International Colored Gemstone Association

On October 9th, the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association invited professionals from various fields to speak at the “2025 Diamond, Gems & Jewelry Market Scenario” event. Gubelin Gem Lab was honored to be one of the speakers, providing insights on the latest developments and trends from a gem laboratory’s perspective. At Gubelin Gem Lab, we believe that Gemtelligence—an artificial intelligence tool for origin and treatment determination—is a powerful asset for gemmologists, helping to evaluate data from various analytical machines. This technology saves our gemmologists time, reduces human error, and increases the reliability of our services. We have also identified a growing demand for reporting services tailored to mid- to high-end gemstones. In response, Gubelin Gem Lab has introduced a new service powered by Gemtelligence called Gem Passport, specifically for stones up to 3 carats. For rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, it determines the country of origin, and for rubies and sapphires, it detects the possible presence of heat treatment. It was an honour to participate in this event, and we gained valuable insights from professionals across the industry. We extend our gratitude to President Somchai Phornchindarak, Vice President Tong Chomphol Phornchindarak, Laurent Heer from Mouawad, Anastasia Prudnikova from Gemstock.org CO LTD, and Amira W Hatta W. Hatta from ICA Gem Lab. #Gubelin #gubelingemlab #gemstones #AI #gemtelligence #gempassport #jewellery #thailand

The use of precious metals, like gold and silver, and precious stones as materials in luxury objets d'art has been very popular throughout history. Jade has been one of such precious materials in the decorative arts, specially nephrite jade, that is the trade term used to describe the high-tenacity, typically translucent to opaque, massive microcrystalline to cryptocrystalline fibrous agglomerate composed essentially by amphiboles of the tremolite-actinolite series. This was the traditional jade material of the Chinese civilization crafted since the Neolithic, locally known as 玉 (yu), namely those found in very large blocks, boulders or pebbles in Xinjiang (Hetian, Manasi), Qinghai, Guizhou, Guangxi and Liaoning, in China. Although we usually think "green" when the word jade is mentioned, the most coveted variety in China has been the tremolite-rich white variety often known in the trade as "mutton fat jade". In the photo, white nephrite jade set with rubies, emeralds and diamonds in gold (20.9 x 8.8 x 2.0 cm), Mughal court, c. 1650-1700. © Victoria and Albert Museum #jade #luxury #gemstones #jewelry

THE TIMELESS ART OF GEMSTONE CARVING IN IDAR-OBERSTEIN: Part of a Special Report on Idar-Oberstein By Martin P. Steinbach Germany's picturesque town of #IdarOberstein stands as a beacon of excellence in the world of gemstones. Renowned not only for its gem cutting and trading, this vibrant locale is also celebrated for its very rich tradition of Steinschneidekunst-stone cutting art; featuring all kinds of glyptic art: cameos, intaglios, small and large sculptures, objets d'art and coats-of-arms carvings. Many of the world's most acclaimed carvers also learned their trade from the world-class carvers in Idar-Oberstein. This article offers a glimpse into some of the artisans and their remarkable art forms crafted in Idar-Oberstein. Click the link in our bio for this fascinating story! #InColorMagazine #ICAMember #ICATrust #ICAEthics #ColorTheWorld

Excellent information!

Traveling to many parts of this great country for SUNA Bros & Platinum Born, I have the privilege of witnessing where people “Belong”. Retailers and their staff “Belong” in their communities. Clientele “Belongs” at their jeweler (and sometimes their family has for generations!). It is palpable that people also feel welcome and “Belong” when they walk into a location for the first time. Smiles are contagious… A “Thank You” should generate organically. It can be so rewarding to help someone feel that they BELONG…. Can you spot it in your everyday?

#CIBJO presents the #2024CIBJOCongress, November 2-4, with pre-congress meetings on October 31 and November 1. The main venue and hotel for the event is the Shangri-La Qiantan in the New Bund International Business District of Pudong, Shanghai, China CIBJO Congresses serve as the official gathering place for the World Jewellery Confederation’s Assembly of Delegates, and also are the venue for the annual meetings of CIBJO’s sectoral commissions, where amendments can be introduced to the organisation’s definitive directories of international industry standards for diamonds, coloured stones, pearls, gem labs, precious metals, coral and responsible sourcing, known as the Blue Books. Congresses are also where the programme of the World Jewellery Confederation Education Foundation (WJCEF) and CIBJO’s ongoing cooperation with the United Nations is reported upon, and in particular its commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Click https://ow.ly/kYUE50TQ6zh to register! #CIBJO #Shanghai #IndustryLeaders #ICAMember #ColorTheWorld

Prepared by the CIBJO Coral Commission, headed by Vincenzo LIVERINO, the report look at how the industry has relied on science both to ensure the sustainability of its own precious coral resources, as well as to help save non-precious reef corals that are under threat from global warming and ocean acidification.

Matthew Gordy Stuller was 15 when his mom dropped him off at the library in his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana, so he could catch up on studying. An indifferent student, he ditched his books to wander around downtown and spotted a “going steady” ring in a jewelry store window that he thought might win over a particular girl. He persuaded the store owner to sell him the $39.99 ring, which succeeded in charming the young lady, for $5 down and $5 a week. “I’ve always been somewhat of a romantic,” he confides. Yet sentiment has little to do with how Stuller, now 73, has become America’s wholesale jewelry king, with a net worth that Forbes estimates at more than $1 billion. Instead, he has built his fortune through a relentless focus on manufacturing processes, logistics and satisfying his retailer customers’ every need. https://trib.al/xMooSMY

Garnets were named as such after the similarity of the typical stone’s red colour with the colour of the grains of the pomegranate fruit, from the Latin granatum, derived from granatus, “with many grains”, like the fruit. It happens though that not all gem garnets are red. In fact, coveted gem garnets are green, notably demantoid and tsavorite. The later is a vanadium and chromium-bearing grossular garnet (a calcium and aluminium-bearing garnet mineral species), that was first discovered by Campbell Bridges (1937-2009) in 1967 near Komolo, northern Tanzania, becoming commercially relevant in 1970 after being found in Kenya. Notable occurrences include Tanzania (Merelani, Komolo and Ruangwa), from where a mint-green variety occurs as a by-product of tanzanite extraction in Merelani, as well as in Kenya, Pakistan, Madagascar, Ethiopia and Antarctica. This green garnet was named tsavorite after the Tsavo National Park, as proposed by Campbell Bridges and Harry Platt from Tiffany & Co. in 1973. interestingly, “tsavolite” has been proposed as the orthographically correct term, but the idea did not have much acceptance in the trade’s nomenclature. In the photo, the famous c. 1989 leek brooch by Joel Arthur Rosenthal, JAR, with the leaves set with green garnets and the bulb set with colourless diamonds that was presented with a signed presentation stand studded with seed pearls at 2017 Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels. #garnet #gemstones #jewelry #luxury

Repost from #JewelleryOutlook Alan Hodgkinson, a Scottish gemmologist known for his widely respected book “Gem Testing Techniques,” has died aged 87 after a brief illness, his family said. Born in Liverpool in 1937, Hodgkinson was invited to join a family jeweller in Aberdeen as a young man, on condition that he became a Fellow of the Gemmological Association. He graduated with distinction in 1961. In 1969 Hodgkinson was appointed Group Training Officer for Jewellery Training Scotland Ltd in Glasgow, the first such appointment in the UK. Three years later he started his own business, manufacturing distinctive and bespoke jewellery, while simultaneously running two-day practical, “hands-on” gem identification courses in London. These courses were well attended by jewellers and became a great success. Hodgkinson embarked upon a series of lecture visits around the world, including prolonged speaking tours of South Africa, Australia and the United States. He also received invitations and repeat invites to speak and run workshops on gemmology in Canada, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, and several European countries. Encouraged by Eric Bruton, author of “Diamonds”, Hodgkinson began the task of preparing his book, “Gem Testing Techniques,” which reflected the innovative teaching and demonstration work of his practical gem courses. The book took 40 years of development before its publication in 2015 and was sold out within three years. “Gem Testing “Techniques” gives guidance on making full use of key equipment and is expected to have a long shelf life in the industry. #gemmologist #obituary