Top Qualities Sell for Holiday

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

MARKET IN BRIEF:Jan. 5, 2005… Dealer assessments of holiday sales are mixed. This year the top end of the market was active with good demand for fine quality gems. Demand for unenhanced ruby and sapphire was strong. However, sales of the lower- and mid-price-point jewelry lagged behind expectations. Internet-based gem and jewelry companies posted the largest increase in sales this season.

The market is in a transition edging away from its cautious stance. Expectations for 2005 include increased demand for unusual gem materials. Chrysocolla and chrysoprase are just two of the chalcedonies currently enjoying immense popularity with designers and custom jewelers. Limited production in 2004 for many gem materials is likely to result in higher prices this year. Consumer demand is improved, but supplies of fine-quality stones in many of the traditional colored stones including ruby, sapphire, tanzanite, and emerald are down.

Diamond: ¼-carat 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-carat 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-carat 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-carat 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

Pink topaz

	Good	Fine
1 to under 3 cts.	$100-$300	$300-$600
3 to under 5 cts.	$100-$325	$325-$650

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.	$15-$40	$40-$60
3 to under 5 cts.	$20-$50	$50-$100

Red Tourmaline (Rubellite)

	Good	Fine
1 to under 3 cts.	$70-$120	$80-$120
3 to under 5 cts.	$100-$160	$120-$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

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.