Gem Pricing Report

By JCK Online Staff -- JCK Online, 11/1/2008 2:00:00 AM

The mood in the gemstone industry remains cautious as we move into the critical holiday season. Many wholesale dealers report that they are not going to overexpose inventory by sending out a lot of goods on long-term memos this season. Only the best accounts should expect this privilege. One dealer explained to JCK, “This year we have had to chase far too many clients for either money or the return of goods, and these were established accounts.”

In general, the colored stone market is stable. For many varieties, prices have decreased slightly in the lower commercial grades sold into the Hong Kong, China, and India markets before being imported into the United States as finished jewelry. This is largely the result of softened demand as financial pressures on the middle class have slowed spending. In the finer grades, however, prices for most gem varieties have held stable or posted slight increases this quarter. If history tells us anything, it is that in the gem trade, collectors realize that slowing economies provide strong buying opportunities.

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
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., 630 Dundee Road, Suite 230, Northbrook, IL 60062; (888) GEMGUIDE or (847) 564-0555, fax (847) 564-0557. U.S., Canada, Mexico, $205 complete per year. Elsewhere $275 complete per year.