News Archive

Diamond Market – November 2014

World Diamantaires face financing crunch and Global Diamond jewelry sales reach Record Level. EGL reports banned from trading platforms. Rio Tinto celebrates 30 years of pink diamond tenders with release of unprecedented four red diamonds. It should come as…

Valuing a Crazed Opal

Although the assignment discussed here involves a cracked or crazed opal, the methodology is similar for any damaged gemstone. The appraiser only has what is in front of them, and if it is a damaged…

Sphene

Sphene is calcium titanium silicate (CaTiSiO5). The mineral was first discovered in Hauzenberg in the Bavarian region of Germany in 1795. It was named titanite for its titanium content. The synonym, sphene, was introduced in…

Splendour & Science of Pearls

Edited by Dona Mary Dirlam and Robert Weldon A GIA Publication, 2013, 1st Edition, Hardcover, 149 pages, illus. $89.00 Available from GIA www.gia.edu Throughout human history few gem materials have been as coveted as the pearl…