Lab Notes News and Links

Winter 2004

As the Canadian dollar gains ground the appraised value of jewellery seems to be coming down. Of course, since the world-wide jewellery trade uses US dollars to buy and sell their product, Canadian appraised values seem to be falling with the speed of leaves in November. Nothing occurs in a vacuum and the dollar's strength is affecting everything from the inventory value of diamond dealers to the ability of Tucson-buyers to score some wicked deals this February.

This one, like many, was very much a "last minute" Christmas. By all reports sales were strong for the high end and weaker for the low end with the middle ground being mixed.

The Diamond Promotion Service right hand ring campaign seems to have generated more interest in the United States than in Canada, despite the fact that some of the designs are just wonderful.

Is anyone else ready to be ill if you hear the word "bling" one more time?

Beware the padparadscha sapphire. In times past they were a very rare item, almost never seen; now they seem to be turning up everywhere. We have started to test every piece of corundum, no matter what the colour, for diffusion treatment, and a lot are turning up. Type 2B diamonds seem to be a bit more common than was first thought too.

Synthetic diamonds from Carter Clark and Gemesis are now in the US market. The company is in full production mode, but is unlikely to make a major splash now simply because even full scale production still yields relatively few diamonds compared to mined gems. However, it is worrisome because Clark is the first of more to follow, and synthetics can be difficult to detect if a grader is unaware. We, as a rule, test every yellow diamond that comes in to determine origin.

AN

Older News

Millennial angst aside, in Tucson selection was vast, prices were firmer, tanzanite was less wildly variable, and at long last, emerald prices seem finally to be looking up after the fear of Ward's consequences has somewhat diminished. Orange and pink stones were very HOT. Many new synthetics were available, including...wait for it...synthetic calcite!

Those fabulous Christmas sales are now a memory, but the economic boom continues and so we hope will the spring engagement and summer wedding season.

Diamonds being sold via the internet are a concern for every thinking diamond person. Misrepresentation abounds as does tax/duty avoidance. Traditional "brick and mortar" retailers and small diamond dealers are paying a heavy price for the falling profits caused by having to compete with these "quick buck" (get rich at any cost) artists.

Grade-misrepresentation (obvious I-1's being called SI-2, for example) is a problem that MUST be delt with, so that the consumer is treated fairly and honestly, because in the end, we are all hurt by such fraudulent practices.

Stay tuned to this page for the latest from our research division on synthetics and treatments (especially Pegasus-GE/POL).

May the year of the Dragon not be one of those "interesting times" that the ancient Chinese curse has warned us about.

AN

Archive of Lab Notes and News

Useful Link List (Not in any specific order) This month's web site:

DeBeers Canada A great diamond mining resource. 
Canadian RockhoundA wonderful "Online Zine" about (what else) gems, rocks, minerals, etc. of interest to rockhounds everywhere. 
Diamond Promotion Service This is De Beers' web site to promote (what else) diamonds. Some good detail on clarity and colour, and very classy. 
AGS (American Gem Society): A very prestigious ethical organisation of retailers, labs and wholesalers. 
GIA (Gemological Institute of America): One of the most widely known and respected gem education organisation in the world. (They have a lab too). 
Canadian Jewellers Association : Canadian group of retailers, manufacturers and jewellery professionals. 
Royal Ontario Museum: Some interesting animated gem graphics. 
C. I. Gemtec Ltda.: Emerald organisation in Colombia. Great photographs of emerald inclusions. 
Jewelers of America : Very comprehensive site with lots of good advice, from the largest organisation of retail jewellers in the U.S. 
International Colored Gemstone Association : Good source for info on (what else) coloured gem stones. Try the quiz. 
Diamond FAQ : Frequently asked questions on diamonds. Very comprehensive. 
Black Pearls Site from the Tahitian Black Pearl Promotion organisation. The first page certainly warms up a Canadian winter. 

The indicates a Canadian link.

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