Gem Pricing Report

By Staff -- JCK Online, 6/1/2007 2:00:00 AM

Dealers report mixed sales this spring. The Midwest has been quiet, while the coasts have seen improvement. Cuprian tourmaline from Mozambique is in wide demand, with strong sales in most qualities. The price structure has yet to level, although prices have softened slightly. Supply of the greenish blue material is good, and large stones are available. Purple cuprian tourmaline is becoming a designer favorite. Prices in this category are stable.

Fine-quality ruby and sapphire continue in good demand. Demand for unheated fine stones is very strong. Price pressures resulting from increasing demand in overseas markets show no sign of easing. The market has two price levels for corundum. One reflects the scarcity of unheated gem-quality ruby and sapphire. A much lower level reflects greater availability of treated and enhanced ruby and sapphire. With current growth rates, prices for finer heated gems can be surprisingly high.

In pearls, unusual shapes are favorites. Petals, baroques, and other varieties are popular when luster is high. Advances in culturing have produced a higher percentage of rounds in recent years, so baroques are less common.

Diamond: 1/4 ct. round

	VS₁	VS₂	SI₁	SI₂
G	$1,300	$1,200	$1,100	$950
H	$1,150	$1,050	$1,000	$900
I	$1,100	$1,000	$900	$850
J	$1,000	$950	$850	$800

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: 3/4 ct. round

	VS₁	VS₂	SI₁	SI₂
G	$3,800	$3,600	$3,300	$2,900
H	$3,500	$3,300	$3,000	$2,800
I	$3,200	$3,000	$2,600	$2,200
J	$2,500	$2,300	$2,100	$2,000

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

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–$450	$450–$900
3 to under 5 cts.	$400–$850	$850–$1,800

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
3 to under 5 cts.	$35–$75	$75–$150

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., 2640 Patriot Blvd., Suite 240, Glenview, IL 60026; (888) GEMGUIDE or (847) 657-0555, fax (847) 657-0550. U.S., Canada, Mexico, $195 complete per year. Elsewhere $275 complete per year.