Diamonds in Brief
The stores are complaining. The business is slow. As I write this, we are crawling into the fourth and final quarter of the year. Lets hope its a good one. In the last issue of…
Diamond MarketColored Stone Market
In the colored stone market the big story of the past month was the movement toward a ban on gems mined in Burma. The previous ban imposed in 2003, excluded gems mined in Burma but…
Colored Stone MarketThe Branding of Brazil: Identity of a Colorful Country
In the past five years, Brazil has stepped outside the comfort zone of its domestic market to push its products from meats and wines to shoes, fashion and fine jewelry to a broader international audience…
Featured ArticlesWhat’s it Worth? Markups are Changing!
When appraising, there are two basic approaches to value and both are well-known among appraisers. Often the cost approach is used where the components are individually priced and then a markup is applied. When trademarks…
News ArchiveMarket Trends: White Opal
e opal market is one area where the dollar slide has been more evident. The price of opal has been rising not only on demand issues but also as a result of eroding value of…
Market TrendsTanzanite
Tanzanite is a relative newcomer as far as gems go. Discovered in 1967 in the African nation of Tanzania, the initial pocket of mate- rial was quite small. Many stories are tied to its discovery…
Featured ArticlesDiamonds in Brief
As we crawl into the final quarter preparing for the busy season, a few things are certain. There will be fewer large diamonds available and global demand for these will force prices up. There will…
Diamond MarketColored Stone Market
Reports from the colored stone market are as confusing as I have ever seen them. Some dealers are reporting successful business this summer, but many were disappointed with the lack of business. For those that…
Colored Stone MarketBlue Topaz Update
Acting on a complaint earlier this summer, the NRC informed retail jewelers that they may be selling blue topaz in noncompliance with NRC regulations. The NRC letter also purportedly requested the names of the retailers…
Featured ArticlesElemental-Focus on the Spectroscope
Among these, the spectroscope is generally the most difficult to initially master. This fear factor leads students into a self-fulfilling cul-de-sac where lack of skill leads to lack of success and the eventual conclusion that…
Featured Articles