel
Spinel and garnet are one of the last holdouts in the modern-day growth of gemstone treatments. Besides fracture filling, these two groups of gems typically do not benefit from any standard processes of gemstone enhancement…
Featured ArticlesLab-Grown Diamond Market Report
Lab-grown was the talk of Vegas, with more booths than ever. This sector keeps growing in bridal but as more companies come in, will there be an oversupply? Prices continue to decrease, now with discounts in the 85-95% range from natural.
Featured ArticlesWelcome to the Carnival…
The diamond market for both rough and polished is starting to be a roller coaster ride. Previously, price hikes were focused on larger diamonds, now on melee. Origin is becoming a more important topic, especially with Russian sanctions. GIA is going digital with reports.
Diamond MarketColored Stone Market
During the past two years, market conditions have been very favorable for the U.S. gem and jewelry industry, especially at the retail level.
Colored Stone MarketAragonite & Calcite
Just as graphite and diamond have the same chemical composition but crystallize in two different systems, so is the case with aragonite and calcite
Gem NotesCircling the Drain
“The lay litigant enters a temple of mysteries whose ceremonies are dark, complex, and unfathomable. Pretrial procedures are the cabalistic rituals of the lawyers and judges who serve as priests and high priests. The layman…
The Appraiser's Notebook