GIA's Winter Edition of Gems & Gemology is Available Online - Highlights Diamonds

Press Release from GIA

Winter Issue of GIA’s Gems & Gemology Highlights Diamonds

Quarterly professional journal reviews auctions, colored diamonds, emeralds and more

The Winter 2014 issue of GIA’s peer-reviewed journal Gems & Gemology (G&G) reviews rough diamond auctions and pricing, the Argyle mine’s pink diamond tenders, a gemological study of the 12.03 carat Blue Moon diamond, the separation of natural and synthetic emeralds using vibrational spectroscopy, and much more. The issue is now available in print, and online with exclusive video content.

G&G’s cover story, “Rough Diamond Auctions: Sweeping Changes in Pricing and Distribution” by GIA Senior Industry Analyst Russell Shor, examines the growing percentage of rough diamonds being sold through auctions, a shift that has caused price volatility while opening up supply to more manufacturers and dealers. He explains that some in the industry advocate auctions as a more accurate reflection of rough diamond market values, while others fear they encourage price volatility and speculation.

Next is “Exceptional Pink to Red Diamonds: A Celebration of the 30th Argyle Diamond Tender,” an insightful review by the GIA laboratory’s John King, Dr. James E. Shigley and Claudia Jannucci. Over the years, GIA has graded extremely rare polished pink diamonds from Australia’s Argyle mine, which have been sold for 30 years through invitation-only tenders. This article presents a concise survey of the color, carat weight and cutting style of the gems offered through those tenders.

In another feature, Dr. Eloïse Gaillou of the Paris School of Mines, Dr. Jeffrey Post of the Smithsonian Institution and their co-authors present a gemological study of the 12.03 carat Blue Moon diamond, an internally flawless Fancy Vivid blue diamond. Discovered at the historic Cullinan mine in early 2014, this diamond set the auction record price for a rough gem prior to its fashioning. In the final article, Dr. Le Thi-Thu Huong from the Hanoi University of Science and her co-authors deliver a preliminary study – contrasting FTIR and Raman spectrometry – on the topic of separating natural and synthetic emeralds using vibrational spectroscopy.

The issue also includes entries on the first non-nacreous beaded cultured pearl, a new Ethiopian black opal deposit, a beryl and topaz doublet set in fine jewelry, and demantoid garnet from a new deposit in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province. Additional details about G&G, full articles, more in-depth coverage, hundreds of additional photos, and exclusive video footage are available on GIA’s website at http://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research.  

Happy Valentine's Day From the Daily Jewel!

I AM ALL ABOUT BRINGING ALL THINGS GEMMY TOGETHER - SO HERE IS MY TRIBUTE TO SAINT VALENTINE!

From mineral specimens...

to Shells - when you open this shell you get a broken heart...

via AliExpress 

to Diamonds ....this one was auctioned by Christies in 2011...

to one of my all time favorite pieces of jewelry...via Coast Diamonds...

Check out their Valentine Post:  https://lovecoastblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/coast-diamond-announces-most-romantic-engagement-rings-for-valentines-day-2015/

...and finally one of my favorite Artisan Jewelers - Margaux Lange's Barbie Body Parts pieces!

http://www.margauxlange.com/

Michael Belleveau & Regina Leadem To Lead Wholesale Business Developement For Ritmo Mundo

From Press Release

Ritmo Mundo Appoints Seasoned Veterans of the Industry

Michael Belleveau & Regina Leadem 

To Lead Wholesale Business Developement 

Ali Soltani, Founder and President of Ritmo Mundo Group of Beverly Hills, California has announced that, as of Feb 1, 2015, MJB Solutions, LLC is responsible for wholesale business development in an eight-state area, spanning from Connecticut through Maryland, in addition to the opening and management of national accounts. As such, Michael Belleveau and Regina Leadem, veterans of the watch and jewelry trade for nearly fifty years combined, will spearhead re-launching of the Ritmo Mundo watch brand and debut of the Reflex watch in the US. 

 Belleveau, who has held increasingly responsible management positions in the industry with Cartier, Victorinox/Swiss Army, Bulgari and Raymond Weil as well as having held the post of President/CEO of both Baccarat, Inc. and Trollbeads United States, Inc., will serve as Director of Sales. 

Leadem, who has been Vice President/Director of Sales for Victorinox/Swiss Army, Christian Dior and Gucci as well as Vice President of Client Development for GE Capital will function as National Account Manager. Leadem also sits on the Board of Directors of Jewelers Vigilance Committee and Women’s Jewelry Association and is a Graduate, Diamonds from the Gemological Institute of America.

Upon issuing the announcement, Mr. Soltani said, “The Ritmo Mundo and Reflex brands are poised to invigorate the watch industry in the US and globally. Both our cutting-edge marketing campaign and enhanced distribution network will demonstrate this over the coming months. I am delighted to welcome these two well-respected industry professionals to our team. Their expertise will ensure a positive outcome.”

Ritmo Mundo watches have been headquartered on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills since 2002 and take pride in providing luxury timepieces utilizing classic and bold designs with modern components. 

Ritmo Mundo has been the official watch of the Indycar Race Series, the Ocean 11 and Ocean 12 movies, The Fast and the Furious movie franchise and HBO’s Entourage and Sx and the City. In 2014 Ritmo announced its latest partnership with the LA Galaxy Major League Soccer Club who captured this year’s 2014 MLS Cup.

https://ritmomundo.com/

Visit the Gubelin Gem Lab and the Gubelin Academy at Hong Kong International Jewellery Show

Missing Your Daily Jewel? Check us out at #TucsonGemShow!

Follow Tucson Gem Show - LIVE! :   http://tucsongemshow.blogspot.com/

LORD Jewelry   http://cargocollective.com/lordjewelry

United Gemco     http://www.unitedgemco.com/

Chatham had a very extensive display of their new Jewelry lines....

The latest from Chatham - Morganite!  http://chatham.com/

Laura Gibson       http://www.lauragibson.com/

Be careful  what follows you at the AZ Mineral & Fossil Show...Hotel Tucson City Center

Rocksaholics - Room 170 at Pueblo Show at the Riverpark Inn

SERIOUSLY????

Seminars at AGTA GemFair

Alishan     http://www.alishanonline.com/

Just a few of the colors of Tanzanite  at Prima Gems

The Mint Garnet at Prima Gems turns PINK!

Chi demos Galatea's  Momento Pearl

Follow Tucson Gem Show - LIVE! :   http://tucsongemshow.blogspot.com/

#DesignerSpotlight Pascal Lacroix It All About the Leaves of Gold... #DailyJewel

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/pascallacroixdesigns
Website:     https://www.pascallacroix.com/

#GIA - Dreher Gem Carving Dynasty from Germany to Exhibit in California

From Press Release by GIA

Dreher Gem Carving Dynasty from Germany to Exhibit in California

Intricate animal carvings to go on view at GIA in Carlsbad, Feb. 19

Carving by Patrick Dreher, 12 x 12 x 13 cm,
 from a single piece of strawberry quartz 
with zones of amethyst and rock crystal. 
Courtesy of the Larson family. 
Photo by Robert Weldon; © GIA

Over 20 intricately carved and lifelike animal sculptures by world-renowned gemstone carvers Gerd and Patrick Dreher will go on exhibit at GIA’s (Gemological Institute of America) world headquarters in Carlsbad, CA beginning  Fenruary 19th. The Dreher family, whose legacy dates back five generations, is part of the 600-year gemstone carving tradition in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, a major center for the cutting and carving of gems. “Generations of Mastery: Gemstone Carvings by Dreher” will be on view through summer 2015.  

“Pieces by the Dreher family are among the most admired gemstone carvings in the world,” said Terri Ottaway, curator of the GIA Museum. “Their sophisticated designs and artistry have been refined and passed down through generations. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to share the Dreher family’s extraordinary craftsmanship.”

Known for its one-of-a-kind gemstone carvings, particularly animal sculptures, the House of Dreher has created celebrated pieces since the late 1800s. In the mid-twentieth century, the family gained further acclaim for their work with design house Fabergé. Today, their carvings can be seen in museums around the world and in private collections. Dreher creates sculptures using many different gem materials, but a favorite of the design house is natural agate from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

The more than 20 gem carvings in GIA’s “Generations of Mastery: Gemstone Carvings by Dreher” exhibit depict lifelike animals such as a chameleon, a starfish, and a frog perched on a lily pad. The Drehers are known for their extensive study of animals and other creatures, drawing from as many as 500 photos of each subject to create the superb detail in their works of art. Pieces in the exhibit include jasper, agate, tourmaline, ruby in zoisite, smoky quartz and grossular garnet.

Carving by Gerd Dreher, 10.5 x 10 cm, in grossular garnet with shale.
Courtesy of the Larson family. Photo by Robert Weldon; © GIA

The pieces exhibited are on loan from the Larson family of Fallbrook, CA. Bill Larson, owner of Pala International, is a well-known collector and connoisseur of gems, minerals and carvings. 

Carving by Patrick Dreher, 7x5 cm, from a single crystal of smoky quartz.
Courtesy of the Larson family. Photo by Robert Weldon; © GIA

“Generations of Mastery: Gemstone Carvings by Dreher” will be on display from Feb. 19 through summer 2015. GIA’s museum is free and open to the public Mondaythrough Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are required and must be made at least 24 hours in advance by emailing  guestservices@gia.edu or calling 800-421-7250, ext. 4116 or 760-603-4116. 

For more details about the museum, visit GIA’s website.

Carving by Gerd Dreher, 17x10 cm, from a single piece of multicolored agate. 

Courtesy of the Larson family. Photo by Robert Weldon; © GIA

About GIA

An independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight in the early 1950s and in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which, today, is recognized by virtually every professional jeweler in the world.

Through research, education, gemological laboratory services, and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science, and professionalism. Visit www.gia.edu.