Gem Pricing Report

By JCK Online Staff -- JCK Online, 6/1/2008 2:00:00 AM

It seems that retail jewelers' main competition is the corner gas station. Today finds another record oil price, $123 a barrel. Gas has hit $4+ per gallon in many parts of the country. Consumer confidence has declined sharply during the past two months as consumers struggle to cover dramatically increasing costs of groceries and other essentials, driven up in part by higher energy costs.

One byproduct of the cautious mood at the retail level is that suppliers are reporting an alarmingly high number of slow and no pays. Price points of $1,000 or less still perform well, but stores also are carrying many goods that are dead in the current market because of their high price points. Healthy retailers are controlling costs and reducing inventory while trying to keep it fresh.

Cash is tight. Consumers expect big discounts. Several national chains have cut prices significantly to lure customers. It may be hard to restore the notion of value to these luxury goods in the future.

Despite consumers' tight cash, diamond dealers report that 3.00 ct. and better G or better cleaner goods are difficult to get. Demand is much higher than supply. Diamond prices are strong in better-made rounds and princess cuts. Cushion and emerald cuts are doing well, marquises and pears are fair.

Diamond: 1/4 ct. round

	VS₁	VS₂	SI₁	SI₂
G	$1,495	$1,350	$1,200	$1,050
H	$1,400	$1,300	$1,070	$950
I	$1,260	$1,150	$950	$900
J	$1,100	$1,000	$900	$850

Diamond: 1/2 ct. round

	VS₁	VS₂	SI₁	SI₂
G	$3,200	$2,800	$2,400	$2,000
H	$2,800	$2,400	$2,200	$1,800
I	$2,200	$2,100	$1,900	$1,700
J	$1,900	$1,800	$1,700	$1,600

Diamond: 1 ct. round

	VS₁	VS₂	SI₁	SI₂
G	$6,500	$6,100	$5,000	$4,300
H	$5,500	$5,300	$4,600	$4,100
I	$4,200	$4,000	$3,800	$3,600
J	$3,800	$3,600	$3,200	$3,000

Diamond: 2 ct. round

	VS₁	VS₂	SI₁	SI₂
G	$12,300	$10,900	$9,400	$8,100
H	$10,200	$9,400	$7,900	$7,200
I	$8,700	$8,000	$7,200	$6,700
J	$6,800	$6,300	$5,900	$5,500

Fancy Pink Diamond: 1 ct. radiant

VS	SI	I₁
$60K–$85K	$45K–$75K	$30K–$43K

Red Spinel

	Good	Fine
2 to under 3 cts.	$150–$500	$500–$800
3 to under 5 cts.	$250–$550	$650–$2,000

Blue Sapphire

	Good	Fine
1 to under 2 cts.	$125–$420	$420–$1,250
2 to under 3 cts.	$325–$750	$750–$2,000

Akoya Pearls (by the strand)

	Fine	Extra-Fine
18-in. strands, 6 to 6.5 mm	$650–$850	$1,000–$1,200

Nigerian Spessartite Garnet

	Good	Fine
1 to under 2 cts.	$75–$90	$90–$120
2 to under 3 cts.	$90–$125	$120–$160

Blue Zircon

	Good	Fine
1 to under 3 cts.	$20–$50	$50–$75

Round Tahitian Black Pearls

	Good	Fine
8 to 8.5 mm	$30–$60	$60–$120
10 to 10.5 mm	$35–$90	$90–$150

Tanzanite

	Good	Fine
1 to under 2 cts.	$175–$325	$325–$425
2 to under 5 cts.	$250–$450	$400–$525

Pink Topaz

	Good	Fine
1 to under 3 cts.	$125–$350	$350–$700
3 to under 5 cts.	$180–$425	$425–$900

Prices shown represent actual wholesale memorandum prices paid by retail jewelers on a per-stone basis. All prices are per carat except for cultured pearls. No responsibility or liability is assumed for the consequences of the use of any information in this report, nor for errors or omissions. The terms Commercial, Good, Fine, and Extra-Fine are general classifications developed and used by The Guide. Each represents a range of individual quality grades. When they are used in conjunction with proper grading, one can accurately pinpoint a price from within the listed range. A one-year subscription to The Guide includes six diamond issues (bimonthly); six newsletters (bimonthly); two colored-stone issues including pearls, opals, and jade (biannual); and The Guide Reference Manual. For more information, contact Gemworld International Inc., 630 Dundee Road, Suite 230, Northbrook, IL 60062; (888) GEMGUIDE or (847) 564-0555, fax (847) 564-0557. U.S., Canada, Mexico, $195 complete per year. Elsewhere $275 complete per year.