The Gems of East Africa
“If I know a song of Africa, of the giraffe and the African new moon lying on her back, of the plows in the fields and the sweaty faces of the coffee pickers, does Africa…
Featured ArticlesColored Stone Market – July/August 2014
Designers at JCK Las Vegas exhibited the greatest variety of materials in years. Traffic was down but business overall was good. Prices continue to rise in the fine colored stone markets. Earth themed materials such…
Colored Stone MarketDiamond Cut Quality Trends
It was 1985 when we first started to report diamond prices in the GemGuide (1982 was the initial start of the publication, then known as The Guide, but did not include diamonds until later). Back…
Market TrendsDuo Valuation of an Unusual Ruby
The use of pricing adjustments is relatively common, especially when the appraiser is using the cost approach. However, in assignments where the subject property falls outside of the core range of trading for that variety…
News ArchiveRhodochrosite
Rhodochrosite is manganese carbonate (MnCO3). It forms a solid solution series with siderite (FeCO3) with iron substitution and with calcite (CaCO3) with calcium substitution. The name is from the Greek meaning “rose colored.” Rhodochrosite is…
Gem NotesGem Market Pulse June 2014: Chinese Freshwater Fireball Pearls
The market continues to experience healthy consumption of finer quality colored stones. As a result prices have yet to stable even as the industry moves into the typically slower summer months. Based on this it…
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Gem Market Pulse May 2014: Fire Agate
Current market - Overview At the wholesale level of the colored stone market, dealers continue to express optimism as the industry gears up for the JCK Las Vegas show. In the U.S., demand is centered on…
*Gem Focus & Market Pulse (Free Subscriber)Richard W. Hughes – Lotus Gemology
During the February Tucson gem show, Stuart Robertson spoke with renowned ruby and sapphire authority Richard Hughes about his latest undertaking—a laboratory focused on putting the “gem” back in gemology. What was the motivation for launching…
News ArchiveIssues with Treated and Natural Green to Greenish Blue Diamonds
High energy radiation, likely gamma radiation, causes carbon atoms to be expelled from their lattice site into an interstitial site and this leaves a so-called “carbon vacancy” or simply “vacancy.” This vacancy of neutral charge…
Featured ArticlesDiamond Market
The general observation regarding the diamond market is that prices continue to edge up and are firm, while the trade and consumers remain cautious. There is a growing disconnect between the wholesale market and key…
Diamond Market