Colored Stone Activity Is Picking Up

Staff -- JCK Online, 5/1/2005 2:00:00 AM

MARKET IN BRIEF:April 14, 2005…Early spring found buyers searching for better ruby and sapphire in Asia. Dealers report that more unenhanced material is being offered on the Thai and Sri Lankan market. Buyers, concerned about undisclosed treatments, brought about change by requesting unenhanced material. One buyer who recently traveled to Sri Lanka noted that there is a risk the market will swing too far from treated goods. He recently observed several yellow sapphires with washed-out colors that would have benefited from heat treatment being offered at a big premium. Better natural yellows have a strong market but the pale material that is being offered at high prices is slow to move. However, prices for natural untreated material in general are strong due to higher demand. Sales continue to lag for gems in the commercial and good-quality grades.

Blues, greens, yellows, and purples are influencing fashion this spring. Pink sapphire is still strong and demand for natural yellow sapphire is up.

Diamond: ¼-ct. round

	VS1	VS2	SI1	SI2
G	$1,200	$1,150	$975	$850
H	$1,100	$1,000	$925	$800
I	$1,000	$950	$850	$750
J	$950	$900	$800	$725

Diamond: ½-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: ¾-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	$5,800	$5,500	$4,800	$4,200
H	$4,900	$4,800	$4,400	$4,000
I	$4,000	$3,800	$3,600	$3,400
J	$3,600	$3,400	$3,000	$2,900

Fancy Pink Diamond: 1-ct. radiant cut

VS	SI	I1
$55K–$75K	$40K–$70K	$27K–$38K

Red Spinel

	Good	Fine
2 to under 3 cts.	$150–$400	$400–$850
3 to under 5 cts.	$250–$500	$500–$1,100

Blue Sapphire

	Good	Fine
1 to under 2 cts.	$125–$420	$420–$1,250
2 to under 3 cts.	$275–$630	$630–$1,750

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

Pink topaz

	Good	Fine
1 to under 3 cts.	$100–$300	$300–$600
3 to under 5 cts.	$150–$350	$350–$700

Tanzanite

	Good	Fine
1 to under 2 cts.	$175–$325	$325–$425
2 to under 5 cts.	$250–$400	$400–$500

Round Tahitian Black Pearls

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

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.