New England Gemstone Supply

Rapaport Market Comment for January 13, 2012

2012-01-13T09:59:00.000-05:00

International diamond markets show stable pricing, but trading remains cautious. Uncut diamond rough selling at slightly lower prices to dealers as cutters expect miners and distributors to reduce high asking prices from those of late last year. Solid Far East diamond demand ahead of Chinese New Year. Global jewelry retailers report steady Christmas sales, however with tight profits due to higher gold and gem costs. Expect to see stable jewelry and gem prices in the U.S. retail market due to strong foreign demand using a larger portion of the available goods.

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Taylor auction final update

2011-12-16T12:52:00.000-05:00

The Elizabeth Taylor jewelry auction set several significant records for this type of sales event. Noteworthy milestones were the 24 items that sold for over $1 million, with six pieces going for more than $5 million each.

A major highlights of the sale included a 15 minute rapid bidding battle for the Burton wedding bands. These bands were given to Ms. Taylor by Richard Burton on their two marriages, first in 1964 and again in1975. Pre-auction estimates were that the bands would bring fetch $6,000–8,000. The final price was $1,022,500. Not too shabby!!!!

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Liz Taylor's Jewelry Auction

2011-12-14T10:07:00.000-05:00

According to a just published Rapaport News article, early sales in Christie’s Auction Gallery sale of Elizabeth Taylor’s collection of jewels far exceeded their pre auction estimates. The first part of the auction has achieved record prices at Christie’s, and they reported that the first portion of the four-day sale generated $115.9 million in sales. This makes it the most valuable jewelry auction in history. All of the 80 lots offered yesterday were sold.

So far, the top lot sold was ''La Peregrina'' (pictured), a natural pearl, diamond, ruby and cultured pearl necklace by Cartier which went for $11.8 million, a price well above the high presale estimate of $3 million. This piece set a record for a pearl jewel sold at auction.

Marc Porter, the chairman of Christie’s America’s, stated that the auction drew in bids from all over the world. In advance of the event Christie’s exhibited the collection in Hong Kong, Moscow, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Dubai, Geneva and Paris.

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A diamond's lab certificate is just an opinion

2011-10-26T10:55:00.001-04:00

The basic thoughts and original draft of this article belong to Aleah Siegle of Olympian Diamond. I have changed her text a little, but the driver was her original work. Her article appeared in In Store Magazine.........

As you to look for a diamond to purchase you should realize that the primary reason a diamond is lab certified is to identify the gem and describe its features in detail. Many jewelers and customers wrongly assume that a lab certification, be it GIA, EGL, IGL or any other lab, is a guarantee of high quality - it's not.

If you read the small print disclosure on diamond grading certificates it typically states that the certificate is NOT an appraisal, guarantee, or warranty. The color and clarity are the OPINION of the lab grader at that time the stone was being observed and assessed.

The grading results may differ based on when, or who, grades the diamond. This is why the same diamond can go to the same lab and receive different grades – quite possibly even from the same individual grader! EGL even states on the bottom of each cert that "Diamond grading is NOT an exact science and this report represents only the best professional OPINION of this company" If it is just the opinion of one gemologist, why should it be so important?

The important thing to realize is that NOT all diamonds with the same grade are equal! If you look on the web for diamond prices you will find that the prices on a 1ct G SI1 can range from approx $5,000 to $10,000. Why is that?? If every G colored SI1 clarity was the same, then people would always buy the cheapest!

A good SI1 just might be better than a bad VS2!

You should ALWAYS Look at the Diamond, not the Paper certificate! After all, you are not going to wear the paper on your finger. We have seen many instances where a cheaper priced diamond is the brighter and better appearing stone that more expensive similar sized stones. What your eye sees and what’s discernable in a lab under a microscope are entirely different values.

LOOK AT THE STONE – then make your buying decision!!!

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Pandora loosing its luster?

2011-08-03T11:21:00.000-04:00

Reprinted quote from Jewelry net Asia. Looks as if Pandora may be falling off in popularity....

This week the European jewellery press has been dominated by the news that Danish jewellery powerhouse Pandora has had to dramatically slash its profit forecast for the year following poor sales, and also announced that it is to part ways with its CEO, Mikkel Vendelin Olesen.

The company issued a profit warning on Tuesday which caused its shares to plummet by 65%. Its board of directors decided to update its expectations for the financial year 2011 following poor trading results for the second quarter of 2011, which was marked by a sharp revenue deterioration and worsening trading conditions causing sales to slump by 30%.
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Emergency tungsten ring removal

2011-07-20T15:44:00.002-04:00

This posting is for those of you who may have purchased a tungsten carbide ring. In the case of a fat finger emergency where the ring needs to be cut off your finger, you will likely find that the medical facility has no capacity to cut the ring; standard gold cutters will not do the job.
Here is a simple procedure to get the ring off your hand:
1
Get a bench Vise (or a set of vicegrip style pliers).
2
Place Your finger inside the vice, making sure the ring is in the middle of the vice jaws.
3
Tighten the vice slowly. After a slight tightening the ring will crack.
4
As the ring cracks give the vice a good final tightening to break the ring into two pieces.
5
Loosen the vise a bit and pull out your hand; use care as the ring edges are sharp where it has broken.

Best of luck......
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Summer fashion colors

2011-05-04T13:11:00.000-04:00

National Jeweler Magazine reports that blue and green colored gemstones seem to be the up and coming fashion colors for the 2011 summer season. These hues first appeared at New York’s fashion week earlier this year, and were prevalent on the red carpet for 2011 awards shows.

There are many shades of both blue and green gemstones available, ranging from light colored aquamarine blue to deep-toned Australian sapphire. In green shades the color range can span from pale peridot green, to dark green Brazilian tourmalines.

Many of the gems in these colors are relative inexpensive, allowing for larger gems to be used in the construction of custom ordered pieces. Also, in keeping with trends seen over that past several years, the mixing of colors is quite common, and a good designer or individual with some artistic flair can easily find shades of blue and green gems which complement one another for use in a custom piece.

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Lady Di Sapphire Ring

2011-04-01T15:14:00.001-04:00

We have just completed building another Ceylon sapphire and diamond ring in the Lady Di, Kate Middleton style. This ring is constructed in 14 -karat white gold, with a 2.74-carat fine quality top blue colored, oval sapphire, and .61- carats of fine round brilliant cut diamond accents. Call soon if this piece is of interest, as top sapphires are in short supply and the global market is driving prices up....
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Fine Sapphire Ring

2011-03-21T09:48:00.000-04:00

We just finished custom building a top quality sapphire ring that we are extremely proud of, and we wanted to share a picture with you. The ring was basically described to us by our customer, and we took that description and ran with it. The center gem is a fine Ceylon sapphire, just under four carats, and the center stone is accented with a little overt a carat and a half of diamond. The ring itself is cast in platinum. Nice item !!!
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Pearl & Gem Canopy Auction

2011-03-10T09:30:00.001-05:00

Reuters news and many other sources report that a rare, pearl and gemstone, 150-year-old canopy from India is expected to ring the register for an estimated $5 million when it is auctioned by Sotheby’s on March 24. The piece is part of a larger auction of Indian and Southeast Asian Works of Art in New York.

The magnificent piece includes over 500,000 pearls, as well as diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds, all sewn on to silk. A floral pattern in a "Persian-style" of vines made with colored beads circle the canopy. The canopy is part of a set, which included four large rectangular jewel-encrusted carpets. One of the rectangular carpets was sold at an auction in Doha, Qatar in 2009 for $5.4 million.

The canopy dates from around 1865, when the Maharaja of Baroda, in the present-day Indian state of Gujarat, commissioned it. It is believed that the piece was intended to be a gift to decorate the tomb of the Prophet Mohammed in Medina, in what is now Saudi Arabia.

This just might make a great gift for your loved one if you happen to have an extra 5.5 million in your pocket.

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Diamond Cut Grades.

2011-02-08T11:47:00.000-05:00

If you are shopping for a diamond undoubtedly you have heard about diamond cut grades and how important they are in your selection process. While it is true that the cut is important, it is just a little more complex that reading one cut report and knowing the whole picture about whether that particular gem is, or is not well cut. Let me try to explain.

The cut of a diamond refers actually to the measured proportions of a stone regarding its diameter, the diameter of the table, the total depth, percentage of that depth above and below the girdle, the angle of the gem from the girdle to the table and the angle toward the pavilion.

That’s a lot of angles and measurements to consider, and in fact all of the grading labs have developed their own proprietary set of formulas to assess these measurements and tell the grader if the gem, in the opinion of their formula, is well cut, or not well cut. The important point here, that grade is based on their formula. Strange how a different and equally reputable grading lab just might give that same stone a completely different cut grade. No two labs use the same criteria. If this sounds a little subjective, you are correct, it is all highly subjective, but within some very limited cutting bounds.

You can be assured that any stone that is graded a top cut, from any lab or grading service, is in fact going to be brilliant in appearance. That’s the overall objective, and each lab can achieve the same goal and yet not agree with one another.

In face, what you really want to learn for this cut grade report is whether the gem is brilliant or not. Sounds simple, and in fact if you can personally observe two stones side-by side you can tell for yourself if one is more brilliant that the other.

I strongly suspect that over the next few years we will very likely see all these cut formulas be replaced with a completely new grading system which will measure brilliance directly. When that happens the cut will not be important, as the actual brilliance will be what is graded.

The point to remember is that a well cut stone is brilliant, and even a stone that is not in that top cutting grade may be just as brilliant to your eye as a stone that is not that labs top grade. This can happen when a gem’s measurements misses one of the lab’s formula’s criteria by .01mm in depth, causing it to miss the top grading criteria. However, that .01mm but inconsequential to what you eye can actually see.

You should always look at the gem instead of the gems measurements. Just like you can’t tell from a person’s height, weight, arm and leg length, breast and hip size if that individual should be graded beautiful, the diamond cut grade may not tell you the complete story about if a stone is brilliant.

Look at the gem, not the paperwork. This is always the best way to tell you if the stone lights your personal wick and makes you smile, so that you can make her smile too.

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Tucson 2011

2011-01-27T11:44:00.000-05:00

Next week marks the opening date of Tucson"s major gems, including the AGTA, GJX and the Holidome shows. We will be in attendance seeking out new sources for inventory, and renewing relationships with key vendors from prior years.

If you have any unique gem needs this is likely your best chance to have our people source out the product to fill that need. Give us a call, or send some electronic correspondence describing the items you are seeking, and we will put it on our shopping list. Time is short, so don't delay.

Specific Gravity and Refractive Index

2010-12-28T13:43:00.001-05:00

As a buyer of gemstones, you will eventually hear the terms ‘specific gravity’ and ‘refractive index’. Don’t feel overwhelmed! These terms are much more simple than they sound. They are just tools to help distinguish between different types of stones. To explain, we will use Walter Schumann’s Gemstones of the World to help us. First up: specific gravity. Specific gravity is the weight of a particular material compared to the weight of the same amount of water. Therefore, a gem with a specific gravity of 2.6 (quartz) will weigh 2.6 times as much as the equivalent amount of water. Specific gravity of gemstones always lies between 1 and 7 (for a few references - diamonds are generally 3.47-3.55; rubies are between 3.97 and 4.08; and emeralds are between 2.67 and 2.78). Let’s say you find an unknown red gem. Upon performing a specific gravity test, you find the specific gravity to be 4.01. A quick glance at a reference chart will tell you that you may indeed have a ruby!

“Refractive Index” is another way distinguish between different gems. The technical definition, by Schumann: “[refraction] occurs when a ray of light leaves one medium (e.g. air) and enters obliquely into another medium (e.g. a gem) at the interface between the two mediums.” Think about a glass of water with a straw in it. When you look at it, the straw appears to be “bent” where the water and air meet. This is a perfect example of light refraction. “Refractive Index” is measured using the speed of light in air divided by the speed of light in the medium. Different mediums have different speeds of light. In air, for example, light travels at about 300,000 km/s. Diamonds, however, slow light down to about 125,000 km/s. Therefore, the refractive index of a diamond would be 300,000/125,000 = 2.4. Each medium has it’s own refractive index. Therefore, with the aid of a tool called a Refractometer, it is easy to determine the type of gemstone simply by its refractive index. Sapphires, for example, have a RI of about 1.77. Amethysts have an RI of about 1.55. By learning the refractive index of an unidentified gem, you can get an idea what type of stone it may be.

Thanks for reading - if you have any questions please don't hesitate to leave a comment!

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Pearl Care

2010-10-13T12:47:00.000-04:00

Pearls are a wonderful addition to a lady's jewelry box. In today culture pearls are highly fashionable, and they never seem to go completely out of fashion. We frequently are ask how pearls should be handled by the owner. The Cultured Pearl Association offers this basis five-step list to the care and storage of pearls.

1. Never hang pearls. This weakens the silk threads holding the necklace together.
2. Never store your pearls in any type of plastic bag. Plastic can emit a chemical that will cause the pearl’s surface to deteriorate.
3. Never leave your pearls near a direct source of heat (e.g., fireplace mantel, television set, stove).
4. Never store your pearls in a very dry room or in a safe deposit box for a long time. Pearls need a little bit of moisture or they’ll dry out.
5. Never allow your pearls to make contact with any chemicals found in household cleaners, perfumes, cosmetics, and hair-care products.

Sources: Cultured Pearl Association of America and Jewelry Information Center
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Christie's vivid blue diamond auction

2010-09-22T15:29:00.000-04:00

Next month Christie's Auction Gallery will be auctioning a spectacular ring containing a 10.95 carat, triangular shaped blue diamond, matched with a 9.87-carat, triangle cut, white diamond. set onto a gold band, channel set with baguette-cut diamonds. The ring is projected to sell for over $15 million when it is auctioned in New York Oct. 20. The 10.95 carat stone is the largest triangular cut blue diamond ever to be offered at auction by Christie's.

(AP Photo/Christie's Images LTD.2010)

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So you want to invest in gems…

2010-09-10T12:13:00.001-04:00

Frequently we are asked about how to invest in gemstones. Our standard answer is that same way as you would invest in any other commodity –buy it cheap and sell it for more than your cost. This is often not so simple of a task.

Here at NEGS we have been reasonably successful at buying product at attractive wholesale prices. Typically we accomplish this by going overseas and dealing directly with mining operators or cutting factories. We also buy in quantity.

The second half of that investment strategy is to sell for more that it cost. For us that involves having an office and staff, doing several trade show a year, and offering value added service such as building jewelry to hold you gemstone. For us, this is a full time business, taking 40+ hours a week if we’re lucky.

If you want to try you hand at making money dealing in gems. We offer this advice. Concerning buying, your lowest prices will likely be offered by wholesalers and not from retail stores. In addition, you will get a better price by purchasing lots of stones rather than single stones.

You may also be able to run across gems at tag sales or flea markets, pawnshops and estate sales. Sometimes you can find gems considerably below current values. However, you must have the expertise to identify gems, be able to distinguish between natural and synthetic stones, and be prepared to do a lot of legwork.

Selling the gems for a profit is the second, and more difficult part of this process. Jewelry stores are a possible place to sell your gems, as are auction houses and online auctions. Note that, unless you own a business, you are not likely to get a retail price. If you have weak sales skills, you should not invest in gems.

One last point of warning, if someone tells you a specific gem is a good investment, and that individual does not have a Series Seven License and is a registered investment advisor, they are in violation of The Securities and Exchange Commission laws, and subject to arrest.

Buy your gems to own and enjoy. Buy quality, buy at competitive prices. Hopefully, when you want to sell your gems you will be able to find a willing buyer and make a buck. However, if you want to make a real living in this trade, expect that it will probably only happen if you turn this hobby into a full time job. Good luck.
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Jewelers of America Award Winners

2010-09-08T15:22:00.000-04:00

JA Summer Show Award Winners

Eastern Seaboard stores win 4 of 5 awards.

By JCK Staff This story appears in the September 2010 issue of JCK Magazine.

Courtesy of JA New York

Store co-owner Tara Mikolay

1. Gregoré Morin of Gregoré Joailliers in Santa Barbara, Calif., won the Mort Abelson New Designer of the Year award and the American Jewelry Design Council New Talent award. Morin is the fourth designer ever to earn both distinctions.

2. Philadelphia’s Elements + Alloys won the Golden Apple award for Innovation for its marketing inspired by “the architecture of fine jewelry.”

3. Another Apple winner: Scott Mikolay of Chappaqua, N.Y., whose creative press kits and well-placed ads earned top marks in the Fusion category.

4. New York City’s KC Designs got a Golden Apple in the Sparkle division for outstanding PR (e.g., visibility in magazines, celeb product placement).

5. The “Viral Visionary” Apple went to Heloisa Fitzgerald of Boston for its social media efforts.

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Trade Show

2010-09-08T15:16:00.000-04:00

Over the Fall months we will be exhibiting at three Gem & Jewelry trade shows in the Northeastern region. From October 30 to 31 we will be at the Freeport, NY Recreation Center. Over the November 12th to 14th period we will be in Marlborouogh, MA at the Royal Plaza Trade Center. And from December 3 to 5 we will be exhibiting at the newly refurbished White Plains, NY gem Show at the Westchester County Center.

We have been busy building many new pieces and look forward to the opportunity to show them off. Hope to see you at one, or more that one of these events. If you need directions or additional information please giver us a call or drop us a note.

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Springfield, MA Gem Show

2010-08-11T13:41:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder that this weekend, August 13, 14 & 15, Marty Zinn's Gem, Mineral and Fossil show will take place at the Better Living Center on the Big E fair grounds in West Springfield, MA.

This is the largest show of its kind east of the Mississippi River. If you have not previously attended this show, now is the chance for you to see some of the world's finest mineral specimens being offered for sale.

We will be exhibiting in the wholesale section of this show, and offering some of the new Tanzanite and Sapphire gems we have recently purchased.

We look forward to seeing you at this event.

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Colored Stone Shapes

2010-08-05T14:08:00.000-04:00

Colored gemstones are cut into may varied geometric shapes. Many of these shapes have names that clearly indicate the gem’s shape, such as round, oval, pear, square and heart cuts. However, some of the other cuts have names not so indicative of the finished shape of the gem.

I’ll try to define some of the more common shapes in this blog. These descriptions are what you would see if you were looking straight down at the top of a colored gemstone.

Marquise Cut    This is basically a two sided stone – kind of a football shaped gem. The industry standardized proportions call for the finished gem’s length to be 2 times the width – 4mm X 8mm, or 6mm X 12mm and so on.

Emerald Cut     Is an octagon shaped gem. Is easiest to describe this shape as a rectangle with the four corners slightly cut off at a 45-degree angle. This benefit of this rectangle with the corners nipped off is that the pointed 90-degree corners on a rectangle are a weak area, and, especially with emeralds, are prone to breaking

Cushion Cut    If you were to take an emerald cut (described above), and round off the four corners as well as cut a slight curve shape to the four longer sides, you would have a cushion cut. This shape gets its name from the shape of an overstuffed pillow, or cushion you might find resting on a home sofa. A cushion cut gem that is about the same length and width is commonly referred to as an antique cushion cut.

Trillion Cut     This is a three sided gem, with all sided being equal in length. This shape is often used as a pair of matching gems set to each side of a larger center stone. When a trillion is larger in size it is often used as a pendant stone, but this shape is an excellent choice for a designer ring.

Cabochon Cut    When any shape of a gem is just domed with a convex top and a flat bottom. The name comes from the Middle French word caboche meaning head. Cab cut stones are usually, but not always opaque gems, while faceting is usually applied to transparent stones.

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Be careful where you sell your gold

2010-07-06T16:04:00.001-04:00

National Jeweler Magazine reports that the Newark, N.J. authorities have cited 49 New Jersey gold-and jewelry-buying businesses for numerous violations of state laws governing gold buybacks. A statewide sweep found businesses were using inaccurate scales which resulted in consumers receiving less than they should have in exchange for their gold or jewelry.

The state office's Precious Metals Task Force began the unannounced inspections in June after receiving a complaint from a consumer. The task force dropped in on jewelry stores as well as transient buyers of gold who normally operate out of hotels and move around frequently.

Among the confiscated items was a scale that had a spring mounted underneath its weighing platform that pushed back as items were weighed, producing an inaccurate reading. State officials displayed the scale along with other sweep paraphernalia at a press conference held Thursday in Avenel, N.J.
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Avoid Marange Diamonds

2010-06-30T15:16:00.000-04:00

Avi Paz, the president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has issued a strongly worded recommendation to the jewelry industry: Don't buy Marange rough. Paz has indicated that diamonds from the Marange diamond fields in Zimbabwe--a troubled region that is the site of alleged, widespread human rights abuses--should not be purchased until approved by the Kimberley Process (KP) Working Group. The KP Group was founded in response to the "conflict diamond" being sold during the mid 2000's.

There are many diamonds being mined in KP approved areas where human rights are being respected. The miners in these areas rely on the diamond industry to make a decent living wage, and we at NEGS promise to only offer for sale those diamonds which have passed through the KP Process.
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Pearl Shopping

2010-06-06T20:07:00.003-04:00

Pearl is the most commonly accepted birthstone for the month of June. While a pearl is not actually a stone, the use of pearls in jewelry has a storied history as long as that of many precious gemstones, and pearls are widely accepted as a precious jewelry item much like a ruby, sapphire or diamond. Here is a little info to help you better understand exactly what is available for purchase in the pearl industry.

First, real pearls (as opposed to synthetic of simulated pearls) come in two major categories, cultured and natural. A natural pearl can only be formed in a wild oyster (mussel) that is living in its natural habitat. A natural pearl is formed without human intervention. A cultured pearl is formed when a pearl farmer places a foreign substance in an oyster, and keeps the oyster in a confined farm area.

Irregular shaped pearls can be a natural pearl, or a keshi pearl. Keshi pearls are formed when the oyster spits out the human implanted nucleus before the culturing process is complete. Keshi pearls come from both saltwater and freshwater environments. Keshis are generally small in size. Natural pearls are also rarely round in shape because there was no round shaped nucleus implanted to help shape the finished pearl. Keshis come in a wide variety of colors. They tend to have high luster and orient due to their solid nacre composition.

Japan has long been the leading producer of akoya pearls, which are round pearls cultured in an Akoya oyster. For over 100 years Japanese akoya pearls have been known for their high quality. Recently Akoya oysters have been transplanted to several other nations, and Akoya pearls can now be produced in these non-Japanese locations. Hence,the phrase "Japanese Akoyas" is no longer used, since most pearl strands can combine both Chinese and Japanese Akoyas.

In fact, the trade consensus is that it doesn't matter where Akoyas are cultured as long as their quality is high. This larger production as helped control and even lower prices, and this is great for the retail pearl buyer. Happy pearl shopping...

Pearl phot linked from:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pearl/oysters.html
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GIA identifies carat-plus CVD synthetic diamond May 10, 2010

2010-05-11T14:30:00.000-04:00

National Jeweler Magazine's most recent online issue reports another case of BUYER BEWARE!!!! The Gemological Institute of America's laboratory has identified a near-colorless, chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown diamond that weighs more than a carat. The 1.05-carat, pear-shaped stone was submitted to the lab for grading and was color graded as equivalent to a "G." In addition to pinpoint inclusions, the stone contained some feathers and fractures along the girdle and its clarity grade was equivalent to "I1."

While carat-plus laboratory-grown colored diamonds have been available for some time, companies, such as Boston-based Apollo Diamond, have not appeared to have had the same size success with developing larger sizes of colorless and near-colorless diamonds, at least until now. The newsletter item does not disclose the origin of this particular CVD-grown diamond.

The full article is available for viewing on this link.

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Emeralds 101

2010-05-07T08:46:00.000-04:00

Since May is the emerald birthstone month I though the maybe we should spend a few minutes going over some of the properties of that gem.

It's widely believed that the best emeralds come from Colombia; hoverer, gems of exceptional quality can also come from many other locations and be equal to the finest of Columbian stones. Russia's Ural Mountains has produced fine gems, and the stones from Zambia and Brazil are often found of the finest levels of quality..
Brazil is by far the world's largest producer of emerald. Other sources are Afghanistan, Australia, India, Pakistan, the United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Emeralds come in a variety green intensities. The have subtle side-tone hues of other colors, typically blur or yellow. Generally, the richer the green, the more valuable the emerald. Emerald are a 7.5 to 8 on the hardness scale, a making them suitable for jewelry, but best used in occasional wear pieces or jewelry which is not subjected to abuse, i.e., don't build a stone wall while wearing your emerald ring.

Emeralds usually have some inclusions. These inclusions are called jardin in the jewelry trade. Completely clean emeralds are exceptionally rare and very expensive. In fact completely clean emeralds should be tested as being synthetic, as clean and emerald don't ofter occur in the same gem.

Like most gemstones in the market today, emeralds are usually treated in some way to remove surface flaws and enhance color. The most common (and acceptable) technique is to oil the stone with a green-tinted oil to fill in surface cracks. The oil hardens and strengthens the stone, and improves its green color as well. Newer types of treatment are also used which can be superior to oiling. These treatments include epoxy-type treatments to fill and strengthen the gem.
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Proposal Contest

2010-04-26T11:58:00.000-04:00

The Jewelry Information Center (JIC) has attempted to find the best (worst) examples of how wedding proposals are made. In doing so they collected over 1200 proposal examples from throughout the USA.

The JIC then narrowed that large list down to their top ten, and they are asking readers to vote on their favorite proposal. Here's a couple of proposal examples: One groom-to-be planted tulip bulbs that bloomed 6 months later into the words "Marry Me?". Another proposed on the 50-yard-line of Ohio State University's football stadium.

Click on the link below to read the top ten and place your vote. The contest runs through April 30, so get your vote in quickly.
Top proposal contest

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Treated and Composite Rubies

2010-04-23T09:55:00.002-04:00

Recently there have been TV reports on retail stores selling composite rubies. A composite ruby is not the same thing as a treated ruby. For generations rubies have been treated, usually with heat, to improve their color. This process is well known and accepted within the jewelry industry. If fact, heated rubies are so common that it's relatively safe to assume that any ruby you are considering purchasing has been heated. If it has not been heated there almost certainly will be a certificate from a gem lab indicating the stone is natural.

During heating there is often some level of minor glass residues found in surface-reaching cracks. This glass is the bi-product of the borax coating given the stone for its protection during the heating process.

Glass, or some other type of filling can be used specifically to fill in or minimize the appearance of surface reaching cracks in an otherwise beautiful ruby. If that treatment process has taken place the gem should be described as being glass filled. This filling process will also be noted on a lab report.

All these treatments are required by law to be disclosed by the seller. But these types of treatments should not be confused with a "composite ruby". Composite stones are created from multiple pieces of low-quality corundum which has been molded together with tinted glass. These composite stones have no place in the jewelry industry, and should not sold by any reputable jeweler.

For additional info on this topic there is a terrific article written by the AGA which describes ruby treatments and composite (junk) rubies. Link to that Ruby article here.

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Diamond Pricing Trends Moving Up

2010-04-08T09:11:00.001-04:00

Industry sources claim that over the month of March wholesale diamond prices rose sharply. FYI, diamond prices peaked in August 2008, and then fell quickly along with the decline in housing and financial markets late that year. Prices reached a low during early 2009, and stayed low for most of that year. Near late 2009, early 2010 wholesale diamond prices started to move up, and that trend has continued.

That rise in wholesale price is now just beginning to be felt at the retail store level, so be prepared to experience sticker shock if you shopped diamonds last year but did not purchase, as the price you may have been quoted then is now likely gone only to be replaced with higher numbers.

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Christie's April 22 Auction

2010-04-06T16:00:00.000-04:00

Christie's Auction Gallery announced they will be auction two significant pieces of antique, historical jewelry on April 22. The pieces are The Catherine the Great Emerald ,and The Emperor Maximilian Diamond.

The emerald was mounted as a broach for Catherine II of Russia. The stone weighs approximately 65 carats, and is accented with rose and old mine-cut diamonds. The estimated price for this little piece is $1 to $1.5 million.

The diamond piece is a cushion-cut gem weighing approximately 39.55 carats. The stone was once owned by Emperor Maximilian of Mexico. The early estimate of auction price is also $1 to $1.5 million.

Christie's Auction Catalog

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Court Rules on eBay -v- Tiffany Auction Postings

2010-04-05T08:46:00.001-04:00

On April 2nd a federal appeals court agreed with a lower court's decision in favor of eBay, which was being sued by Tiffany & Company. The court found that eBay is not responsible for trademark violations if auction sellers use eBay to list and sell fake Tiffany items.

But the ruling asked the U.S. District Court in Manhattan to reconsider Tiffany's allegations that eBay violated false advertising laws by allowing merchandise to be listed as genuine Tiffany products, if eBay was not sure if the items were genuine.

The net result of this court decision is that eBay would not need to stop listing goods as Tiffany products, even if it knows that some of the items are counterfeit. the ruling stated "A disclaimer might suffice." The law prohibits eBay from implying that all of the goods posted on its Web site are genuine when many items are not.

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Ice Road Trucker Mine News

2010-04-02T09:06:00.001-04:00

The Diavic diamond mine, make famous by the TV show ICE ROAD TRUCKER, has just announced the start of an underground mine production. The transition to underground mining has long been part of their plan, the company said. The Diavik diamond mine is located in Canada’s very remote Northwest Territories

Kim Truter, president and chief operating officer of the mine, indicated that Diavic is delighted to celebrate their first underground diamond mine, and that they are very proud of the team who helped make this happen in some of the harshest operating conditions in the world.

As the open pit mines are depleted, underground operations for the Diavik mine will steadily increase, and by 2012 they expect to be a 100 percent underground mine. The underground operation will extend the life of the Diavik mine past 2020.

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Mexico's Cave of Crystals

2010-04-01T09:52:00.001-04:00

Mexico's Cave of Crystals stunned geologists when it was first discovered in 2000. The underground chamber contains some of the largest natural crystals ever found. Britain's Professor Iain Stewart got a rare glimpse of the subterranean spectacle while filming for the new BBC series How the Earth Made Us. Check out the BBC video clip on this link.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8466493.stm

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Grams & Millimeters Translated

2010-03-31T09:21:00.002-04:00

The jewelry trade, and many others, typically measure items in millimeters, grams, and carats. Jewelers toss these terms around as if everyone was completely comfortable with the metric system of measurements.

To help put these measurements into a context everyone understands, lets measure some common, everyday items using the metric system. These lengths and weights are only close approximations of actual weights or lengths, but close enough to allow you to visualize what a millimeter or a gram represents.

copy paper measures 1/10 mm thick
10 piece copy paper measures 1 mm thick
1 inch measures 25 mm
#2 lead pencil measures 7 mm diameter
a dime measures 18 mm diameter
USB plug measures 4.5 X 12 mm W x L
dollar bill measure 65 X 150 mm W x L
dollar bill weighs 1 gram
dollar bill weighs 5 carats
a nickle weighs 5 grams

If someone throws out the term "pennyweight" instead of gram, one pennyweight (abbreviated DWT) is about 1.5 grams. Grams are often used for weighing fabricated, or built jewelry, while pennyweight is commonly used for the weight of a cast piece.

There are five carats in one gram, and 100 points in one carat. A 25 point diamond is 1/4 carat.

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Separate Diamond from Cubic Zirconia

2010-03-28T10:41:00.006-04:00

Cubic Zirconia (CZ) can easily be confused with diamonds. It's possible that diamond you're considering buying from an online auction or picking up from a "friend" just might be a CZ. Jewelers usually separate CZs from diamonds by using a relative inexpensive tool called a thermal probe. However, it's unlikely the average retail consumer will want to spend a few hundred dollars to buy one of these probes just to identify one stone. For the person on the street it’s helpful to know the a few of the key clues a jeweler might use to identify a CZ.

First, CZ has a much higher specific gravity than diamond: 5.80 vs. 3.52. This means a loose CZ will feel unusually heavy.

Second, with magnification polished CZs will show some obvious differences. The faceting is rarely as precise as with diamond, and the girdle will likely have a rough polished appearance, unlike the grainy or faceted girdles you’ll see on a diamond.

Third, when viewed with a small light from the backside, CZ will show a monochromatic orange flash on the pavilion or pointed side; diamonds usually shows a mix of colors.

Forth, when a diamond is placed table side down on a lined piece of paper, the printed line which is directly underneath of the stone is not visible because diamonds will USUALLY reflect the line's image away from the viewer. Not so with a CZ.

These tests may not be definitive, and if you are in doubt the stones true identity, it's best consult with you local jeweler just to make sure.

This information is largely taken from the GIA's Diamond ID and Grading courses.

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Colored Diamond Exhibit

2010-03-26T10:25:00.000-04:00

New York--New York's American Museum of Natural History is extending its exhibit of a set of five vivid natural color diamonds. The collection had been scheduled to run from September 2009 to February 2010 it had been decided that the diamonds will remain on display until further notice.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has graded each diamond in the collection as "vivid," meaning they all have the highest levels of color saturation possible for colored diamonds. The collection consists of: a 1.01-carat, vivid orange-yellow diamond; a 1.02-carat, vivid blue-green diamond; a 2.17-carat, vivid purplish-pink diamond; a 2.13-carat, vivid blue diamond; and a 2.34-carat, vivid orange diamond.

Graded by GIA as a fancy red, the 1.71-carat, heart-shaped stone is the largest natural red diamond in the world and has an estimated value of $10 million.
It's well worth the cost of admission to view these stones.

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Watch Collector News Item

2010-03-25T09:33:00.001-04:00

Interesting news for all you watch collectors. Bulova Watch Company has just introduced the Bulova Precisionist, a wrist watch accurate to 10 seconds per year, as compared to most other quartz watches, which are accurate to 15 seconds per month. To achieve this accuracy Bulova has developed a special quartz crystal vibration system which oscillates at eight times the frequency of a traditional quartz watch.

The 50th anniversary of the Bulova Accutron watch is being celebrating with the offering of a Precisionist movement watch, built as a replica of the Accutron Spaceview 214. Only 1,000 of this new watch will be produced, and distribution has not yet been determined. It is expected that collectors will quickly buy up this limited production run.

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American Idol Show Showcases Yellow Gold Jewelry

2010-03-24T08:42:00.000-04:00

Viewers of this week's American Idol may have noticed that gold jewelry was being widely worn by all the remaining female contestants. Showcased were yellow gold earrings, bracelets and necklaces. The use of yellow gold is noteworthy as it is another indicator that white gold is beginning to decline in popularity.

American Idol stylist Soyon An worked with Studio PR and the World Gold Council to wardrobe the contestants in gold jewelry. "It really showed that these young stars can wear gold jewelry and that it is fashionable at any age," Studio PR's Shaye Strager told National Jeweler Magazine.

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GIA Gem Project Site

2010-03-18T09:38:00.000-04:00

The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has recently launched the Gem Project, an free web site for colored gemstone information.

The site's data is compiled from gems in the Edward J. Gübelin collection of stones which was acquired by the GIA in 2005. This site includes photos, descriptions and gemological properties for each sample. Here is a link to the GIA site - check it out, it's full of good info.
http://www.gia.edu/research-resources/gia-gem-database/

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Diamond Eating Dog

2010-03-17T12:31:00.001-04:00

Rockville, Md Soli, a golden retriever pet of retail jeweler store owners, recently gobbled up a 3-carat-plus gem after a diamond dealer fumbled the stone onto the floor of Robert Bernard Jewelers in Rockville, Md. Store co-owners Robert Rosin and George Kaufmann immediately called a vet, who told them they had no choice but to wait for Mother Nature to take her course. After several days of poop-scooping, the Diamond was recovered and returned to the dealer. Glad it wasn't one of our diamonds.

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Insure Your Jewelry

2010-03-04T16:37:00.000-05:00

If you have recently receive an expensive jewelry item and don't have a home owners policy you can use to scheduled that item, here's a suggestion for an insurance company many jewelers use to insure their store inventory. Jeweler's Mutual is a highly rated company, and they offer very coverage in all states.

http://www.jewelersmutual.com/PersonalJewelry.aspx?gclid=CP_W_ruEoKACFdRM5Qod62kycgreasonable rates

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Diamond Color Grades Explained

2010-03-03T10:28:00.004-05:00

Diamond color grades are not that hard to understand. Most jewelry shoppers know the color of a diamond is identified by a letter of the alphabet, with "D" representing the top color. More accurately, “D” represents the total absence of color, and stones that exhibit a slightly more tinted color are graded E, F, G and on down the alphabet. But what exactly does that letter grade represent, and what's the difference between a "D" and an "E colored stone.

If you have ever been in a big box hardware store's paint department you have likely seen one of those large racks of paint color chips - you know, those little pieces of colored paper which show the various colors of paint available for purchase. If you look at the whitest of white paint chips, then select the next five or so progressively less white chips, that small selection of colors of similar colors could be defined as representing the color range of "D" color graded diamonds. The next five or so slightly darker tinted chips might be considered as representing an "E", the next five chips or so a "F", and so on.

The difference between two color grades of diamonds could be defined as the observed color difference between the top level color of one grade range, and the top level color of an adjacent color grade range. It is noteworthy that a particular letter color grade is not a specific point on the color wheel, but a small, narrowly defined range of very similar colors.

When you purchase a graded color diamond you really don't know if your "E" color is just short of being graded a "D" color, or if your selected stone just missed being graded a "F" color. This range of colors within a listed grade is one of several reasons why stones that are graded the same are not often priced the same. A top level "E and bottom level "E" colored diamond are not priced the priced the same at the wholesale level, and that price differential is reflected in their retail selling price.

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Diamond Certificates

2010-03-02T10:31:00.000-05:00

We are frequently asked about the differences in diamond grading labs. Here is the results of an industry analysis of the more common grading labs. REMEMBER, look at the diamond carefully to see if it it is suitable for your needs and pocketbook, the certification paper is only someone's opinion of how they would grade the stone.

Myth and Facts

“Diamonds graded by GIA-GTL have better resale liquidity”. Fact

"GIA is the strictest laboratory in the world" – Myth. According to this survey 8 out of 16 diamonds were graded more strictly by AGS. EGL tended to grade clarity more strictly.

"AGS is very strict" – A fact overall, but AGSL color grades can be softer than GIA-GTL.

"EGL certificates are not worth the paper they are printed on" – Myth. Although in 12 cases out of 17 EGL graded color softer, EGL clarity grading was as strict or stricter as GIA.

"GIA has the strongest international diamond brand" - Fact.

"It is safer to buy a GIA graded diamond" - Myth. Any diamond grading report is an opinion, not a guarantee.

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Cullinan Heritage Diamond sells for $35.3 Million

2010-03-01T09:01:00.000-05:00

As reported in National Jeweler's online Magaine. Petra Diamonds Ltd. announced the sale of a 507-carat rough diamond unearthed at its Cullinan mine. The stone sold for $35.3 million, the highest sale price on record ever achieved for a rough diamond.

Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Company Ltd. bought the hefty piece of rough, dubbed the "Cullinan Heritage," at a tender in South Africa. At 507.5 carats, the Cullinan Heritage is the 19th largest piece of rough unearthed in history, and it is one of many important diamonds to come out of the South African Cullinan mine, which was once owned by De Beers.

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FTC Rule on Gemstone Descriptions

2010-02-25T13:52:00.000-05:00

The Federal Trade Commission has issued this legally mandated disclosure requirement; however, keep in mind this legal protection about how a gemstone is described in a salesman's pitch is not required if you are out of the States.

FTC § 23.23
(b) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word "ruby," "sapphire," "emerald," "topaz," or the name of any other precious or semi-precious stone, or the word "stone," "birthstone," "gemstone,'' or similar term to describe a laboratory-grown, laboratory-created, [manufacturer name]-created, synthetic, imitation, or simulated stone, unless such word or name is immediately preceded with equal conspicuousness by the word "laboratory-grown," "laboratory-created," "[manufacturer name]-created," "synthetic," or by the word "imitation" or "simulated," so as to disclose clearly the nature of the product and the fact it is not a natural gemstone.

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March Birthstone, Aquamarine

2010-02-24T14:32:00.004-05:00

Aquamarine, the March birthstone, is a talisman for sailors,
and was carried aboard most early sailing vessels voyaging into
uncharted waters. In lighter and mid saturation colors it is relatively
inexpensive and an excellent gem for use in rings. Aquamarine
can easily be confused with blue topaz, a less expensive stone.
Aqua is found worldwide, with North American deposits in Colorado
and California, as well as several other states.

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Blood, or Conflict Diamonds

2010-02-24T14:22:00.000-05:00

Conflict Diamonds are primarily from Sierra Leone, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Ivory Coast. To put and end to the importing of these "blood diamonds" the United Nations and other groups have developed a certification procedure known as the “Kimberly Process”. This procedure requires each nation to certify that all rough diamond exports are produced through conflict free, legitimate mining and sales activity. The certificates state that the diamonds from these countries were produced, sold and exported through legitimate channels. For the past several years every diamond imported into the USA has been through the Kimberly Process and are conflict free stones.

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What's Her Birthstone?

2010-02-23T11:36:00.000-05:00

OK guys, you all know there is a specific gemstone used to celebrate your sweetie's birth month, but do you KNOW what that stone is? To help bail you out on this question here's a listing of the various birthstones. We stock these gems, and will be glad to build you a great jewelry piece for her birthday.

January - Garnet

February - Amethyst

March - Aquamarine

April - Diamond

May - Emerald

June - Alexandrite or Pearl

July - Ruby

August - Peridot

September - Sapphire

October - Opal or Tourmaline (pink)

November - Citrine or Topaz (golden)

December - Zircon or Tourmaline (blue)

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Selling Your Old Gold

2010-02-19T10:11:00.001-05:00

If you are thinking of selling off some of your old gold, take note of this fact:

The Florida Attorney General's Office has launched a civil investigation into mail-in gold company Cash4Gold, after receiving 72 consumer complaints about the operation, the office confirmed to National Jeweler.

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Diamond Prices Going Up

2010-02-19T09:40:00.000-05:00

Retail diamond prices are on the way up due to recent wholesale price increases. If you are going to be in the market for a new diamond, this may be a good opportunity to purchase for new priced stone hit the retail counter.

The Rappaport TradeWire reports that the De Beers sales division (DTC) raised wholesales rough diamond prices by 7 percent to 9 percent at this week’s February auction. De Beers explained in a letter to authorized sightholders that they now anticipate a period of stability in respect of prices, subject, of course, to any further major changes in market conditions.

The DTC has been able to adjust its prices recently due to the more positive economic and supply-demand developments that have been observed in the market of late, Borhanjoo added. Reports from BHP Billiton customers indicated that prices rose by an average of 3 percent at the company’s rough tender this past week.

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Amethyst Earrings

2010-02-15T14:01:00.002-05:00

If you are looking for an inexpensive and sure-fire February birthday gift, give her a set of Amethyst earrings. Earrings don't need to be sized to fit, they are usable whether she has a chain or not, and your selection of the correct birthstone shows some real thought on your part.
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Tucson Gem Show 2010

2010-02-08T15:20:00.001-05:00

The annual Tucson gem and mineral series of shows are now their final stages, with all of the major shows ending on Feburary 7th. We have spent the past several days walking the exhibition halls and talking with vendors. Overall the general opinion is that business is somewhat better than last year, although still not as as robust as in the lofty sales of several years back.

Tanzanite seems to have dropped in price and was readily available in nicer qualities. Mozambique ruby was being shown by many vendors, and, at least for the near future, it appear it will likely fill the void left by ban on importing ruby from Berma. A few bright, deep red rubies from the early Madagascar production were still being shown, but the fine material from that region seems to be nearing its end.

There were several new sapphire dealers making the trip to Tucson from Sri Lanka to exhibit than in past years, and finer Ceylon material was available at prices similar to last year. It seems as if the U.s. dollar may be strengthening against the Thai and Sri Lankan currencies, ans if so, the cost increases we have experieinced due to unfavorable currency exchange rates will disipate.

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Feburary Birthstone

2010-01-22T15:17:00.001-05:00

Amethyst is the name given to the purple variety of quartz. Fortunately, since it is not gemologically rare it is a moderately inexpensive gemstone. The finer pieces can be quite nice in appearance, and it's good that its price is not based sole upon its beauty. The term "amethyst" is Greek in origin, and it basically means "not drunken", and in earlier time is use an amulet to ward off becoming drunk.

It can be found in many shades of purple, and while the TV gem dealers claim to offer green amethyst, by definition amethyst must be purple in color, and green amethyst is just a quartz material which had been treated to turn it green.

If you are in need of a February birthstone please give us a call, as we have many pre-bult amethyst pieces in stock, as well as several hundred carats of loose amethyst available to use in building you a custom piece.

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Mohs Hardness Scale

2010-01-19T11:33:00.001-05:00

In the early 1800's Fredrich Mohs developed a simple gemstone hardness scale to help mineralogists identify stone types. His scale ranges from 1 to 10, with Talc being a one on the scale, Gypsum a 2, and at the upper end, Sapphire and Ruby are 9, while diamond is a 10 hardness.
Basically way the scale works is when two stones are rubbed together, the higher hardness stone will scratch the lower hardness stone, and the higher number will remain undamaged.
For home use, a pencil lead is about a 1 hardness, a fingernail about a 2.5-, a copper penny is approximately a 3.5-, a knife blade about a 5.5, and an unglazed porcelain plate about a 7.
Since dust particles are mainly quartz, one should use caution when wiping dust off of softer stones such as opal or turquoise, as the dust particles will scratch the softer gemstone material when they are rubbed against one another.

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2010-01-04T15:15:00.000-05:00

Rapaport TradeWire®
Friday, January 01, 2010

News: Reports show U.S. holiday jewelry sales +5.6% while sales of other luxury goods flat. U.S. consumer confidence improves in December on better short-term business outlook. Trading centers quiet but cutters hopeful retailers will restock with strong orders early in New Year.

Probably a good time to start thinking about new diamond purchases as prices are likely headed up after the increased holiday sales activity.

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2010-01-04T15:00:00.001-05:00

Rapaport TradeWire^®

Friday, January 01, 2010 U.S. holiday jewelry sales +5.6% while sales of other luxury goods flat. U.S. consumer confidence improves in December on better short-term business outlook. Trading centers quiet but cutters hopeful retailers will restock with strong orders early in New Year.

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2009-12-21T16:54:00.001-05:00

Everyone here in our office wishes all of you the very best for the holiday season and prosperous times for the coming new year.

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Estate Jewelry

2009-12-21T16:30:00.001-05:00

Frequently we have customers bring us unwanted jewelry pieces they have either inherited, or been give as a gift. Often these pieces are nice items, just not made in the style the new owner wears, or even wants.

Typically the intention is to "scrap" the piece for its cash value. However, often it is a relatively simple and inexpensive project to reset the gems, and even sometimes modify the gold into a fresh design suitable for the new owners taste.

If you have some unused jewelry you might like to modify, e mail us a picture and we will get back to you with some remounting suggestions. You just might be surprised at how inexpensive this process can be, and thrilled at the results we can achieve using you old jewelry as construction material.

January Birthstone

2009-12-19T08:14:00.002-05:00

The January Birthstone, Garnet, is the largest family of gemstones. It can be found in almost every different color, and range in price from only a few dollars a carat to several thousand dollars a carat for the finest qualities in the rarest colors.

The inexpensive, typical red/brown color of garnet, Almandine, is the variety of garnet we usually think of. However, one look at a rich vivid green color of garnet, Tsavorite, will show you just how different in appearance some members of the garnet family can be.

Insurance Source

2009-12-18T16:32:00.006-05:00

Jewelers Mutual Insurance can provide you with a quote on insuring your jewelry, even if you do not have you home or car insured through them. This is a full peril policy, and will cover your expensive jewelry for almost every possible problem you may have, from a lost stone, to a lost ring. Online quotes are free and easy.

Tucson Show

2009-12-16T15:21:00.003-05:00

If you are JBT listed, or have business cards, copies of invoices and assorted paperwork to show proof that you are employed in a jewelry related business, you just might enjoy a few days in the Arizona sun and visit the American Gem Trade Association's show in early February.
AGTA SHOW DATE

Gemstone Enhancements

2009-12-16T13:58:00.003-05:00

Many gemstone are treated in some manner to either improve their color, clarity or both. Usually this treatment is permanent and the stone will not require special care.

However, there are some treatments which are not so permanent, and the stone may change in appearance simply by exposing the gem to sunlight or fairly low temperature heat.

Every reputable jeweler or gemologist SHOULD BY LAW inform you if the stone you are purchasing has been subjected to a treatment process, and also advise you if the stone needs special care.

At NEGS we conform to the American Gen Trade Associations treatment disclosure guidelines, and list a treatment code on all of our gemstone sales invoices. For additional information about this topic, please visit the Treatment pages on our website.

Make sure you have your jewelry insured

2009-12-16T13:27:00.003-05:00

If you have obtained an expensive piece of jewelry make sure you have a detailed appraisal done, and then give a copy of that appraisal to your insurance company and ask them to "schedule" the item on your policy. If you don't have a HOMEOWNERS policy, a RENTERS policy is both easy and inexpensive to purchase. It's also possible to insure just a piece of jewelry itself.

White Plains Show

2009-12-15T18:37:00.001-05:00

Attendance at the White Plains Gem & Jewelry Show, White Plains New York was up in numbers over the past several December shows held at this venue. Exhibiting vendors reported sales slightly better than expected, but still not at levels achieved a few years ago when the Nation's economy was in better shape. Next year the event will relocate to the main floor of the White Plains Community Center, and the list of exhibitors will expand by approximately 50%.

2009-12-15T16:35:00.001-05:00

Here's a picture of a Tanzanite and Diamond ring we built for a customer earlier this year. We would love to make a custom piece for you. Give us a call on 1.800.659.4367

Seasonal Diamond sales

2009-12-15T15:16:00.001-05:00

National Jeweler Magazine report. Rahul Kadakia, head of jewelry at Christie's New York, said in a recent release that "The diamond market continues to show remarkable strength despite the volatility of the financial world. Just two weeks after a very strong sale of jewels at Christie's Hong Kong--where a 5-carat pink diamond went for $10.8 million--the exceptional Evening Star Golconda diamond of 39 carats sold at Christie's New York for $5.4 million. It was a fitting grand finale to a year that saw over $100 million in jewels change hands under our gavels in the U.S."