2011/08/16

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.

2011/07/07

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.

2011/05/17

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.

2010/11/29

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.