TrendsAug 05, 2022
Piece of the Week: Storrow Jewelry’s ‘Emblem Rosa’ CharmThe brand has attracted attention for its colorful, vintage-inspired pieces.
SourcingNov 01, 2016
Gemstone ‘Secrets’ Book Gets an Update
The second edition of gemologist Richard Wise’s best-selling Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Precious Gemstones is out today.
The second edition of the best-selling Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Precious Gemstones is available now, more than a decade after the first one was released.
Lenox, Mass.--The colored gemstone market is dependent on a number of factors, and fluctuations in supply and demand mean that a lot can change in a decade’s time.
For this reason, one author has given his book on the market an update.
The second edition of gem expert Richard Wise’s Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Precious Gemstones, covering the criteria used by professionals to judge the quality and value of gemstones, is out now.
Brunswick House Press first published the book in 2003, and it became a best-seller. Wise has been traveling and researching since then, slowly compiling new information and updates for the next copy of the book.
“A number of things have changed in the gem world in the 14 years (since),” Wise told National Jeweler. “In a sense, the principles of connoisseurship and quality are immutable, right? They don’t change. On the other hand, what’s available in the market has changed.”
For example, the supply of rubies has changed greatly since he wrote the last book. At that time, Myanmar was the only real source. Now Madagascar has come online and is a major player in the trade, he said.
What’s more, only some of the Madagascar rubies look like Burmese rubies, which means that the guide to evaluating the gem needed to be updated to differentiate between the types, as well as the types from a few other sources that have since emerged.
He said that spinel has always been a “dealer’s stone”--they’ve been trying to sell it to people for years and not been able to do it.
“That all changed when Mahenge [Tanzania] came online, and the cobalt blues were discovered in North Vietnam. Now, all of a sudden, we have a 1,200 percent increase in the price of blue and pink and red spinels,” he said.
Wise added that the paradigm also has shifted on red spinel, as new sources produced stones that look less like rubies, which the market was familiar with, and have a greater saturation of color.
Additions also include sections on pearls--both natural nacreous pearls and conch pearls--which have seen a major resurgence since the last book was published, and a
chapter on jade, as the gem has become somewhat of an interest to Western buyers.
Other stones added are moonstone, sunstone, colorless diamonds, Golconda or Type IIa diamonds, demantoid garnet, peridot and violet diamonds.
There also are five new introductory essays, including from the Gemological Institute of America’s Vincent Pardieu, and more than 100 new photographs.
Wise, who has visited most of the major and many of the minor gem-producing areas of the world, also authored The French Blue, in addition to having written many articles for publications like GIA’s Gems & Gemology, Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist and Colored Stone magazine.
The 404-page Secrets of the Gem Trade is $99.95, available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and most other major book retailers.
More information about the guide also can be found on SecretsofTheGemTrade.com.
Other stones added are moonstone, sunstone, colorless diamonds, Golconda or Type IIa diamonds, demantoid garnet, peridot and violet diamonds.
There also are five new introductory essays, including from the Gemological Institute of America’s Vincent Pardieu, and more than 100 new photographs.
Wise, who has visited most of the major and many of the minor gem-producing areas of the world, also authored The French Blue, in addition to having written many articles for publications like GIA’s Gems & Gemology, Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist and Colored Stone magazine.
The 404-page Secrets of the Gem Trade is $99.95, available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and most other major book retailers.
More information about the guide also can be found on SecretsofTheGemTrade.com.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
MajorsAug 05, 2022
Former Nike Executive Joins Team at David Yurman Marcelo Tau is the company’s new chief operations officer.
Policies & IssuesAug 05, 2022
Satta Matturi Joins RJC BoardThe jewelry designer founded her eponymous brand in 2015 after nearly two decades in the diamond industry.
Brought to you by
The American Mined™ Collection: Ethical Sourcing That MattersRio Grande provides a pathway to responsibly sourced gemstones.
Supplier BulletinAug 04, 2022
Unusual Jewelry Finds Eager Buyers In Online AuctionsSponsored by HiBid
Weekly QuizAug 04, 2022
This Week’s QuizTest your knowledge of the latest jewelry news with this quick test.
WatchesAug 04, 2022
4 Takeaways from Chrono24’s Analysis of the Luxury Watch MarketThe watch seller comments on future demand, how the crypto crash impacted Rolex and Patek Philippe pricing, the supply recovery, and more.
CollectionsAug 04, 2022
The Rest of De Beers’ 2022 High Jewelry Collection Is HereIt features fives sets of jewelry.
Brought to you by
Knowledge and Skills for Today’s Hot TopicsFrom laboratory-grown diamonds to design to country-of-origin, GIA's Alumni Collective™ has a seminar to suite your needs.
Lab-GrownAug 04, 2022
Lab-Grown Diamond Co. Plasmability Partners with HRA GroupThrough the collaboration, HRA will exclusively cut, polish, and distribute Plasmability’s lab-grown diamonds in the market.
IndependentsAug 04, 2022
TJA to Offer ‘Texas Tours’ at Upcoming Round-Up EventThey include a tour of a museum’s gem collection and demonstrations of diamond cutting and polishing.
TechnologyAug 03, 2022
Tiffany Introduces CryptoPunk NFT PendantsThe limited-edition pendants, available in digital and physical form, retail for $50,000 and are exclusive to holders of CryptoPunks NFTs.
AuctionsAug 03, 2022
Elvis and Colonel Tom Parker’s ‘Lost’ Jewelry Coming to AuctionThe sale includes pieces “The King” gifted to his longtime manager, as well as jewelry Elvis owned and wore on stage.
WatchesAug 03, 2022
Breitling’s Latest Ambassador Is an NFL StarTrevor Lawrence is the quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
IndependentsAug 03, 2022
Day’s Jewelers Announces New VP of Merchandising Julie Collins succeeds Kathy Corey in the role.
ColumnistsAug 02, 2022
Why Passing on Lab-Grown Diamonds Might Be a Risky BetRetailers would be wise to embrace this growing segment of the market instead of shunning it, Peter Smith writes.
SourcingAug 02, 2022
AGTA Names John Ford as Its New CEOHe’s the owner of The Lightning Ridge Collection but will pivot to focus on his new role.
TrendsAug 02, 2022
Marvel Debuts Gem-Set Infinity GauntletEast Continental Gems provided more than 150 carats of gemstones for the project.
SurveysAug 02, 2022
Consumer Confidence Falls for Third Month in JulyRising prices and interest rate hikes are expected to weigh on consumer spending and economic growth over the next six months.
TrendsAug 01, 2022
Amanda’s Style File: Peridot That PopsTo kick off August, Amanda Gizzi is sharing jewelry featuring the month’s OG birthstone.
CrimeAug 01, 2022
Joseph DuMouchelle Sentenced to 12 Years Behind Bars in $12M FraudThe Michigan auctioneer and appraiser also has to pay restitution totaling $25 million for other victims of his fraud scheme.
MajorsAug 01, 2022
GIA Appoints First Vice President of Sustainability ProgramsJohanna Levy will oversee the environmental, social, and governance programs.
EditorsJul 29, 2022
The Jewelry Industry Remembers Castro: A Complicated, Magical DesignerBefore his sudden death last week, the designer had reached new creative heights.
SourcingJul 29, 2022
De Beers Sales Rise 23% YOY in July Despite unusually high summertime sales, the company’s CEO said the industry remains “watchful.”
MajorsJul 29, 2022
Jewelers of America Elects 4 New Directors to Board Joseph Corey, Krystle Craycraft, Sue Hopeman, and Sherry Smith will each serve three-year terms on the board.
TrendsJul 29, 2022
Piece of the Week: Zahn-Z Jewelry’s ‘Gem Pop’ RingA lab-grown ruby makes the perfect nostalgic treat.
Supplier BulletinJul 28, 2022
Local Jewelry Dealers Use Online Auctions To Find Bidders WorldwideSponsored by HiBid
FinancialsJul 28, 2022
Boucheron, Pomellato Deliver ‘Very Solid’ Performances for Kering Revenue for the group that includes Kering’s jewelry brands grew 32 percent in the first half of 2022.
