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Vintage-inspired engagement ring trend The Jewelers Information Center offers very good information on trends in jewelry design and sales. Following trends help keep your sales rising. Staying abreast of the many aspects and factors that drive jewelry style trends are looked at and investigated by the JIC. This jewelry designers resource is one that should be bookmarked and exploited for ideas on new inventory and advertising campaigns to get the word out on your trendy new acquisitions. Many other resources for jewelry trends can be found and are also great sources or information to aid in your success as a jeweler designer or jeweler Vintage inspired rose gold engagement ring No two brides are the same, so why should all engagement rings look alike? Brides looking for a unique engagement ring that represents their personality will love this engagement ring trend that’s all about vintage inspiration and ornate, custom designs. More brides are choosing colored metals like yellow and rose gold for their settings and bands. Bespoke and ornate details like open work, halo settings and unique custom designs set these engagement rings apart. Engagment rings with vintage and art deco appeal have a classic elegance, and the custom nature of the piece allows the wearer to show off her personality. If you’re shopping for an engagement ring and are looking to incorporate a vintage or custom design, visit your local Jewelers of America jeweler for more information. A bench jeweler can work with you to find the perfect setting or bring your custom idea to life! READ MORE… A proud affiliate of the Jewelers Resource Bureau

Lab created or man made gemstones Lab Created and Natural Gemstones are both real gems, although lab created stones are not natural gemstones. There continues to be controversy on this subject, synthetic sapphires are chemically the same as natural mined stones but are made by man not nature. Making Gems in a lab environment allows better control over color and clarity. This also helps reduce the costs of gems for jewelry and helps the consumer get a nice beautiful piece of jewelry and save money. Consumers buy jewelry for appearance and using lab created gemstones allows greater flexibility in the creation of the perfect ring or necklace. One should always purchase jewelry for its beauty. After all, you will be wearing it for a long time and having the cleanest clearest stone is a big factor.  

The Italian luxury Jewelry Brand Repossi has a new investor in the LVMH who has also acquired the Bulgari Brand, and owns a number of other luxury brands. The Repossi brand has only two stores one in Paris and one in Monte Carlo. This new move is designed to develop distribution worldwide. The brand is available in 90 retailers around the world. This seems to be an effort to expand throughout the jewelry retail world.  The jewelry industry is tightly intertwined with the fashion trends and this move will be a big boost to the brand name Repossi… “The LVMH Group announced Monday that it will take a minority stake in luxury jewelry brand Repossi. The Italian company is led by Artistic and Creative Director Gaia Repossi, who took the lead at the company her great grandfather founded in 2007, at only 21 years old.” Under the direction of her father, Alberto Repossi, the brand opened its only two stores so far in Monte Carlo in 1977 and Paris in 1985. The line is available at about 90 retailers worldwide, including Barneys and Opening Ceremony in the U.S. The size of the investment was not disclosed” Read More… 

Design Competition 2016 Two of the nine categories are for Jewelry Making and Jewelry Design this is the second annual competition. Florence is legendary for it’s inspiring designs in art and jewelry. I’m looking forward to hearing the results and seeing the designs for jewelry in next years competition. Take a few moments to look at the Accademia Riaci’s competition requirements pass this along to those you know in other words spread this opportunity far and wide. Good things come from such events. Florence, sometimes called the “museum of no roof ”, is the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. The city of which modern Italy is proud as a center of art had reached one of its pinnacles between the 14th and 16th centuries, when creative energies and techniques of artisans flourished. “The International Art & Design Competition” takes place in this marvelous environment. The aim of the competition is to contribute to the revitalization and internationalization of the entire Italian Art, Design and Crafts industries, by discovering new artists, fostering their talents, and in the meantime promoting the study abroad in Italy. Read More…

50 Tips To Prevent Jewelry Store Robberies or Minimize the Damage Should They Occur Great information on staying safe in the jewelry industry. Read and learn, even if you think you are safe read it anyway there may be that one tip that saves your life and merchandise one day. JCK Magazine is an industry authority, they offer a tremendous resource to anyone with interest in gems and jewelry. Encountering an armed robber is one of the scariest things a jeweler can experience, but experts say there are certain ­measures you can take to prevent a robbery, or to minimize the damage should one take place, as well as advice you should ­follow during and after an encounter that will help keep you safe. These tips come from the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, insurance ­professionals, retailers, and other industry experts. BEFORE 1. Vary your route to and from the store and keep an eye on your rearview mirror to make sure you’re not being followed. 2. Don’t open or close the store alone. While one employee locks or unlocks the door, a second employee should watch from a safe distance that still gives a good view of the door. The second person also should have a mobile phone to call the police if the coworker is confronted. 3. Observe the surroundings of the store when you arrive. If a person or car is loitering by the building, or if doors or windows appear open or tampered with, stay out of sight and call police. Learn More…

Jewelry Designer Margot McKinney Draws Inspiration From the Desert Here is a great example of a jewelry designer who thinks out of the box, her simple and at the same time complex designs are inspired by the desert. Here bold designs are not for the meek, they are intended to make a statement an entrance factor so to speak, her designs get noticed. This is a way for any designer to build a name for themselves, find what inspires your and your designs and work to create a unique concept for that. One does not have to be a top line designer to apply these techniques to grow interest in their designs. Jewelry designers of all levels and skill sets can make their niche in the jewelry industry by simply finding what inspires them to challenge their limits. Look at mother nature for design ideas, when you slice open and piece of fruit try slicing it at an angle and look at the pattern it creates. Take a leaf from a tree add it to the background, mix and match natures wonder it is a super easy way to create concepts and then put your twist on them. Look at gemstones as part of mother natures pallet and dont apply limits to where and how to employ them. In other words don’t be limited by conventional thinking try new things. You do not have to be a designer for Neiman Marcus or recognized in Beverly Hills just get out and try it will come to you. Jeweler Margot McKinney’s statement pieces — think bold cuffs and drop earrings adorned with orange and yellow sapphires, rubies and white diamonds — are not for the faint of heart, but rather for the woman looking to make an entrance. Need to punch up your ensemble for the next red carpet or black tie function? Look no further. Prior to her Tuesday evening fete at Neiman Marcus, Beverly Hills, where the designer will show off some of her most red-carpet worthy gems to stylists, Pret-a-Reporter sat down with the Australian designer to chat about her family business, her inspiration and her dream Hollywood client. Margot McKinney: I find travel to be the most inspiring of activities. To take in sights and sounds, new surroundings, people and activity is immensely invigorating to me. I travel for well over half the year buying gems, visiting workrooms around the world and of course selling my jewelry. I am always at my most creative after our summer holiday, which we spend at a beautiful beach in Queensland, close to where we live. The rambling house right on the beach is the perfect place to recreate and the sound of the rolling waves and the gentle swish of the breeze through the palm trees seems to stay with me for months afterwards. It is after this restorative holiday that my mind seems to overflow with new ideas for creations. READ MORE…

Check Out This Amazing Way to ‘Mount’ Your Jewelry Packaging and presentation of fine jewelry is always a challenge for odd shapes and sizes. But new solutions are coming forward recently like silicone film technology to make a even the skeptics sit up and take notice. It employees a simple film of tear resistant silicone to sandwich your jewelry design in and make it appear as if floating in mid air. This is a very innovative way to make use of technology and keep it fresh and complimentary to your jewelry. The presentation of this new style is amazing it puts emphasis on the jewelry or gem and fits many needs for classic and odd shapes of jewelry design.   by Frank Stankus It’s not often that we get excited about something new in packaging. But this time we did. Here is a way to display and package your jewelry that is sure to wow even the most jaded customer. It makes it appear almost as if your jewelry is floating in the air! You know, of course, that it isn’t, but the presentation is so striking that you have to say to yourself that this has to be the next best thing. You can see the jewelry extremely clearly from all around without getting fingerprints on it, and the silicone conforms very nicely to the contours of the piece. It’s not the same as shrink wrapping because the silicone just hugs the piece tightly — it is not drawn into every nook and cranny like shrink wrap. READ MORE…

Thailand’s gemstone manufacturers look to China for growth There have been many big changes in the Thai gem markets in the last decade. At one time the majority of the worlds commercial colored gemstones where processed in Thailand, but since the economic turmoil of the early part of this century the cutting business is forever changed. It has become leaner but more competitive in the recent past. A new rising star in innovation is entering the Chinese market  exhibited by companies like Gemburi Co. Ltd. I had a personal experience with this company in September 2015 when i was attending the bi annual Bangkok Gem and Jewelry Show. I found Gemburi to be offering quality stones at competitive prices with a good variety of colored stones. The experience was very positive overall and I would do business with them again, The blue sapphires I purchased became a very nice pair of dangling earrings in 14k white gold with 10pt white diamond accents. 19/05/2015 By Olivia Quiniquini Gemburi Co Ltd’s booth at the 55th Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair Gemstones are a star performer in Thailand’s industry repertoire, with the country building a formidable reputation over the years as a reputable producer of coloured stones. Last year, it exported $917.18 million worth of gemstones, an increase of 21.16 percent over 2013’s $757.02 million. And while the country is particularly famed for its expertise in corundum, its manufacturers have exhibited equal prowess with other coloured stones. This year, Thailand’s gemstone dealers are banking on China’s voracious appetite for gemstones to keep coffers full. Companies interviewed at the 55th Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair in the Thai capital from February 24 to 28 and the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show from March 2 to 6 reaffirmed that China would play an important role in their business strategies this year, despite acknowledging a slowdown in the market since late 2014. READ MORE…  JDRC.US is an official affiliate of Jewelers Resource Bureau

Atlanta police, Crime Stoppers seek man in $16K jewelry theft Jewelry safety is always an issue I make it a point to point out these incidents to remind everyone there are always those who would take advantage of people in the jewelry industry. Please pass this issue on to your circle of contacts. Jewelry designers and jewelers are always a target for thieves and scammers. Vigilance and constant reminders help keep this threat in check. Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016 Atlanta police and Crime Stoppers on Tuesday asked for the public’s help identifying a man who allegedly stole more than $16,000 worth of jewelry during the Scott Antique Market show at the Atlanta Expo Center. An off-duty Atlanta police officer working an extra job at the center was notified of the theft, which occurred about 10:45 a.m. Jan. 9. Diamonds & Such jewelry owner Bobby Steverson told the officer he and his staff members were in a booth at the show when they noticed four necklaces were missing from a display case, police said. Atlanta police, Crime Stoppers seek man in $16K jewelry theft photo Atlanta police and Crime Stoppers are looking for a man suspected of stealing more than $16,000 worth of necklaces at the Scott Antique Market show. (Credit: Atlanta Police Department) Surveillance video shows a black man looking at the display cases at the end of the booth. The suspect is seen leaning over the tables as if examining jewelry, but is then seen opening the case, taking the bottom row of necklaces, hiding them inside his coat and leaving.  All five of Steverson’s employees were occupied either in the center or far end of the booth at the time of the theft, police said. An 18-karat gold necklace valued at $8,860.25 was taken. Three other necklaces — one worth about $3,200 and two others worth about $2,000 each — were also stolen. READ MORE…

Rough or uncut gemstones Gemstones are sometimes uncut or polished in the creation of custom designed jewelry

NY jewelry store’s diamonds weren’t stolen In a weird twist the suspected stolen diamonds at J. Birnbach Inc in New York city were never stolen, An employee threw them out during a move from one office to another… A security guard found them in the trash and sold some to another jeweler in the same building, This mistake emphasizes the need of taking time to check all the things thrown into the trash in the jewelry and gemstone industry. This would have been a $5 million dollar loss for Birnbach and cause a great deal of anxiety for a long time to come. Since I have personally had a similar experience although not for the same value, I had in the past accidentally thrown a few pieces of jewelry away in a move I was making some years back. Gem and Jewelry safety are as important to the designer as it is to the jeweler. The mystery of how nearly $5 million in diamonds went missing from a Midtown jewelry store has been solved. As it turns out, some dimwitted workers at J. Birnbach Inc. were helping their boss move to another floor and tossed three weathered wooden boxes filled with diamonds in a heap of trash without bothering to look inside, law-enforcement sources said. But a building security guard patrolling the third floor allegedly did take a peek — and discovered the mother lode: READ MORE…

True North Begins Mining in Greenland Greenland continues to show the world that they have vast new resources for precious gems and metals. With the award of a mining license to begin mining Rubies and Pink Sapphires from what will be an open pit mining operation. This is the early stages of development of Greenland’s tremendous resources. Rubies are becoming more rare in places like Myanmar formerly known as Burma. New discoveries and mining operation that produce quality gemstones will likely do well in the markets around the world. Greenland’s extreme climatic conditions make recovering gems there difficult at best but the vast reserves that appear to be present then the conditions can be overcome. The beauty of the land combined with the climatic conditions and awesome potential resources for the worlds gemstone industry are something to behold. December 4, 2015 Aappaluttoq Ruby Mining beginning operations in Greenland Vancouver, B.C.–True North Gems has initiated mining operations at the Aappaluttoq ruby and pink sapphire open-pit mine in southwestern Greenland. The company contracted LNS Greenland, a joint venture partner in Aappaluttoq, as the mine operator. LNS Greenland’s mining extraction plans were submitted to the board of True North and it has attained approval to begin pit operations. The Vancouver-based True North said the gemstone recovery system currently is being shipped to Greenland, and the planned fourth quarter 2015/first quarter 2016 extraction will create a sufficient stockpile of ore to feed the processing plant once it has been commissioned. READ MORE… Jewelry Designers Resource Center is now officially affiliated with The Jewelers Resource Bureau a tremendous resource for all interested in the gem and jewelry business. Take a few minutes to learn more…

The Underrated Pleasure of Wearing Jewelry Made Just for You The pleasure of wearing jewelry made just for you is gratifying, imagine the gratification of being the one to design it for yourself. Many amateur jewelry designers began this way, first having an image of a piece of jewelry they would love to have, they sketch it and  have it made up fr them. More often than not this starts a trend and they begin designing more and more, until one day they realize they are a jewelry designer. In this article see how a twist on this theme is started when an author gets into jewelry related to publishing her works. In any regard having jewelry made just for you is a buzz one won’t soon forget. The fact that these designs can be very exclusive and even one off pieces is a satisfying factor as well. Regardless of the reasons having jewelry unique to you is a pleasure in itself, with years of use ahead. Theme inspired jewelry is just one type of special made custom designed fashion accessory. Many aspects of the jewelry business are related to branding other products such as books or even fashion, this is a very effective means of gaining name recognition. By HANYA YANAGIHARA APRIL 6, 2016 I am not embarrassed to say that one of the great benefits to publishing a book is jewelry. When my first novel, “The People in the Trees,” came out in 2013, I bought just one thing with my advance: a deep-blue enamel ring that I had lettered with the first line — Kaulana na pua a o Hawaii/Famous are the flowers of Hawaii — of one of the most resonant Hawaiian protest songs, “Famous Are the Flowers,” written in 1893 to voice support for the overthrown Queen Liliuokalani, the islands’ last monarch. My book was an allegory of Pacific colonialism, and it seemed right that I should wear this reminder of Hawaii, what it had been and what it had lost, on my hand. When my second novel, “A Little Life,” was published last March, I didn’t buy any jewelry. But people gave it to me anyway: a reader sent me a silver cuff. A group of my close friends got together and bought me a ring — a heavy gold bird with round, brilliant-cut diamonds for eyes and dangling a briolette-shaped ruby from its mouth like a drop of blood — from the renowned Jaipur-based jeweler Gem Palace. (This very creation had actually inspired a similar piece of jewelry that appears in the book’s final chapter.) But even so, I wanted a piece of custom jewelry, something to commemorate the novel’s characters, who had become as vivid and complicated to me as my own friends: certainly it felt as if I had spent more time with them in the year and a half it had taken to write the book than I had spent with actual humans. And then my friend Claudia, a jewelry editor, told me about a label called Foundrae. When we wear a piece of custom jewelry, we are adding ourselves to a legacy as old as the Romans, the Greeks, the Persians — older. READ MORE… We are proud to be affiliated wit the Jewelers Resource Bureau, they have loads of highly useful tools and sources for all aspects of the jewelry industry.

How Rihanna’s Favorite Jewelry Designer Built an Empire Some designers never intended to be one. This article documents one highly successful jewelry designer’s road to the top. Jacquie Aiche began her designing career as a hobbyist and never considered that she might have a lifetimes work ahead of her for her much sought after designs. Over the years her designs took on a life of their own and eventually she returned to her design work full time, starting in her garage. She is now an “A”  list designer in the celebrity world of Hollywood with clients like Miley Cyrus and Rihanna. So when you think that you can’t become a designer keep her lovely story in mind. She went from a hobbyist housewife to a top designer in the Hollywood world of fashion. This woman’s designs are becoming more and more popular with the celebrity crowd. Now not everyone becomes a famous Hollywood creator of fine jewelry, But anyone who is persistent and works to challenge themselves can have a satisfying experience in the jewelry industry. by Meghan Blalock  Rihanna isn’t hurting for big designer names in her wardrobe, but when it comes to her jewelry collection, one name reigns supreme among them all: Jacquie Aiche. (The pop star’s so obsessed with Aiche’s designs that she even partnered with the designer on a line of jewelry-inspired body art earlier this year.) But RiRi is far from the only celebrity client Aiche counts as a fervent follower; Victoria’s Secret model Behati Prinsloo loves her work, as do Diane Kruger, Kylie Jenner, Miley Cyrus, and countless other stylish ladies. But like many of the career success stories we’ve chronicled here on Who What Wear, Aiche wasn’t always such a household name in the celebrity style world. READ MORE…  Jewelry Designers Resource Center is proud to be affiliated with The Jewelers Resource Bureau

Polished diamond prices increased in December Although in 2015 the price of rough unpolished diamonds fell by about 15% in November and December they began to increase once again. The suppliers of rough have been increasing prices which had the polishing industry using up the reserves they had on hand. And they also decreased the numbers of diamonds being polished. De Beers has had dramatic a dramatic downward price adjustment in the rough during 2015 as much as 45% off the highs in the market. Production of polished diamonds has begun to rise and jewelry manufacturers are still unsure if the prices will continue to trend this way as demand is not stable. The overall market appears to be challenged for profit margins and as rough prices are higher than polished stones. Polished diamond market sentiment improved in December as shortages supported prices and dealers filled last-minute holiday orders. The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI™) for 1-carat, GIA-graded diamonds rose 1.5% in December while RAPI for 0.30ct diamonds advanced 4.7% and RAPI for 0.50ct diamonds grew 3%. RAPI for 3-carat diamonds fell 0.1%. For the full year 2015, RAPI for 1ct diamonds declined 5.8% and RAPI for 0.30ct diamonds dropped 13.%, while RAPI for 0.50ct diamonds slumped 14.5%. RAPI for 3ct diamonds fell 14.5ct% in 2015. The Rapaport Monthly Report notes that there is a shortage of select diamonds as suppliers gradually sold off better-quality inventory and manufacturers limited polished production due to high rough prices. READ MORE…

12 Jewelry Trends for 2016: 10 Pairs of Studs and Earring Jackets… If these earring designs are trending there must be complimenting pendents and necklaces along with them. It is a good thing to watch trends of jewelry design when creating new designs each season. However you can become a trendsetter by varying the design trends with your own twists and concepts. Design concepts and trends should not be driven by fashionistas, but by jewelry designers with vision. This simple rule will help you create more innovative designs based on trending colors or styles at the moment of creation. But classic timeless jewelry designs are always in style and they can become a signature of the trends that you set for yourself when you look for new avenues of styling your goods. So this year earring studs are trending, try putting a new wave into your earring studs, try new colors, new geometric’s, new mountings, all within the trend yet new in concept with a classic base of style. The annual list of 12 Jewelry Trends for 2016 serves as a guideline for store purchases in the new year, highlighting pieces and materials trending now, based on the clothing, color, red carpet, and real-life influences at work in the market. Studs and earring jackets are the second trend on the list. Here are 10 new pairs for retailers to consider stocking. Studs and earring jackets. These have shaped up to be a consumer fave! Wearing studs solo offers some versatility, while the addition of jackets builds up another cool look. Easy to understand, studs and earring jackets are available across a wide range of price points. READ MORE…

Gem Market Pulse – March 2016 Gem markets continue to be volatile in many areas, the financing industry that supports the gem and jewelry industries are moving from the sector more and more. The challenges that the gem traders face are numerous and fluid. This article accents these issues facing the markets such as fair trade and new resources for bringing new goods to market. The newly offered deep rich purple garnets from exotic locations like Mozambique, Malawi, and Tanzania came around during the recent Tucson gem show. The prices were good and the quality was awesome from all I have read and heard. Amateur jewelry designers would be well served to pay attention to new colors and sources for quality colored stones, they often have a buzz attached to them and can be sold much quicker when mounted in a unique setting. Another attraction is that the value can rise quickly and popularity can soar, this all adds to the buzz that a designer can transfer to their new designs following trendy gem sales. The Jewelry Industry Summit The goal is to reach consensus on a shared vision for responsible sourcing that works for all sectors of the industry – while meeting consumer demand for ethical products…featured gem Purple Garnet The gem and jewelry business has a large, multifaceted structure that functions at different levels often without any communications between participants from the various sectors. These sectors include but are not limited to mining, cutting, jewelry manufacturing, wholesale and retail. They can operate quite differently between diamond and colored stones industries. Both the colored stone and diamond sectors are dependent on a direct relationship with investors and banks and yet traditional lenders having been moving away from the gem and jewelry trade to develop business in other industries. Additional influential factors affecting the gem trade are government bodies, consumer rights groups and NGO’s. An industry wide meeting of representatives from all sectors of the gem and jewelry trade to address the increasing number of issues that currently facing the gem trade is overdue. Fortunately, a group of gem and jewelry professionals has taken the initiative to facilitate just such a meeting. READ MORE… Look for more free resources at Jewelry Designers Resource Center We are proudly affiliated with The Jewelers resource Bureau…

Jewelry news Resources for the latest jewelry news are very good places to find jewelry design trends and changes in the jewellery markets. See the sources below that we have used over the years. National Jeweler is one resource where one can find the very latest in Jewelry news, the stories below are just an example of what a good source of information the National Jeweler is to the jewelry industry. Take a few moments to review the article and the website you may find more information about jewelry design than you knew was available. The companies mentioned below are also valuable resources for jewelry design inspirations and ideas. By Hannah Connorton October 30, 2015 The big story of the week was the news that the GIA has invalidated grading reports for 1,042 diamonds after discovering two now-former employees of TCS, the contractor that supports its grading information database, had gained unauthorized access to the database and altered the reports. Tiffany & Co. also made headlines, first announcing it was partnering with another retailer to create a capsule collection inspired by designs in the brand’s Blue Book from the 1970s. (more…)

Understanding everything about Blue Zircon gemstones Among one of the most misunderstood gems is the zircon because the general public confuses it with the synthetic stone called Cubic Zirconia (CZ). Zircon is a natural valuable gemstone that comes in a variety of shades and colors, stretching from colorless to Bright blues, brilliant reds, greens and yellows all find their way to jewelry designers. Places that produce gem quality Zircons are Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), and the Ural Mountains. Common Brown Zircons can be heat treated to create clear colorless and blue zircons for the gem and jewelry markets. Some colorless stones are used as diamond substitutes, blue, yellow and green zircon gems show up in many high quality jewelry designs. Although not popular in some markets these stones are very collectible and worth taking the time to learn about so you can make an informed purchase of a high quality gem for your designs or collection. Blue – Zircon in Jewellery Zircons are especially unique due to how they grow when forming into a crystal. They have an attractive fire to them that works well when creating gemstones for jewellery. You can purchase these gemstones loose or crafted into jewellery both. We recently spoke to Patricia Brady at Gemsncoins and asked her what she thought of the Blue Zircons they offer to buyers from all around the world. “Wholesale Blue Zircons are rare due to the growth of the crystal, which grows in a twinning shape. Rather like two pyramids linked together at the base. In order to cut these beautiful shapes, the rough gems have to be a fine quality. These Cambodian Blue Zircons have the trademark double refractiveness of zircons, which is even seen on the product images we offer. Double refraction is when the light enters through the pavilion, hits the facets and splits into two rays. Then these rays of light bounce back hitting your eyes with double the sparkle of other gemstones, even diamonds. That’s the secret of these Blue Zircons. Their extra sparkle making them look like blue diamonds at a fraction of the cost, as a much more rarer gemstone than diamonds” READ MORE…

The world jewellery confederation The World Jewellery Federation is an outstanding resource for jewellery designers and jewellers alike, it is both authoritative and informative. They are self described as the United Nations of the jewellery industry established in 1926 it represents the jewellery , gemstone and precious metals industries along with individuals and organizations in these industries, from mine to market. They have developed a code of ethics that is designed to protect the consumer who is dependent on the expertise and integrity of their suppliers. CIBJO has developed a Blue Book system to advance the goal of universal standards and terminology in the jewellery industry. In 2004 they were able to get a German company stop marketing their high quality synthetic diamonds as cultured diamonds to the public a success for the CIBJO Blue Book standards. The Munich court issued a restraining order to that effect. These blue books are living documents and are revised and updated as new information Although these Blue Book standards are voluntary it is recommended that these standards be applied by all persons and companies in all aspects of the jewellery industry from source to final sale in the on the standards set jewellery system. These blue books are living documents and are updated when new information is brought forward. This means that as new treatments for gemstones appear they can have an affect on the standards set forth in these blue books. With books specializing on Diamonds, Gemstones, Pearls, Coral, Precious Metals, and Gem Labs, they have extensive reference materials for anyone looking to seek information and find what factors are applicable to the sector they are working on. CIBJO offers a resource for news in these industries as one of many free source of trends and changes taking place in the jewellery and gemstone world. There are many other resources for the gem and jewelry industry, but this one sets the world standards. As an example many designers, jewelers, and gem traders are affiliated with The Jewelers Resource Bureau a resource of tremendous help to all. But the standards accepted in the world are set are set by CIBJO.

There are three good reasons why the FBI investigates jewelry and gem theft. There are many major gem thefts and robberies that cross state and national borders, so this is part of why the Federal Bureau of Investigation gets involved. Organized groups are often involved so diligence is important is keeping yourself, your employees and your goods safe… First, the thefts usually cross state and even national boundaries—so they need a federal agency with offices across the nation and overseas to investigate these highly mobile jewelry thieves. Second, these crimes are increasingly committed by organized criminal enterprises or “theft groups” that likewise require a federal agency with tough laws and with offices across the U.S. and overseas to bust. And third, these theft groups are often involved in other kinds of organized crime activities already under scrutiny by the FBI. Read More…

GIA is urging the return of 175 diamonds for re examination due to a recent hacking attack on their data base. The two hackers appear to have operated between November of 2014 and October 2015. GIA is offering a no cost re-confirmation of any reports issued during this period of time. Again it demonstrates GIA commitment to the integrity of the diamond market. The article in the National Jeweler is a poignant reminder of the issues facing the system in the electronic age. December 01, 2015 Carlsbad, Calif.–Only 175 of the 1,042 diamonds with a grading report that was invalidated after two individuals hacked into Gemological Institute of America’s grading information database earlier this year have been returned to the lab for reexamination. To address the trade’s concerns and to emphasize the importance of all the diamonds and their reports being returned, the GIA announced last week that it is offering a no-cost confirmation service for any diamond grading report that was issued by the lab between November 2014 and October 2015. Read More…

Contemporary jeweller Romilly Saumarez Smith The recycling of ancient art pieces into jewelry is taking hold in Newfoundland, Canada. The art and designs of jeweler Romilly Saumarez Smith is proving to be both inspirational and innovative. The more than 70 new designs exhibited at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts of re-purposed Roman and Anglo-Saxon metalwork have sparked interest and acclaim in the design world. Although one does not usually think of Newfoundland as a hub of innovation in jewelry designing. At least one jeweler is proving that the remote location is not a hindrance at all. The jewelry pieces are unusual and eye catching as well, making a statement of how to take the old even ancient and modernize it. The designers world can find new directions in many uncommon sources but sometimes a new way of looking at the old creates the new. Newfoundland Sat 5 Dec 2015 – 10 April 2016 Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich Newfoundland is an exhibition of work by contemporary jeweller Romilly Saumarez Smith and artist Verdi Yahooda. Each of the 70+ pieces in the exhibition are unique and have at their core Roman, Anglo-Saxon or Mediaeval metalwork, dropped or discarded hundreds of years ago. In 2011, Romilly became fascinated by the amazing availability of these antique objects, which she discovered on eBay – the finds of metal detectorists who scour the countryside in search of lost treasure. She quickly recognised the inherent beauty of buttons, pins, thimbles and metal buckles which arrived in the post, tightly wrapped. Originally these objects were everyday domestic things, but lost in the ground and buried in time they have become particular and special. READ MORE…

Safe Jewelry Shipping Advice from Jeweler’s Mutual Jewelers Resource Bureau With shipping losses currently affecting several Jewelers Mutual policyholders-with recent claims attributed to address errors, lack of communication between shipper and recipient and improper packaging–the organization has issued important precautionary measures. 1. Place merchandise in a medium-sized cardboard box and seal with tape. Label this box with your return address (using non-jewelry-related words) and the tracking number. This will serve as identification if the outside container or mailing label is destroyed in transit. 2. Place this box in a strong, oversized shipping box (i.e., 12 inches by 12 inches by four inches). If possible, use a packaging box from a delivery service. If you do not have a box from a delivery service, disguise your shipment in a sturdy box from a different product. Never use an envelope or a box marked with any jewelry-related words. Also avoid using old boxes that lose strength. 3. To prevent the inner box from rattling, tape or glue it to the shipping box. Fill the remainder of the shipping box with packing material to help protect it during transit. Do not use jewelry catalogs or ads. 4. Seal the shipping box with reinforced mailing tape, pressure-sensitive shipping tape, tamper-evident tape or stamp over the tape so that any tampering is evident. Do not use string, masking tape or cellophane tape to seal the box. 5. Confirm and double-check the correct address. 6. Address the package clearly. Do not indicate that the package is coming from or going to a jewelry-related business. Use a name that does not contain jewelry terms and do not use abbreviations that could be misunderstood. Change the name regularly. Disguise the return address in a similar fashion. Use the name of a business associate (with their permission), such as your accountant or attorney, who is at a different location, not in a jewelry district or with a prominent jewelry zip code. READ MORE…  

Gemstone Treatments and Enhancements Heat treatment is the most common way to enhance the color and appearance of gemstones. Gemstone treating is not a new phenomenon and dates back as far as 50AD. Treating gemstones is normal in the industry and may or may not affect the value. High quality unheated rubies and sapphires are extremely rare and command a higher price over treated stones. These untreated stones comprise about ½ of 1% of the total market so a normal consumer is unlikely to find one at the local jewelry store. Most people buy jewelry for appearance so treated stones fill the bill nicely and keep the prices reasonable. Common Gemstones that are treated ◦Ruby: nearly all are heated to improve color and appearance. ◦Sapphire: nearly all are heated to improve color and appearance. ◦Tanzanite: heated to produce violet blue color. ◦Emerald: oiled with colorless oil to improve appearance. ◦Aquamarine: heated to improve color. ◦Blue topaz: irradiated and or heated to produce blue color. ◦Jade: generally impregnated with colored resins and or colorless waxes.

Jewelry designer working on third career This is an example of how becoming a jewelry designer can happen to and for anyone at anytime in their life. Here is a story of a woman who was a nurse by profession, a stylist and image consultant, and then became a jewelry designer. Our resources here are designed to help such individuals achieve their desires to design jewelry. Even if they have never been involved in the jewelry business in any form ever before. Once you have the bug to design jewelry that is all you really need, all other resources can be found at the Jewelry Designers Resource Center. A career makeover is often the reason for people come to jewelry designing as a second or even a third career. I started life working on fishing boats in Boston and my uncle was a artist/coppersmith who made amazing concept hand hammered copper sailing ships. This is what inspired me to attend night school at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston‘s night school programs. Take that next step and begin designing your dreams, don’t let lack of experience or training keep you from trying this satisfying work. Jabez Jewelz Kathryn Pfeiffer Bold beginnings • “I’m bold, so that’s how I started out,” Pfeiffer said. “You know, there are natural personality types, including the bold and (the people who prefer) the classic styles. So I’ve expanded to include genres for each of the personalities. If someone’s very naturally classic, I know not to bring out the big pieces.” But she said that some people just need a little push to embrace a look-at-me piece. She said that over the years, she’s developed an eye for who she can push a little and who gravitates toward the less dramatic items. Career makeover • Pfeiffer started out as a stylist and image consultant and had her own business for 19 years. She said that the jewelry business happened gradually. At first, she just had a hard time finding the right pieces for her clients who wanted to wear statement jewelry pieces, so she decided to start making it herself. READ MORE… Jewelry Designers Resource Center is proud to be affiliated with the Jewelers Resource Bureau    

Sri Lanka: From Mine to Market Following the GIA travel logs is a great way to learn about the far flung emerging and established gem markets of the world. Sri Lanka is a unique place in the world where many types of gems abound the landscape. The centuries have taught the Sri Lankan gem miner how to take his goods from mine to market with as few steps as possible. In recent years the changes in import export rules for the gemstone industry have helped them expand and bring in large amounts of foreign stones for cutting and processing into jewelry for the world. With the mining, trading, cutting, treatment, jewelry manufacturing, and retail sectors all on fire, the future is looking good. Sri Lanka has massive deposits of a variety of gemstones, The gravels yield sapphire, ruby, cat’s-eye and other chrysoberyls, spinel, garnet, beryl, tourmaline, topaz, quartz, and many other gemstones. The ability of cutters from Sri Lanka to orient a stone for cutting is legendary and among the natural talents of this centuries old trade. Gem cutting skills are well established in this island nation. The color orientation is key to the presentation and light penetration of any gemstone. The natural eye of these stone cutters is a huge asset to the gem markets in Sri Lanka. Still using traditional methods of stone orientation for cutting are still employed in this modern day, this is because it works and needs no changes. These traditions have serve well the gem cutting industry in Sri Lanka and it is slow to change with modern tools and techniques. Gemstone deposits in Sri Lanka are based in gem-bearing gravels called illam. To visit Sri Lanka is to experience one of the great gem sources and trading centers in the world. This country has a rich, almost unparalleled tradition and remains vitally important to the modern gemstone market. Sri Lanka has a true mine-to-market industry, both domestically and for export. Its evolution over the last two decades blends the best of traditional practices with modern technologies and business models. In this field report, we take you on an expedition to this magnificent island and its remarkable mine-to-market industry. An Amazing Island Traveling in Sri Lanka, you realize it is a large island with very diverse environments. Most of the terrain consists of flat or rolling hills, but there are beautiful mountains in the southern central interior. Agriculture is a constant presence as you drive around the country, with intense green rice fields and rubber tree plantations. In Elahera’s rice fields, there are treehouses for agricultural workers to climb into when a herd of wild elephants passes through. In Ratnapura, Elahera, and Balangoda, green rice fields also enclose small pit-mining operations, sometimes covered with V-shaped roofs for a little protection from rain and sun. Gaining elevation, you encounter beautiful tea plantations where it is common to see workers picking tea leaves by hand. Driving along the coast offers views of Sri Lanka’s beautiful coastline and fishing industry. READ MORE… We are proud affiliates of the Jewelers Resource Bureau take a few moments to look at the resources they offer to the jewelry industry

Quick Tests You Can Do to Test for Fake Gemstones There are many fake or simulated gemstones out there and unscrupulous traders will be trying to pass them off to the unsuspecting uneducated consumer. Amateur jewelry designers have fallen victim to these dealers with a lack of ethics. Having full knowledge of who you are buying from and a guarantee of authenticity is important to maintain integrity in the design and sales process. Selling fake or simulated gems is an accepted practice in the jewelry industry as long as disclosed fully in plain language. Buyer beware and due diligence is needed to be observed. Learn about the tricks that are used, but the  most important piece of advice i can give an aspiring jewelry designer is to know who your buying from, ask lots of questions and get assurance that if a problem occurs with authenticity that they will stand behind the goods you purchased from them. Any kind of gemstone can be faked, from diamonds and sapphires to pearls and beyond. There is nothing wrong with fake gemstones. They are affordable and fun so long as they are never sold as the real thing. That would be fraud.  But did you ever wonder if the jewelry you bought or acquired was real? Or if you have got some of your bead supplies horribly mixed up and need to tell them apart? Here are quick tests for genuine gemstones that don’t require special equipment. Glass vs Gemstone Passing off glass as gemstones dates back to the invention of glass around 4000 BC. Even the Ancient Egyptians moaned about the practice in their papyrus writings. An old test was to put the piece in the mouth. Glass will soon feel warm. Gemstones feel icy for a lot longer because they have higher thermal conductivity than glass. They take heat from your mouth so they themselves feel cold. READ MORE…

 Jewelry designer breaths life into antiques A growing trend in the jewelry design world is to re-purpose antique pieces of stone and other materials into new beautiful jewelry. One Chinese designer is getting recognition for her use of gold, silver, jade and porcelain in her new designs. But this trend is not just in the Chinese markets it is happening around the world, many designers are beginning with antique stones and other materials to create new innovative jewelry design concepts. These pieces coming forth infuses the new with the old and offers a new way to look at jewelry design in general. Start looking at the old to find your new design inspirations and concepts, there are innumerable antiques out there that need a new life pumped into them. This is a spectacular means of paying tribute to the work of the craftsmen of the past and making their works available to be used long into the future. This is not to say that antique inspired jewelry designs can have modern design concepts and trends built in, but just the opposite. New design inspirations can be found in unusual places like o;d military buttons that can be re-purposed into pendants and charm bracelets. Antique cut crystal that has been broken can be reground and incorporated into necklaces of sparkle. Just use you imagination and try something new, you just may be surprised what can come of whimsical design ideas. By Tong Wangyue | January 17, 2016, Sunday IN many ways, the jewelry of designer Zhang Lijun’s is emblematic of her native Suzhou. It’s modern and elegant and strives to combine the old with the new. Her passion for traditional Chinese culture and old art objects as well as the picturesque Suzhou Gardens, which she says have helped form her style, are all mirrored in her jewelry design. Walking the streets of Suzhou, Zhang is always on the lookout for small antiques and, by incorporating them into her designs, she gives them a second life instead of just restoring their old beauty. Her exquisite designs are a perky mix of these rustic elements with metals like gold and silver as well as with more traditional Chinese jewelry elements like jade and porcelain. The combinations come naturally and are spontaneous — Zhang says she follows her feelings and instincts in creating her designs. READ MORE…

Diamond Market Update: Sales, Prices Pick Up Caution is the word of the day when it comes to diamond prices at the moment, but if you will be needing a quality diamond for an upcoming jewelry design now may be the time to look. The latest rough sales have shown increases in prices so that means as they exit the cutting houses the prices for polished diamonds will rise as well. The markets for diamond jewelry remain soft and uncertain even with that rough sale prices rose. As amateur jewelry designers begin buying higher valued gems like diamonds caution is advised. Be sure who you are dealing with, be sure to ask for full disclosure of the gemstone for enhancements and source. Beginners should never be scared away from trying to do diamond designs but they need to ask for resources and information about how to buy wisely New York–Rough diamond sales and polished diamond prices continued their recovery in February, yet caution remains the trade’s watchword as global demand for diamonds still is relatively weak. In its monthly price report released Tuesday, Rapaport said that polished diamond prices remained firm last month. The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI) for 1-carat GIA-graded diamonds rose for the fourth consecutive month, albeit very slightly (0.3 percent). Compared to a year ago, however, 1-carat diamond prices remain depressed, down 8 percent. Prices for 0.30-carat and 0.50-carat diamonds also were up in February, 0.4 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively. The RAPI for 3-carat diamonds slipped 1 percent. Rapaport noted in its report for February, “Midstream Inventory Replenishment,” that the upturn in polished prices is due mainly to shortages in select categories of better quality diamonds, not growth in demand for diamonds at the consumer level. Retail demand in the Far East remains weak and dealers are looking to the United States for “encouragement” as sales here are steady, but jewelers remain cautious. There are lingering concerns about the economy and the volatile stock market, and there’s also the fact that consumers tend to be more frugal during election years, the report noted. On the rough side of the market, both Rapaport and De Beers said that it continues to show signs of recovery as excess inventory, which kept manufacturers from buying in the second half of 2015 and caused them to cut back on production, works its way through the pipeline. De Beers reported Tuesday that preliminary results for its second sales cycle of the year indicate that it moved $610 million in rough diamonds, up from $545 million in the first sales cycle of the year and more than double the $248 million in rough it was selling at the end of 2015. READ MORE… Jewelry Designers Resource Center is proudly affiliated with The Jewelers Resource Bureau  

For Your Wrist, Chips in Platinum Kate Unsworth, techno jewelry designer Jewelry design with  high technology functionality is becoming more popular all the time. Jewelry designer Kate Unsworth has made it fashionable and functionality built in. This will continue to trend as technology evolves and design becomes a driving force with the buying public. A new market category is emerging and is extremely exciting as it opens doors in jewelry design that were un-imagined just a few years ago. Connectivity is the buzz word now with the new tech jewelry designers coming forth. Imagine beauty and connectivity with your iPhone or Android phone to make you know what is happening in your world. A bracelt or pendant that vibrates when a message comes in. In bedded with platinum and a chip it is leading edge stuff for the jewelry world. The possibilities are enormous and unlimited in scope this is a new way of thinking and could even be a new category of jewelry market. Design and functionality are integral and they are making advances in this regard in leaps and bounds. It is a rapidly evolving new market and the excitement is just beginning to build. What will come next will be spectacular and will continue to change the face of the jewelry design world. The integration of technology with the design industry will be an exciting thing to watch, dont be afraid to look into it all. LONDON — Jewelry is continuing to undergo a technological revolution of its own with the debut of Altruis, a collection that features a gemlike centerpiece of zirconia ceramic with an embedded chip that vibrates to alert the wearer to texts, calls and other iPhone alerts. Unlike some other tech-connected pieces with rubber wristbands or fluorescent fittings, the Altruis necklaces, rings and bracelets are plated in precious metals like platinum and rose gold, so there’s little wonder they drew the attention of fashion-forward boutiques like Browns in London and Fivestory in New York, which, along with Altruis’s own website, began selling some of the pieces in mid-December. “Altruis challenges what fashion is, and is creating its own category,” Holli Rogers, chief executive of Browns, said. Kate Unsworth, the 28-year-old founder and chief executive of Vinaya, the tech start-up behind Altruis, said that the idea had come to her because “I want to break the bad habit of checking our smartphones for the sake of it. I want to silence the digital noise but still be connected to the most important communication tools.” READ MORE… We are proud to be affiliated with the Jewelers Resource Bureau take a look they may be just what you need as a resource. Great resources that compliment anyone in the jewelry industry.

World Jewelry Tool Company | Website 119, BIS Building 1st Floor Maheasak Road, BanRak Bangkok, 10500 Thailand Tel: +66-2-635-9998 email: Teck Thai Group | Website: email: Tel: +66-2-226-0055 Gesswein |  Website 201 Hancock Avenue P.O. Box 3998 Bridgeport, Connecticut 06605-0936 U.S.A. 1-203-366-5400 Fax: 1-203-366-3953 email: Otto Frei | Website 126 2nd St, Oakland CA 94607, USA 1.510.832.0355 1.800.772.3456 email: Zak Jewelry Tools | Website: 55 West 47th Street 2nd floor New York, New York 10036 1-212-768-8122 1-800-369-6424 1-212-764-7847 email: Stuller Jewelry Tools | Website: 302 Rue Louis XIV Lafayette, LA 70508 Rio Grande Jewelry Tools | Website: 7500 Bluewater Rd NW Albuquerque, NM 87121 USA 1.800.545.6566 Jewelry Tools | Website: 1521 West 2550 South, Ogden, UT 84401 email:  1-866-453-6147 International Colored Gem Association | Website: Unit No.11, 8th Floor Heng Ngai Jewelry Centre No.4 Hok Yuen Street East Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: 852-2365 9318 email:

JNA is a top magazine in the jewelry industry offering news and information on the jewelry trade industry, they track trends and changes in the industry and have a huge amount of information for those looking to track sales, trends and new design techniques Celebrating its fifth anniversary next year, the JNA Awards, the jewellery and gemstone industry’s premier platform for recognising innovative and high-achieving individuals and enterprises, has announced changes to its award categories in 2016. The organiser of the event, JNA (Jewellery News Asia), has made adjustments to a few award categories to encourage greater participation from more regions and, at the same time, consolidate some categories that are judged against a similar set of criteria. In 2016, the JNA Awards will have 11 categories, including the Lifetime Achievement Award – the recipient of which will be selected by the organiser. Read More…

New Madagascar Aquamarine Discovery When newly sourced Aquamarine shows up at a show it is news, collectors were excited to see 5 kilos of high quality unheated show up in Tucson. These are fine quality goods coming from Madagascar few inclusions and no green or gray stones that would require heat treatment. Cut in emerald and cushion shapes for the most part collectors could pick them for the best colors. Unheated Aquamarine is rare and color this nice is as well, the prices are reasonable and interest was high. A hardness of 7.5 is very suitable for jewelry designs a beautiful color and cut with sizes 5-10cts. These particular pieces should be a big hit when the are scooped up by collectors and jewelry designers. As members of the Beryl family of gemstones they will be treasured additions to a collection, jewelry designers are also lucky to have the opportunity to pick out some quality pieces for their new design concepts. Collectors are always looking for a new hot gemstone that’s inexpensive. Ideally, everyone wants to be in o n the bottom floor of the next Brazilian Paraiba tourmaline discovery. The Brazilian Paraiba story is unique but truthfully, may only happen once in a lifetime. However, as a general rule, collectors who buy gemstones before they become popular or known, generally see pretty nice increases in price appreciation as the material dwindles. New Large Find Madagascar Aquamarine has been intermittent for years but in January, 5 kilos showed up before the Tucson Gem Show. The market now has enough material to satisfy collectors, jewelers, and high end manufacturers. Large suites are being created for major necklaces. Jewelers can now get single stones for rings and necklaces and collectors can obtain single stones or suites of the new material. Brief Gemology Aquamarine is a beryl, the same family as emerald. Aquamarine gets its color from iron. Many aqua’s are greenish blue, although the pure blues are considered the ideal. Aquamarine is 7.5 in hardness, which makes it durable for jewelry. READ MORE…

How to begin jewelry designing It is a simple process to begin jewelry designing. All you really need is a picture in your mind of what you want to see in your hand. Anyone can design jewelry if they have the desire to try, although there are many training courses and schools, desire is the most important factor. Jewelry design is as simple as putting on paper or computer screen what you see in your head, Start with a sketchpad. Try drawing the basic design, vary it in a few ways, to see the possibilities and get the creative juices flowing. Some famous jewelry designers have started out as housewives, and even corporate executives. No formal training is needed to design jewelry, however if you are serious about it you may consider looking at some jewelry design training lessons available online. Many YouTube videos simplify the seemingly complicated process and make you see it is not so difficult. Be daring and never give up trying new things and concepts, ask loads of questions and find free jewelry designer resources online to learn from. Look at nature in a different way, the patterns of nature make great jewelry designs, the veins on a leaf, the pattern of seeds inside a piece of fruit, the petals of a flower, insects and animals can all give inspiration to a person with a burning desire to design their own jewelry. There is no one way to begin, just get started and read, watch and learn as you go along. There are many ways, materials and techniques that can be used as a means to envision a new jewelry design. Colored semi precious gemstones can also be a source of ideas and a starting point, just look at everything you see as a potential design concept. Simple household items like string can be the beginning of new hot jewelry design ideas. Jewelry design and trend setting is not the exclusive world of the professional, many famous designers began as amateurs and found that they had a unique way of looking at the world that appealed to others. There is no wrong way to get started, except not to try. Old, young, male and female all make their mark in the world or jewelry design and there are some many facets to the jewelry industry there is always room for new ideas and input. I began designing jewelry on an spring morning with a piece of bone from the lamb dinner I had the evening before. I had seen a show about the ancient art of scrimshaw on whale bone. I broke out my little Dremel tool and began to carve away. That first piece became a concept religious cross, family and friend encouraged me by telling me they thought it was a cool design, it all came from my head no sketch, no final design, it just came out of trying to see if I could make something, anything from that little bit of bone. Many folks into hobbies like beading find their way into designing jewelry and look for resources to help them along the learning process.  Look for resources online to help you learn the terminology, materials and tools you may need. Don’t be intimidated by the volume of things to learn, just work your way through one at a time, some may be of great interest to you others may not. Keep in mind there is not right or wrong way to get started all you need to do is get started. Don’t be afraid to ask questions from people in the industry, try to attend a gem and jewelry show in your area, they are great resources for ideas and supplies to help you learn and expand your knowledge.

Will Gem and Colored Diamond Markets Crash? The colored gem and diamond markets have been doing well over the past few years yet many other aspects of the gem economy are troubling The Gemstone Forecaster shows markets slowing in the fall of 2015. Many of the top producers like Burma (Myanmar) show spectacular new goods but demand has slowed dramatically in recent months. The markets have been called a bubble by some, but I wonder if it is a bubble at all in regards to colored diamonds and gems. With the Chinese buyers drying up after years of rampant purchasing of gems this has had an affect across the trade. Many factors are at play of course in this high stakes game of chance, the gems of Mozambique are entering the colored stone markets like never before. The worlds largest ruby deposits are in this African nation. Violence and politics are negatively affecting the development of this resource. by Robert Genis The colored diamond and precious gemstone markets have been top performing assets for over a decade. However, many markets have now been hit hard or even topped. US stock markets are weak and emerging markets are crashing. Many commodities-including white diamonds, gold and silver have sunk in the face of a strong dollar. In the US, with a few exceptions, the residential real estate market never came roaring back despite low interest rates. The reason colored diamonds and certain unheated precious gemstones (primarily from Burma) continue to increase makes sense. They are truly rare, fun to own, can be owned privately, are easily stored, and have an enviable record of appreciation. Every substantial portfolio should have a small portion dedicated to these assets.  READ MORE…

A 23.16ct rough pink diamond has been uncovered in Tanzania, one of many large rough diamonds found there recently.by Petra Diamonds. This is one of a series of incredible finds in recent months. The color of this rough is wonderful and it should cut into a spectacular finished piece. Tanzania has produced other large rough one is the second largest rough diamond ever discovered at 1111ct. More is expected to be produced from the region with many large pieces coming from the region in recent months, with some over 300cts. National Jeweler articles are a good source of news for diamond enthusiasts. I would love to see the finished pieces after cutting.. London–The large diamond finds continue, with mining company Petra Diamonds Ltd. recovering a 23.16-carat pink and Lucara coming up big again with two more exceptional stones. The pink diamond, which Petra said has “exceptional color and clarity,” is the company’s most significant recovery to date from its Williamson mine, which is located in Tanzania. Petra said it will offer it for sale by appointment in Antwerp as part of its December tender. Read More…

Jewelers Resource Bureau Jewelry Designers Resource Center is proud to announce it’s newly formed affiliation with The Jewelers Resource Bureau. Which is a tremendous resource for jewelers and jewelry designers for jewelry trade shows and designer-friendly craft fairs, associations for designers, events for designers, design competitions and industry trade publications. All in a single spot help for marketing solutions, packaging solutions, jewelry tools and so much more. Take advantage of the short and long term sources and the latest in industry trends. Subscribing instantly guarantees immediate members area access to everything you’ll need to t grow o help grow your business.  Get access to  the How-To Library with many dozens of articles on operating your business, from concept of your design to pricing it to sell. The library is constantly growing because in a changing market, recent conditions can call for innovation. Over thirty years in jewelry journalism experience at your fingertips.

Gemological Laboratories American Gemological Laboratories Founded in 1977, and located in the heart of New York’s gem and jewelry district, American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) is an international gemstone testing facility specializing in comprehensive colored gemstone analysis. International Gemological Laboratories IGL Laboratories are respected diamond grading laboratory. We have pioneered the development of the first scientific system used to evaluate how well a diamond has been cut. A diamond’s cut is the most important C of all of the four C’s. EGL Each EGL USA Gemological Report provides a clear, concise view of your stone. So, it’s more than an exceptional document. GIA Established in 1931, GIA is the world’s foremost authority on diamonds, colored stones, and pearls. A public benefit, nonprofit institute, GIA is the leading source of knowledge, standards, and education in gems and jewelry.

Gemstone industry in Nigeria In recent times the hap hazard approach to gemstone sourcing in Nigeria has began to organized and mechanized mining is now beginning to take hold and the market is responding well to this change. Nigeria has become a major gemstone supplier in the past few decades. Now with the markets opening up to this source of colored gem industry is getting government support and organizing assistance. Tourmaline, Spessartite, Rubellite, Mambilla Sapphire, and even Emerald are all finding their way into the jewelry markets in Thailand for processing  and manufacturing. “Gemstone exports from Nigeria have always been somewhat poorly organized, and mainly of rough stones. Recently, however, there has been an attempt to improve mining capacity, to make exporting less cumbersome and transparent, and to encourage value addition for the country’s rough gemstones. These are the steps that a World Bank-assisted project has proposed.” Read More… The gemstones coming out of Nigeria are of high quality and are examples of how an emerging market can make real contributions to the worlds gemstone industry. We are looking forward to seeing more from this relatively new contributor to the worlds gemstone and jewelry industry…

Are Some Gems Only Half Precious? Semi precious is a misrepresentation of the values involved in gemstones other than the big 4 diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. There are so called semi precious stone calling for higher prices that even diamonds are going for. The rarity and opening of new markets for colored stones, along with designers discovering new fashion trendy colors in what used to be obscure unknown gemstones. Many new designers look at the semi precious classification as being inferior in quality and value. That is not the situation these days with new trends emerging annually with new colors and stones most folks never heard of a short time ago. New and aspiring jewelry designers can find some real gems in the many hundreds of semi precious group of stones. There are great deals to be had but the market for certain stones can be very volatile indeed. One needs to watch the trends for colors that they may be able to get at a bargain now but is soon to be in much higher demand The gemstone business in the past was dominated by the “big three,” ruby, emerald, and sapphire. These gemstones have always been the most popular and the market for these stones is different than the market for other gemstones in many ways. When other gemstone varieties began to be popular in jewelry, the jewelry industry got tired of calling them “colored gemstones other than ruby, emerald and sapphire.” People needed a term to distinguish these other gems from the big three, since all of them can be called colored gemstones. Unfortunately, the term they made up was “semi-precious” since the big three were often called precious stones, probably from the French “pierres precieuse.” Unfortunately the French terminology was not followed for the other stones or they would be known as “fine gemstones,” which is much better than that semi word. READ MORE…

How to draw rings A wonderful video from YouTube that illustrates a technique to drawn ring designs for yourself. Take a few minute to view it and learn this super simple trick to making your jewelry designs pop up off the sketchpad for you. This video is by Ioana Avram, It demonstrates a technique of drawing rings that is simple and concise with the ability to position the ring in any manner you wish to. Learn about this and find some designing aids and sketchpads to get started with all those jewelry designs floating about in your creative mind. Even designs with gemstones can be made to look just like your vision and easily learned this is a super video for a starting point. Learn more about jewelry on video jewelry design, jewelry making, and jewelry repair

Top Gems of 2015 The Fashion and Jewellery industries are linked at the hip one is dependent on the other in an equal symbiosis of trends in color texture as they evolve. This past year has seen four gems stand out in the fashion designing world. They come in varied vivid colors which compliment and contrast the latest fashion designs as accents in jewellery. Some are surprising new names that have come into their own as accepted and recommended by designers. Sapphire is a surprisingly durable gemstone seen in fashion design circles and jewelry shows around the world. A surprising top performer in Morganite as it surged in sales in 2015 from industry sources, it did not out perform the near perennial blue sapphire. But was the most advanced contender for attention in the design and fashion world this year according to a number of retail and wholesale jewelers. Fashion and design trends also can help bring a gemstone back in vogue as popular shades and hues trickle down to the fine jewelry market, and it’s interesting once a new year gets going to notice what’s popping up again and again, whether that be loose or in finished jewelry. I love watching to see which gems I notice throughout the year are really having their time in the spotlight and how market trends pull certain stones and shades to the forefront. After a year of attending shows, press previews and looking at a lot of new jewelry, here are the gems that I thought were hottest in 2015. READ MORE…

National Jeweler has an article about the second largest rough diamond ever unearthed, a 222 gram or 1,111ct spectacular rough diamond was discovered in Botswana recently. This particular mine has also recently found three other diamonds over 300 carats. Rough gems this large are extremely rare and to have this many found in a single year is very big news. The Karowe mine is located in Botswana at the AK6 kimberlite pipe. Congratulations are in order here for such a spectacular discovery of mother natures finest creations Lucara President and CEO William Lamb said the 1,111-carat diamond workers found Monday at the company’s Karowe Mine is “slightly smaller than a tennis ball.” This picture provided by Lucara shows how big the diamond is when compared to a loupe.The diamond, which measures 65 mm x 56 mm x 40 mm, is too large to fit in any of the rough evaluation machines Lucara has on-site in Botswana and likely will be sent to Antwerp for further evaluation. Read More…  

5-Carat Lab-Grown Blue Diamond Graded by GIA With labs perfecting the HPHT lab process for lab grown diamonds larger and larger stones are coming to the markets. Recent a 5.03ct blue diamond grown in a laboratory was inspected by GIA. These larger stones are causing a lot of interest in the markets, as the technology increases the quality is as well. Although a lab grown gem can be detected in a number of ways they still are causing the jewelry industry to sit up and take notice. This particular man made gemstone was significant enough to have the findings published early online by GIA. The company to produce it in Russia is thought to be the producer of the largest known lab created blue diamond in the world. Regardless of what you call them these man made, lab grown, lab created stones are getting more and more attention in the worlds jewelry markets. Jewelry designers are taking notice as well. Of course full disclosure of the source of these gems is taking place, it is important to have knowledge that the are coming onto the market. Although differing opinions on these created gems exist the fact is they are here to stay and are becoming a normal part of the industry. Regardless of what one thinks of these beautiful examples of gems, it is a fact that they are now a permanent part of the jewelry business and one should stay informed about the advances being made in creating them. New York–The Gemological Institute of America’s New York laboratory recently evaluated the largest lab-grown blue diamond it’s seen to date, a 5.03-carat stone made by a diamond company based in St. Petersburg, Russia. According to a Lab Note authored by GIA researchers Kyaw Soe Moe, Paul Johnson, Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson and Wuyi Wang, the emerald-cut diamond was produced by NDT. NDT, or New Diamond Technology, is one of the founding members of the new International Grown Diamond Association. It’s also the company that produced the world’s largest known colorless diamond, a 10.02-carat, F color, VS1 stone cut from a 32.26-carat piece of rough and submitted to IGI Hong Kong last year. The Lab Note stated that the 5.03-carat diamond exhibited a number of traits characteristic of diamonds grown using the high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) process, including color zoning and a cuboctahedral growth pattern. READ MORE…

Training video on how to properly repair a jewelry hinge

Chicago-Area Jeweler Delivers Using a Drone I suppose this is a sign of things to come, more and more technology for drone delivery is appearing in the marketplaces of the world. Here is a local company innovative in the way they work on customer service. It was a simple delivery but it was also their first delivery by drone. As the technology develops I think it will eventually become more common and even expected by clients. This way of conducting business is in it’s earliest stages but shows tremendous potential in many industries and applications. Drones are new in the jewelers world but at least one is attempting to develop a new means of delivering satisfaction to their clientele. I don’t see this as an instant phenomena, but over time it will likely find it;’s niche in the jewelry market. December 09, 2015 Distinctive Gold Jewelry customer Paula receiving her anniversary gift, an 18-karat gold Concord watch, on the front lawn of her suburban Chicago home back in September. DGJ deployed a drone to bring her the gift, a first for the store. Frankfort, Ill.–Ever since the notion of delivering goods via drone hit the news, jeweler Tony D’Ortenzio wanted to get in on the action. His dream was to give one couple a memorable engagement by flying the ring in mid-proposal. That hasn’t happened yet but, thanks to the help of a longtime sales associate and a local photographer, the store did pull off the drone delivery of a $10,000 watch, a tremendous feat for an independent retailer in an industry notorious for being behind the times. D’Ortenzio owns Distinctive Gold Jewelry (known as DGJ) with his brother Joe. The store, which has been in the family for more than 40 years, has had three Chicagoland locations and now is in Frankfort, a southwest suburb. READ MORE…

Northwestern University’s FUSE program on Jewelry Design Local Jewelry Designer Creates FUSE Challenge The FUSE program at Northwestern University has touch thousands and local  jewelry designer Christopher Duquet has offered a design contest to students which has become successful and is getting more and more attention. Offering jewelry design help to students that have never been interested in jewelry design prior to this incredible program. Students are finding that they can design things they never thought they would be able to do in the past. Using state of the art 3d software to print out the designs and even wear them home has sparked tremendous interest. The winner of the design contest will have their design cast in sterling silver EVANSTON, Ill. — Like many teenagers, Isabel Pietri loves wearing jewelry. But designing her own pieces? The idea had never crossed her mind. Then Pietri won a chance to work with Evanston jewelry designer Christopher Duquet through Northwestern University’s FUSE program, a series of challenges designed to get students excited about science, technology, engineering, arts/design and mathematics (STEAM). For Pietri, now a sophomore at Kelvyn Park High School in Chicago, the experience changed the way she thought about math and science and sparked a newfound interest in computer-based art. “At first my ideas were really simple, but after talking with Christopher they got better,” Pietri said in a newly released video that showcases her collaboration with Duquet. “I had no idea I could do something so technical and complicated.”Read more…

Exotic metals used in jewelry are nothing new For as long as man has known about exotic metals like titanium, platinum group metals like rhodium, and palladium have been used in jewelry designs,. Although over time the designs and manipulation of the metals has changed and now more than ever they are getting attention again by jewelry designers and the jewelry manufacturing industry.

Lapidary supplies and Equipment Inland’s lapidary equipment, diamond tools, and lapidary supplies are available to lapidary hobbyists and rockhounds all over the world. Our line of lapidary equipment includes diamond band saws and trim saws, plus diamond grinders and flat lap machines, – all designed specifically for use on rocks and minerals. Ameritool offers the highest quality lapidary and glass working machines.  Our trim saws and grinders set the industry standards for quality and design.  Our equipment is used by lapidary, glass, jewelry and beading artists around the world. Rio Grande, At Rio, we believe in jewelers. In the digital age, perhaps this is a radical idea. But we remain committed to supporting anyone who has ever picked up a piece of metal and made something wearable. Delta One Lapidary, we can supply your lapidary equipment, lapidary tools, rock hounding tools, and jewelry tools and equipment needs. Diamond Pacific is one of the major manufacturers of lapidary equipment for the rockhound hobbyist, professional gemcutter and jeweler, and for a variety of commercial uses, from deburring metal parts to testing geological specimens and concrete for highways.

7 Trends to Watch in 2016 Trends come and go but if your designing jewelry for fun and profit you should at least follow trending designs and add your own twist to them. Of course it is still alright to be totally original in design but following trends in gemstones and metals used in current trends will help you to increase your sales. Also following the fashion trends for clothing can give you an edge over other jewelry designers. Finding jewelry designer resources that offer this information will give you an advantage over designers who do not. Keep your eye on what colored gems are becoming popular and incorporate them into your design concepts, try new things as often as you can. This will increase your creative juices and expand your scope of jewelry designing. Try following the articles of the National Jeweler I find it very informative and timely on following trends in design color, gems and much more. this online magazine is a super resource for jewelry designers amateur or professional. Aspiring designers can learn much from the designer resources of publications like this. Many amateur jewelry designers lack simple resources to have their designs turned into jewelry. This was an issue for me way back in the 1970’s when I first began to design and create jewelry I found that I was paying far too much for professional services like wax carving and casting. Also my limit knowledge caused me to be far too dependent on the limited resources in my area. If you are an aspiring jewelry designer don’t let your limited knowledge or local resources be a problem, if you don’t find what you need on your own just ask I will be happy to assist you in locating your supplies, tools and services that will make your designs into the finished piece you envision. In other words just get started and do it, there is no longer any reason to fail in creating your beautiful jewelry designs. January 04, 2016 | By Brecken Branstrator Mixed metals in bridal, like this 18-karat rose and white gold ring set from LX Antwerp, will continue to be popular next year. New York–It’s going to be an exciting year in jewelry design. Trends have been taking new and innovative turns, and now spread across the country faster than ever, as social media and the Internet allow everyone to see and adapt to them in a short period of time. Because of this, retailers need to adapt to the trends more quickly or even be out ahead of them, said Amanda Gizzi, director of public relations and special events at Jewelers of America. Here are the trends that the experts think will be popping up, and staying put, in the fine jewelry market in 2016. 1. Stackables/layering. This trend isn’t going anywhere, especially for pieces that are personalized or allow for the sentimental. In jewelry, this includes layering delicate necklaces together as well as stacking rings and bracelets. “It’s really important (for retailers) to have and buy these pieces to drive in the younger generation,” Gizzi said. “It’s a buy-one-today, add-one-tomorrow mentality.” READ MORE… Jewelry Designers Resource Center is a proud affiliate of the Jewelers Resource Bureau take a moment to look at becoming a member. CLICK HERE…

Seeking the Legacy of Australian Sapphire Australian sapphire is little known in most markets because of the relationship the Australian mines have with the Thailand gemstone trade. Australia is a major supplier of Basalt hosted Sapphires and has large deposits being worked since the mid 1800’s and early 1900’s. The markets have had little knowledge of the existence of these Australian mining operations because they were often sold as being sourced from other areas such as Cambodia. These source of high grade sapphire in Australia and the relationship with Thailand’s gem industry have had a direct affect of the current markets in the gem and jewelry trades. Large amounts of these stones are cut and sold from Thailand and they often end up in Russia’s fine jewelry markets. Australian sapphire has more iron content than those from places like Myanmar, which is the reason for its rich deep blue color. The Australian sapphire mining operations were never mechanized until the 1960’s and 70’s so they had limited supply’s of rough stone coming out of the mines. Many operations are of alluvial nature and surface mined. It seems that no one is yet mining the main source of these alluvial stones at there volcanic source.     The moment I held that stone up to the sun and saw a deep vibrant royal blue color throughout the sapphire…I knew I was hooked. —Peter Brown, Sapphire Miner and Mine-to-Market Entrepreneur Author:Tao Hsu, Andrew Lucas, and Vincent Pardieu Sapphire was discovered in Australia during the 1850s gold rushes and 1870s tin mining. One of the earliest written records is from 1851, when sapphire was found in New South Wales. Though the long history of sapphire mining and commercial production spans at least the past half century, Australian sapphire has not received the recognition it warrants from either the global gem and jewelry industry or the consumer market. The top-quality Australian stones were sold as being from other sources, such as “Pailin” from Cambodia. Australia’s sizable commercial-quality sapphire production and its contribution to the rest of the world, especially the current corundum trading center of Thailand, are under-recognized. The trade between the Aussies and the Thais led to the global sapphire industry’s current dynamics. To enrich GIA’s global corundum research and learn the full story of the Australian sapphire industry, the Institute sent a group of field gemologists to explore the most important sapphire gem fields in eastern Australia. The group was led by GIA senior field gemology manager Vincent Pardieu and composed of field gemologist Andrew Lucas, Gems & Gemology technical editor Tao Hsu, assistant field gemologist Victoria Raynaud, and field cameramen Didier Gruel and Didier Barriere Doleac. The Institute’s field gemologists have covered all important sapphire fields in Australia—earlier this year another team led by Vincent Pardieu visited Tasmania’s sapphire fields. READ MORE… Jewelry Designers Resource Center is a proud affiliate of The Jewelers Resource Bureau

Wadsworth Hosts Lecture By “Downton Abbey” Jewelry Designer Period jewelry being designed for British TV his Downton Abbey by Andrew Prince is getting plenty of attention. The late 19th and early 20th century setting of the show has renewed interest in the jewelry designs and trends from 1890-1929. These years were special in that the world expanded and influences from the opulence created during this period made jewelry designs flourish. And now renewed interest in such retro designs is growing. Is it due to this one show, who knows but I can say that when a designers works are featured in TV or movies it always helps peak interest. The stranded pearl necklaces, tiara’s, chokers, combs, and  brooches are all wonderful fanciful examples of period jewelry that seem to have become newly invigorated by the works of the cast of Downton Abbey and the shows designer Andrew Prince. Jewelry designers are many and many a designer never sees the success that Andrew is having. Jewelry designing is a passion for most and a business for a few, so don’t let the lack of fame and sales success intimidate you into not putting forth your jewelry designs. A little bit of the hit PBS series “Downton Abbey” comes to Hartford later this week. The ups and downs of the aristocratic Crawley family enthralled viewers for six seasons, and part of the allure for many was the show’s dogged dedication to authenticity — especially the period clothes and jewelry. Andrew Prince, the jewelry designer for “Downton Abbey,” will give a lecture Thursday night at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford on jewelry and fashion from 1890 to 1929. Pieces of jewelry worn on “Downton Abbey” will also be on display. For his work on the show, Prince said it was important to get the jewelry right for each individual character. “Somebody like Maggie Smith, she was playing someone in their 70s, so she would be wearing jewelry that was 20 or 30 years out of date,” he said. “She wouldn’t be wearing bang-up, to-date modern jewelry. READ MORE… Learn more about the resources we can provided you for free at the Jewelry Designers Resource Center, take your dreams to the next level let us help you get there. We are proudly affiliated with The Jewelers resource Bureau.

De Beers reports US$540m in its first sale of 2016 The diamond markets are moving well as De Beers the premiere suppliers has shown an increase of nearly 120 percent over the last sale of 2015. The diamond rough market is set to leap into the 2016 market with new goods that have set the dealers on the edge of their seats. Watching the sales set here can help predict trends and forecast what will be selling in the jewelry industry. Jewelry designers can watch these trends and learn when to be buying stones for their new jewelry designs. The colored stone markets are another one to watch to see what colors the fashion industry is looking for. Colored stone sales both precious and semi precious are affected by fashion trends and should be considered by jewelry designers when developing new design concepts for their clientele. When an aspiring designer begins to follow fashion and stone sales trends they can get a better idea on what the buying public is looking for. Watching these reports and such can help one develop a intuition of what they can do for the next set of designs they will create and hopefully sell. The De Beers Group of Companies sold US$540 million of rough diamonds in its first sale of 2016, almost 118 percent higher than the US$248 million recorded during the final sales cycle of 2015. De Beers attributed this year’s strong start to solid jewellery sales during the US holiday season. “A positive holiday season in the US from a retail perspective, low levels of rough diamond purchases by the midstream in Q4 2015 and a subsequent reduction in manufacturing saw polished diamond stocks pull through the pipeline. This has resulted in firmer polished prices,” said the company. Rough diamond demand broadened across the entire product range as cutting and polishing factories began to increase their activity, it added. Philippe Mellier, chief executive of the De Beers Group, commented, “We are encouraged by the result of the first sales cycle of 2016, and will keep working closely with our customers to deliver sustainable improvements in the diamond industry in 2016.” De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM), meanwhile, announced that it has completed the sale of Kimberley Mines, including the tailings mineral resources, to Ekapa Minerals (Pty) Ltd – an investor consortium comprising Ekapa Mining (Pty) and Petra Diamonds Ltd. READ MORE…