Fluorescence in diamonds continues to be a debated topic not only on its effect on value but whether diamond grading standards are consistent in the determination of the level of fluorescence. Ongoing discussions also concern…
Featured ArticlesSummer cool down – steady as she goes. “Steady as she goes” is the idiomatic nautical cry to a helmsman to keep on the current course carefully and avoiding sudden change. This is a great…
Diamond MarketFor nearly a decade now, the new find of opal in Ethiopia has been both welcomed and debated on issues of stability and high water content. Some of the material can be quite beautiful and with the…
Featured ArticlesExcerpt from the 2nd edition of Secrets of The Gem Trade, The Connoisseur’s Guide to Precious Gemstones by Richard W. Wise, GG (GIA) “On examining jades, one should regard those white in colour as the best, though…
Featured ArticlesCultured Pearl Appeal Natural pearls represent one of the earliest gems. For many ancient civilizations, pearls held high esteem as they were regarded part of national treasures. Valued for their beauty and rarity, ownership was limited…
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Latest on Colored Stone Market Consumers remain cautious about spending on luxury goods, including jewelry, as the presidential campaign exploits antiestablishment angsts among America’s middle class. Gemworld’s Vice President Stuart Robertson reported in his last article in the GemGuide that the Las Vegas Show reflected…
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Anthony de Goutière, GG Paperback, 72 pages, Friesen Press, 2014, www.friesenpress.com ISBN: 978-1-4602-3277-4 (Paperback) $18.99 US ISBN: 978-1-4602-3278-1 (eBook) $3.82 US This review for me is a sentimental tribute to the works of Tony de Goutière. Back in 1996, Gemworld published Wonders…
Book ReviewExceptional Diamond Auctions Worldwide In contrast to the softening in the middle market for diamonds and colored stones, important pieces continue to set record high prices at auction. Strong prices are achieved by the famous auction houses and…
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Natural fancy colored diamonds are setting record prices at auctions but these are the few and unattainable to most of the worldwide consumers. Unscrupulous sellers are taking advantage of the stories of record prices. Colored diamond prices might…
Featured ArticlesIntroduction Andalusite is a mineral species crystallizing in the orthorhombic system with the formula Al2SiO5. Two other gem species, namely kyanite and sillimanite, have the same chemical composition as andalusite but with different physical structures. All three form under different conditions of temperature and…
Gem Notes