Fourth Annual Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award
A graduate of GIA’s Hong Kong Jewelry Design program hopes her award-winning design will help raise environmental awareness.
Prida Tiasuwan (Pranda Jewelry Group)
Thailand’s travel ban greatly affected the supply of raw materials from other countries, but the Pranda Group was able to keep employees safe and return to full capacity after just a few months.
Somewhere in the Rainbow Finds a Home at the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum
A beautiful new gem and mineral museum in Tucson is home to the stunning Somewhere in the Rainbow collection.
Unusual Fluorescence of a Color-Enhanced Amber Bracelet
Abnormal fluorescence supports the likelihood that this amber bracelet had been “baked” to enhance its color.
Virtual Report on the Industry in 2021
An overview of how the gem and jewelry trade, from miners to manufacturers, and from designers to dealers, dealt with the many challenges posed by the pandemic.
The Chinese Gem and Jewelry Industry Reacts to COVID-19
The Chinese jewelry industry bounces back quickly due to the country’s incredible digital ecosystem and the uptick in sales at international luxury brands.
Hole Drilled by Hand in Briolette
A centuries-old diamond featuring a hand-drilled hole inspires an investigation of the briolette cutting style and the history of drilling diamonds.
Adapting to the Changes with Paula Crevoshay
Award-winning jewelry designer Paula Crevoshay found that careful planning and quick adaptation allowed her business to thrive in 2020 and beyond.
An Unusual Treated Agate Presented as “Shi Zi Hong” Agate from Liangshan
Raman analysis identifies yellow agate treated by low temperature masquerading as a new type of “Shi Zi Hong” agate.
“C” is for Cookie and “G” is for Geode
Geologic design and pure luck turn a sliced geode into a beloved Muppet and an international Internet phenomenon.
Dudley Blauwet (Dudley Blauwet Gems)
Colored stone dealer Dudley Blauwet describes attending the 2021 Tucson “show,” the heightened interest in yellow sapphire and gray spinel due to Pantone’s colors of the year, the rough supply situation, and Afghani blue spodumene.
Eric Braunwart (Columbia Gem House)
Mr. Braunwart highlights newer trends such as younger female clients with strong digital platform experience, and increasing interest in North American stones as well as melee and smaller stones.
Gem Shopping Network: An Online Jewelry Business During the Pandemic
As an online jewelry shopping platform, GSN was well-positioned to ride out the pandemic and even improve their performance, resulting in one of their strongest years financially.
Jeff Hapeman (Earth’s Treasury)
Thanks to an established online presence, Earth’s Treasury has had good sales throughout the pandemic, which raises the question of the future of international gem shows.
Josh Hyman (Philadelphia Jewelry Appraisers)
Philadelphia appraiser Josh Hyman credits consumer confidence in purchasing gems online and increased discretionary spending due to lack of travel with the quick comeback following pandemic shutdowns.
Peter Ngumbi (Vter Young)
National and provincial regulations varied greatly in East Africa during the pandemic, affecting the supply of rough gems throughout the entire industry.
Phenakite as a Diamond Imitation
A set of loose stones submitted as diamond prove to be phenakite when put through a series of diagnostic tests.
Constantin Wild (Constantin Wild GmbH & Co. KG)
The Idar-Oberstein colored gem dealer and his staff have made increased use of technology and social media, and note that sales in high-end jewels are steadily increasing.