Overall, the colored stone market has “held up” considering
the economy. The top and low ends have maintained their integrity, but the
middle sector has felt a crunch, according to Richard Drucker, president of
GemWorld International.
During his Top Colored Gemstones seminar, Drucker qualified
his market observations: “Many colored stone prices are holding, they’re just
not selling, especially in the middle market. Price points that are selling
well are under $1,200 and over $5,000 to $6,000.”
Topping Drucker’s best-buy list is blue sapphire. Prices for
heated stones of good and top quality have held. Commercial-quality goods,
however, have softened in price by 5 to 10 percent, while prices for large
stones are strong, up 10 to 15 percent over last year.
Emeralds have been making a comeback over the last six to
eight years, and production is good in Colombia and Zambia. Controversies over
polymer fillers such as Permasafe linger, but many dealers disbelieve claims and
assume that most emeralds are treated with oil, Drucker said.
Tourmaline is another good buy, and Drucker noted that
Nigerian rubellite is plentiful. This affordable red tourmaline has become a
hot seller because of higher clarity. Blue zircon, a less-expensive alternative
to blue sapphire, is another strong seller. Zircon overall remains popular with
retailers.
Spinel also is popular with retailers, and most colors,
except red, are plentiful. Because it’s still largely unknown, many consumers
believe spinel is a new product.
Many retail buyers have been exploring unusual pearl
products such as petal, wing, soufflé, and baroque pearls. But “beadless”
pearls, which recently entered the market, have sparked nomenclature issues.
Chinese-freshwater-pearl producers are using small pearls as nucleus inserts,
which makes the pearls appear natural. As a result, labs have difficulty labeling
the product.
Supplies of various qualities of Tahitian pearls will soon
enter the market. A quasi-government group that exported only finer goods was
disbanded. The group’s export policies forced many Tahitian pearl farms to
close, hurting production.
In other pearl news the University of Florida is producing
cultured conch pearls.
Drucker said demand for pink sapphire has dropped 30 to 35
percent. Yellow sapphire demand has also waned, but not in India. “There’s big
demand in India for yellow sapphires—even beryllium-treated material,” Drucker
said.
Ruby is the subject of major controversies, including the
ongoing storm over lead-glass-filled ruby; bloody anti-government
demonstrations in Bangkok, Thailand, that have all but stopped gem trading
there; and the ban on Burma rubies, which will be intact for the “foreseeable
future” according to Drucker.
Because of the Burma ban, China is emerging as a source for
ruby. Mozambique and Madagascar remain strong sources, but ruby production has
stopped in Tanzania (Winza).
Drucker concluded with a discussion of the future of gem
treatments. Many coatings are being used to improve the appearance and color
depth of tanzanite. Diamond coatings are also being widely used.
Minnesota-based Azotic has over 2,000 coating colors, and California-based
Serenity is also producing coatings.
Drucker also discussed the growing number of
synthetics, new treatments, and improved older treatments such as HPHT (high
pressure, high temperature) and oiling, which are growing more sophisticated. He
called the situation an epidemic in the industry. “The future is happening
now,” he said. “We have to deal with this as an industry moving forward.”
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