High-End Jewelry Still Leads Demand

Staff -- JCK Online, 9/1/2005 2:00:00 AM

Market in brief:August 4, 2005 … The New York JA show experienced better-than-expected sales. Dealers report that diamond jewelry and high-end colored-stone jewelry continue to lead demand. A notable trend reported by many dealers was that a larger percentage of buyers seemed to be buying for stock. This development is sure to fuel optimism about business this holiday season.

In the diamond market, prices remain firm for well-made rounds of VS2 and better in the collection colors. The supply of 3 ct. and larger diamonds is tight. Dealers report that demand is also strong for quarter- and third-size rounds. In the fancies, princess and emerald cuts are selling well. Dealers are also reporting good demand for better-color marquises, ovals, and pears.

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.

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	$6,200	$5,900	$4,800	$4,200
H	$5,300	$5,100	$4,400	$4,000
I	$4,100	$3,900	$3,700	$3,400
J	$3,700	$3,500	$3,100	$3,000

Fancy Pink Diamond: 1 ct. radiant

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	$275–$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

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
8.0 to 8.5 mm	$30–$60	$60–$120
10.0 to 10.5 mm	$35–$90	$90–$150

Pink Topaz

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

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.