Red & Pink Coral - An Inorganic Gem

Who can resist an exotic orange color jewelry found at the market during a trip to Caribbean or Mediterranean Sea?  Without thinking, I may buy one as I have known coral jewelry is far more expensive in my country.  People, the same as me, have been lured to an exotic orange color coral for centuries.  We adore it and use it in jewelry.

Coral was known as a precious inorganic gem far back to ancient era.  Greek mythology also has a story of Perseus. Having petrified Cetus, the sea monster threatening Andromeda, Perseus placed Medusa's head on the riverbank while he washed his hands. When he recovered her head, he saw that her blood had turned the seaweed (in some variants the reeds) into red coral. (From wikipedia.org)

coral

At the beginning of the Christian era, there was a great trade carried on in coral between the Mediterranean and India.  There was great demand from Asia as it was very rarely seen even in the regions which produced it.  Among the Romans branches of coral were hung around children's necks to preserve them from danger, and the substance had many medicinal virtues attributed to it. A belief in its potency as a charm continued to be entertained throughout medieval times; and even early in the 20th century in Italy was worn as a preservative from the evil eye, and by females as a cure for sterility.  Coral has been traded considerably among the Mediterranean communities of Europe.  Presently, coral industry is centered in Italy, especially in Naples, Rome, and Torre del Greco.

Red and Pink coral are the most valuable and have been used in jewelry for thousand of years.  Unbelievably soft with hardness of 3-3.5 on the Mohs scale and its vitreous lustre, coral still used to produce jewelry in the present day.  People may not realize that corals are living creatures.  Corals are made up of the skeletal remains of marine animals called coral polyps.  These tiny creatures live in colonies which form branching structures as they grow, eventually forming coral reefs and atolls.   A coral structure is actually composed of hundreds or thousands of tiny animals.  It is one of the most biologically rich and economically valuable ecosystems on Earth.

Consumer demand for coral in jewelry making contributes to increased problems of coral reefs extinction.  Apart from shallow-water coral reefs and deep-sea corals that are threatened by climate change, overfishing from rising in population, and pollution.

Coral may be imitated by porcelain, stained bone, glass, plastic, or rubber and gypsum mixtures.  A synthetic dyed red bamboo coral looks similar to natural coral.  Fire opal, orange spinel, orange sapphire, or chalcedony is an alternative gem for people who prefer a real gem.  Corals produced by Gilson also look similar to natural corals.

The picture of coral tiny animals popping out to catch a pray is still in my mind.  Should I see coral offered for sale again, I will rethink about buying it.

Tanzanite Diamond Ring

Tanzanite is a desirable gemstone for people who love blue colored gemstones. Its rivals in term of color saturation and hue are the best of Kashmir sapphires or Burma sapphires. Customers who have an eye for beautiful blue gems may not resist a temptation to buy a fine quality tanzanite at first sight. A strong intense mixture of blue and violet hues with a slight reddish tone is unusual and is a mixture of colors not comparable to any gem in the world.

Gem collectors and dealers may prefer rich velvet royal blue Kashmir or Burma sapphires. Admittedly, who can pay an exorbitant price for a Kashmir or Burma sapphire? Moreover, Kashmir or Burma sapphires in big sizes are barely available to the gem market. Blue tanzanite is definitely daring to jewelry designers and buyers.

Fine quality tanzanite is not hard to find in the gem market or in auctions. Tanzanite ring in the picture above will be auctioned at Phillips De Pury on 19 April, 2012. Tanzanite weighs approximately 14.67 carats, flanked on either side by a half-moon diamond, within a pavé-set diamond surround, gallery and shoulders, mounted in 18K white gold, size 6 1/4.
ESTIMATE $10,000-15,000

Green Diamond Ring

How natural radiation give diamond a green hue one may not know. Green diamond's exorbitant price is well know and justified. The presence of green color if in the entire diamond is really one of a kind.

A Fancy Light Bluish Green Diamond Ring set with a cushion-cut natural fancy light bluish green diamond, weighing approximately 4.21 carats, with a pavé-set diamond surround, gallery and half hoop, mounted in 18K rose gold, size 6 1/2. With report no.5121934549 dated 6 January 2011 from the Gemological Institute of America, stating that the diamond weighing 4.21 carats is Natural Fancy Light Bluish Green color, VVS1 clarity
ESTIMATE $210,000-250,000

Isn't it beautifully rare treasures?

Spessartite Garnet Ring

Some seller says an orange red spessartite garnet commands highest price. Other sellers say mandarin garnet indeed commands the highest price. As far as I’m concern, an orange mandarin garnet is far better in demand and price than red spessartite garnet.

Anyway, I can hardly resist this magnificent orange red spessartite garnet in 18k yellow gold ring. The look & colors of this spessartite is superb. The ring style is contemporary. The spessartite garnet weighs 21.49 carats.

This ring is offered by Nigel Milne in 1stdibs.com at $8,400.
http://jewelry.1stdibs.com/jewelry_item_detail.php?id=44465

Now I understand why some seller prefers an orange red spessartite garnet.

Teodora Emerald

In a couple days, we will know the price tag of the world's largest cut emerald. The rough-cut opaque emerald looks like watermelon was appraised at $1.15 million. The emerald will be auctioned on January 28, 2012.

The emerald weights 57,000 carat or 11.5 kilograms. It is named 'Teodora' and rough translation is 'God's Gift.'

"It's not unusual for gemstones to sell a lot higher than their appraised value, just depending on who wants to possess the largest emerald in the world. Really the sky's the limit," Western Star Auctions owner Mike Odenbach.

Ready for writing a check? May be you are one of collectors who like to chase the Guinness world record things.

Renowned gem and jewelry expert Antoinette Matlins, whom I rather base opinions in gem and jewelry on, said the stone "appears to be heavily included with numerous surface reaching fractures."

Personally, I prefer smaller natural top-notch blue green color emerald in very good clarity that not gone through treatment. And in this economic climate, 1 million dollars may be well spent in gold or precious metals. Let's hope one day the emerald will find its place in some museum so that anyone can enjoy this natural beauty.

(photo by Western Star Auction)

Gemstones Perceived as an Asset Class

From Economist.com
THAT nervy investors pile into gold is well known: the price of the yellow metal breached $1,900 an ounce again this week. But growing numbers are also venturing farther afield, into gemstones such as rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Although coloured stones are a hotch-potch of an asset class, anecdotal evidence points to surging values.

Dealers say prices for high-quality rubies are up by 50% this year and have doubled in the past two years. Top-notch sapphires that in 2009 would have fetched $65,000-80,000 per carat (a unit of mass equal to 200 milligrams) now change hands for $150,000 or more, says Joe Menzie, a former head of the International Coloured Gemstone Association. In a recent auction to wholesalers, African emeralds sold for 63% more per carat than higher-quality stones fetched last December. Even stones of average quality are up by 20-25% this year, says one dealer. The boom has also boosted semi-precious stones, such as rubellite and red spinel, worn by those who can’t quite stretch to a ruby. “Some semi-precious stones are now priced as if they were precious,” says Guy Clutterbuck of CGM, which sells to retailers.
In this section

There are several forces driving the price rises. The strongest is surging demand from faster-growing economies, particularly China and India. Both countries have a long-standing passion for coloured stones, some of which are seen as bringing good luck (yellow sapphires in Hinduism, for instance). Their new rich flaunt them as status symbols at dinner parties in Shanghai and Mumbai. One American dealer reports difficulty getting hold of tanzanite, a blue semi-precious stone. He can sell it for $300 per carat and will thus pay up to $280, but cannot compete with Chinese wholesalers willing to pay $350 so they can sell to domestic clients for $400. A contributing factor is the rise of the yuan against the dollar, the denominating currency for gemstone prices.

A second force is economic insecurity. Like gold, gemstones are seen by some as a tangible store of value in turbulent times. Dealers are increasingly being asked to put together collections for wealthy Americans who want to diversify away from paper investments. “Wall Street types are reading the auction results and picking up the phone,” says Edward Boehm of RareSource, which buys stones from mines.

A third factor is supply shortages. Unlike the artificial constraints imposed on diamond supply by big sellers, gemstone shortages are real. Good-quality coloured stones are hard to find in the ground at the best of times. The outfits digging for them tend to be tiny compared with the diamond giants: one of the biggest emerald miners, Gemfields, has a market value of just $66m (though it is growing smartly). “It is much more a business of mavericks” than diamonds is, says Mr Clutterbuck. Local politics have contributed to shortages. In 2008 America banned imports of gemstones from junta-ruled Myanmar, a major source of rubies. Madagascar has sapphire deposits but its politics are dysfunctional and its infrastructure poor.

Read more: http://www.economist.com/node/21528623

An intelligent Investor diversifies his portfolio by put money in stocks, bonds, gold, real estate, or cash. He shuffles in and out of these assets from time to time. Some may venture into new asset classes such as wines, diamonds, arts, antiques, a new start up business, or other high risk investments. It's no wonder one may venture into invest in gem quality colored gemstones. A savvy investor may invest in natural & rare gemstones in large carat sizes. As these gemstones have well acceptance in the international auction houses. Same as stocks, bonds, real estate, or gold, their prices are reflected from supply and demand mechanisms.

Investing in colored gemstones may be perceived as a high risk investment for some old school of thought, as colored gemstones is not wildly traded as stocks in stock market. Gem quality natural colored gemstones increase in price as time pass however a savvy investor must do some works before starting to buy gemstones.

For example, he must do some research for which gemstone to invest, find some reliable and trustworthy dealers, and most important is request a third party or an international accredited lab certification when buying a gemstone.

Gemstones investment may be a new idea for a western investor. People in India, China, and Asian perceive gemstones as personal adornment and investment. In some countries that face inflation risk, holding good quality gemstones may put the owner in better position than holding paper money. In disturbing or falling apart countries, quality gemstones can buy a way to escape to a third country.

For a savvy & well preserved wealth investor, investing in gem quality colored gemstones not only increases his purchasing power in the future, have inherited jewelry for his family but also have an admiration from his wife for an extraordinary piece of jewelry.

Fire Opal Antique Jewelry

One might be wonder to see an antique fire opal jewelry as we often see other precious gems such as ruby or sapphire used in antique jewelry. Interestingly, fire opal has been admired and used in jewelry embellishment since ancient times.

This fire opal jewelry is offered by A La Vieille Russie, a antique dealer in New York.
Fire opal is named for its warm and fiery color. Usually, they are orange to red in color. A reddish fire opal is sometimes called cherry opal.

Fire opal is a gem stone that gives its wearer courage, stamina, will-power and energy. Along with tourmaline, fire opal is the birthstone for October.

Amethyst and Diamond Brooch

When looks at this amethyst & diamond brooch, one might be dazzled by the auction ending price of $40,350.
This semi-precious stone amethyst, a quartz gemstone, abundance and affordable, can get high price when set into jewelry? I guess it's the design that took the price so high. The style of big, bold amethyst surrounded by a symmetrical array of diamonds is a mixture of late Renaissance style and retro style jewelry.

Astronomers Discover Planet Made of Diamond

I have known one day there will be a discovery like this.

Astronomers have spotted an exotic planet that seems to be made of diamond racing around a tiny star in our galactic backyard.

The new planet is far denser than any other known so far and consists largely of carbon. Because it is so dense, scientists calculate the carbon must be crystalline, so a large part of this strange world will effectively be diamond.

Read more in: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/08/29/astronomers-discover-planet-made-diamond/?test=faces

Pink Spinels and Diamond Pendant Ear Clips

Pink spinel resembles pink sapphire. In the past pink spinel costs a lot less but not today more gem lovers and collectors covet to spinels. Since eccentric & beautiful Tanzania spinels appear in the gem market, spinel price is skyrocket and big carat size spinels are in deep pocket gem companies.

This step-cut pair of pink spinel is considered rare to find in this size. The auction is for spinel and diamond pendant ear clips each decorated with a step-cut pink spinel weighing 20.00 and 20.07 carats bordered by brilliant-cut diamonds, suspending a detachable pear-shared diamond drop weighing respectively 7.27 and 8.78 carats surmounted by a pair of similar stones, mounted in white gold and platinum size 52. The set was sold for 1,594,500chf in a Sothebys auction.

Demantoid Garnet Diamond Ring

Have you ever wonder why brownish-green stone, olive-green, or a yellowish-green stone just like this stone in this diamond jewelry get high price in the reputable auctions? Its color is less superior to emerald, tsavorite garnet, or green tourmaline. Mostly you will find inclusions in a stone. Only a few stones achieve more than two carats. However, this sometimes almost ugly stone is one of the most expensive gems in the world, and it is not just ordinary member of the garnet family; it's demantoid.

After demantoid garnet was discovered in 1868, demantoid was a darling of jewelers as we have seen jewelry in the Edwardian era and the Victorian era using these small stones. Tiffany had used demantoid extensively in the late nineteenth century.

Demantoid is more dispersive than diamond but the stone is extremely rare in big size.

Guideline for Colored Gemstones Trend 2011

What is the trend color of gemstones in 2011? I just found the article from worldone-journal.com

http://www.worldone-journal.com/cgi-bin/adframe/gemstones/article.html?ADFRAME_MCMS_ID=117&page=1&id=1310012939125241306722389

The preferred gemstone colour varies according to the latest hues of this season’s fashions. For World One, various experts point out where this year's gemstone voyage will lead.

by Axel Henselder

Everyone has their own favourite colour. But these preferences vary according to the mood of the day, the general atmosphere and the time of year. Fashion designers have long been aware of this and develop new colour variations for each season. According to the Chinese calendar, we are now in the year of the rabbit, which represents a pure zest for life. So it is fi tting that fashion as well as jewellery will incorporate more colour than ever before. “My favourite colour is colourful!” as the German Bauhaus architect Walter Gropius once put it. The year 2011 would have been a real pleasure for him. Demand for coloured gemstones looks set to increase signifi cantly this year – after a robust trend in 2010.

Renowned colour guru Leatrice Eiseman has explained to the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) where this year’s gemstone journey will lead and which natural nuances will be particularly sought-after. Eiseman is executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, which determines the trend colours for the world of fashion each year.

Nicole Ripp from gemstone cutters Groh + Ripp, based in Idar-Oberstein, has been investigating colour trends and their signifi cance for the jewellery industry for many years and weighs in on what she foresees. “The same applies to jewellery as a sought-after accessory as it does to fashion. Trend colours infl uence the choice of coloured gemstones as clothing and jewellery should ideally be of the same tone or a complementary shade,” says the gemstone expert.

TINGLING PINK AS A TREND COLOUR FOR 2011

According to the Pantone Color Institute, honeysuckle is the colour for 2011. It has an intense tone as well as being dynamic and uplifting – just what people need after the crisis. This is a reddish-pink, closer to red and warmer than the baby pink of the past few years. It is a colour, which seems to be infl uenced by Latin American culture. The colour suits people of all ages, from teenagers to 80-year-olds. It even suits men as it is not really girly. Honeysucklelike pinks include tourmaline, red spinel, rhodolite garnet and fancy pink sapphire. Those who prefer a pastel shade can opt for kunzite, morganite, rose quartz and natural pink diamonds.

Markus Wild from Paul Wild in Idar- Oberstein is also focusing on vibrant red shades as the trend colours for 2011: he has secured for himself what is probably a historically unique deposit of spinel from Tanzania, defi ned by an elegant and lively redtone. He has also noted a growing demand for padparadscha, Burma rubies and sapphires, which cover the full range from pink to dark red. “Over the last two years, berry tones have become an essential part of jewelexpert, she adds: “Berry colours are nuances, which can be combined particularly well. Every woman can fi nd a colour to suit her from a wide range of tones".

TURQUOISE AND OTHER BLUE TONES

Fashionistas will certainly remember that turquoise was the Pantone color of 2010. But it is certainly not a colour on the way out, as Eiseman explains. Turquoise and other blue tones continue to play a key role, especially when skilfully combined with purples. After all, purple is a mixture of red and blue. This results in a fresh and modern look. Amethyst, purple sapphire, alexandrite and turquoise all fi t in with this trend. Moonstone, labradorite and blue tourmaline have also been trend stones for the last two years – and they are still hot.

Paul Wild offers rare stones like Kashmir sapphires to tie in with this new blue trend. Constantin Wild, also from Idar-Oberstein, sees moonstone from Tanzania as a particularly fashionable stone.

“The stones shimmer with transparency in an unbelievable luminous blue tone. A necklace in this colour complements any skin tone and personality.” “Blue is a classic,” confi rms Ripp. Blue is far and away the most popular colour among both women and men. It is associated with many positive characteristics: sympathy, harmony, friendliness and friendship. Blue is like the sky and stands for expanse and infi nity. As a colour of trust and reliability, it has a peaceful and relaxing effect. “Delicate blue aquamarine, intense blue tanzanite and exquisite sapphire are a key theme,” says Ripp. A great value alternative for blue stone fans is blue topaz, which comes in all shades.
According to Eiseman, green is also an essential trend colour, in addition to honeysuckle. However, this does not mean normal green but rather yellow or olive green – the “dirtier” greens. The stones, which refl ect this trend are yellow-green peridot, apple green chrysoprase, some shades of zultanite, green tourmaline, beryl, chrome diopside, chrysoberyl, jade, prasiolite, demantoid garnet, prehnite and aventurine.

Let's Goes Green

“Delicate green, as offered by heliodor for example, is also a theme in the current trend for green,” explains coloured gemstone expert Ripp. “Mint-coloured Paraiba, Mozambique tourmaline and light green tourmaline also tone in well with the trend.” Paul Wild’s collection comprises Paraiba tourmaline from his own mine in Brazil to satisfy this demand for green.

From Cafe Au Lait to Chocolate

Brown tones will remain an important area in 2011, as Eiseman is convinced. All tones will be represented in accessories, from light to dark browns. Rutilated quartz with its yellowish- brown or gold-coloured needles, smoky quartz, brown agate, tiger’s eye, moss agate and honey-brown chrysoberyl all present sophisticated brown tones. Natural coloured diamonds in champagne and cognac shades likewise reflect this trend.

2011 Impressive Gemstones AGTA Cutting Edge Awards

1st Place -Pairs & Suites
Clay Zava
Zava Mastercuts
Suite of pastel Cuprian Tourmalines (127.40 ctw.).
This suite is really one of a kind in terms of cut & colors of tourmaline. It takes an effort to find fine enough Mozambique Cuprian tourmalines roughs with good colors & fine clarity.


Honorable Mention
Pairs & Suites
Darrell Jang
Aspen-shaped leaves cut from a 15.09 ct. Peridot and a 11.15 ct. Heliodor.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE TH MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The beryl & peridot with this cutting is very inspiring. I’m tempted to use his service for cutting my gemstones. The cutting design is very impressive. It makes ordinary gemstones look extraordinary & yet beautiful.

Impressive Spinels at The Smithsonian

Spinels are commonly found in occurrence with corundum (ruby and sapphire) and have historically been confused with each other due to their many similarities. The major sources of spinel gemstones are Burma, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Other significant occurrences are Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Viet Nam, and Russia

Tiffany & Co. Foundation donated the beautiful Sri Lanka & Tajikistan spinels to The Smithsonian Institution mineral and gem collection. The gems are exceptional in colors & quality which I believe they command high price in the gem market.

Little we know about spinels from Tajikistan due to Tajikistan spinel was found in a remoted area located in conflicted geographical situation of the Then-Soviet Union. These spinels are impressive in term of size, colors & their rarity.

The 14.02-carat violet-blue Sri Lanka spinel
The 16.79-carat orangey-pink Tajikistan spinel
Photography by Chip Clark. Gift of Tiffany & Co. Foundation, 2009.

Whitney Alexandrite

Photography by Chip Clark. Gift of Coralyn Wright Whitney, 2009.

Alexandrite is a gem variety of the mineral chrysoberyl, and is one of the most prized and exotic gemstones. The sensational feature about this stone is its dramatic color change from green or bluish-green in daylight to purplish-red under incandescent light. The original locality for alexandrite is Russia, however, now most alexandrite comes from Brazil, Sri Lanka, India, Tanzania, and Madagascar. Alexandrite in sizes over 5 carats are extremely rare.

The Whitney Alexandrite is one of the finest known alexandrites from the Hematita Mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This spectacular gem weighs 17.08 carats, and appears a raspberry color under incandescent light and a teal color in daylight. The Whitney Alexandrite is a gift from Coralyn Wright Whitney to the Smithsonian's fine gem collection in 2009. It is on view in the National Gem Gallery.

Visit The Smithsonian Institution mineral and gem collection to see the real gem.

CEYLON PINK SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND RING

Ceylon pink sapphire may have many pretty shades of pink, tending towards the lighter side and some with tinges of violet and purple. Large sizes are rare, and fine examples truly mark the borderline between pink sapphire and ruby.

This pink sapphire & diamond ring was auctioned at Christies, New York, Rockefeller Plaza. The sapphire set to the circular-cut diamond prongs, gallery and half-hoop, mounted in platinum.

The pink sapphire weighs approximately 17.16 carats, Sri Lanka origin, and there are the lab reports accompanied from the AGTA Gemological Testing Center and the American Gemological Laboratories stating that the pink sapphire is natural and no indications of heating. The auctin
price realized of $338,500.

Burma Star Ruby & Diamond Ring

Star ruby is a phenomenon gemstone. Ruby may display stars. Fine star rubies display sharp six-rayed stars well-centered in the middle of the cabochon and you may see even twelve-rayed stars depends on light sources. All legs of the star should be intact and smooth. Just having a good star does not make a stone valuable. The best pieces have sharp stars against an intense crimson body color. Lesser stones may have sharp stars, but the body color is too light or grayish. Many star rubies are also heated in the presence of a flux to heal their fractures. Untreated stones fetch premium prices.

The star ruby cabochon accented with single and brilliant-cut, baguette and triangular diamond decoration, size 48, numbered ,from Sotheby's auction.

Kunzite & Diamond Jewelry

Kunzite is a pink to lilac variety of spodumene. Kunzite has hardness of 6.5-7. Kunzite frequently irradiated to enhance the color and some has been heated. Natural pink kunzite is very attractive. Due to kunzite's cleavage & splintery fracture, it is considered a real gem cutters challenge. However, its lovely
pink color makes kunzite a desirable gemstone.

Here we have the result of kunzite jewelry at Sotheby's Hong Kong auction. The ring centring on an oval kunzite weighing approximately 14.50 carats, to a stylised mount set with brilliant-cut diamonds; the pair of ear clips each simply set with an oval kunzite altogether weighing approximately 13.00 carats, clip and post fittings; and a pendant suspending to the front with a pear-shaped kunzite weighing approximately 22.00 carats, supported by a stylised surmount set with marquise-shaped and brilliant-cut diamonds, decorated by circular-cut kunzites, accompanied by a link chain, adjustable length approximately 380 or 430mm; mounted in 18 karat white gold.

Impressive 9.46 carats Burmese Spinel

Envy for the winner of this auction, as anyone knows how hard it is to find a natural untreated Burmese spinel 5 carats up in the market. This cushion-shaped spinel weighs 9.46 carats, flanked by modified hexagonal-shaped diamond weighing approximately 1.90 carats.

Extraordinary Colors Padparadscha Sapphire & 18 karat White Gold

Quite an extraordinary colors padparadscha sapphire in the Sothebys' auction, an oval padparadscha sapphire weighing 5.12 carats, framed by diamond together weighing approximately 1.80 carats, mounted in 18 karat white gold. The buyer paid with the price of HKD 175,000.