Sometimes the most basic of questions is the best question. For example, why do markets exist? Most everyone has heard about “supply and demand.” To be blunt, one should view the relationship between supply…
The Appraiser's NotebookColor modification of ruby and sapphire by heat treatment processes has a long tradition in the gemstone industry. First written reports by Bhojarajah and Al Beruni date back to the 11th century (see Hughes, 2017),while…
Featured ArticlesTourmaline is one of the most popular and complex gemstones and has a long history. Due to its rich chemistry and growth conditions, it comes not only in many different colors but also in unusual…
Market TrendsIn Asia, jewelers report improving sales as consumers spend on luxury. In the USA, cautious mood greets traders as more markets emerge from COVID-19 closures. A range of colors are expected to see good demand…
Colored Stone MarketSpodumene is almost exclusively a pegmatitic mineral of the pyroxene group that forms in monoclinic system with a chemical formula of LiAlSi2O6. Its hardness is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs’ scale and displays perfect prismatic cleavage. Transparent and colored varieties show strong pleochroism. Strangely, the name spodumene means “ash-colored” in Greek referring to the dull and colorless examples when it was first named in the second half of the 19th century.
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Engraved Gems. Timeless Seals and Canvases of Ancient Scenes.
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Easy access to all articles from the The Gemguide May/June 2020 Edition.
Featured ArticlesThe upbeat albeit uneventful Tucson gem shows at the beginning of 2020 have been followed by the unprecedented effects of COVID-19. While it is too early to predict any outcome, it is clear that almost everything in the gem business has been experiencing an extreme slowdown.
Market TrendsIn the course of my 40+ year career in gemology, many gemstones have crossed my desk but rarely are they so special that they take your breath away. In the last year, this happened twice. The first time was with a 24 ct unheated padparadscha sapphire in a private collection.
Gem Notes