This year, colored stone jewelry sales are projected to grow globally by approximately 7 percent. In the United States and other key markets, colored gems have emerged as a significant profit center for jewelers. The resulting increase in demand has prices in a number of varieties climbing. Benefiting from this trend are the exotic gems, demand for which has transitioned from collector to mainstream consumer.In the classics, natural (nontreated) fine-quality ruby and sapphire demand is strong as more buyers recognize that the price increases experienced over the past few years are demand-driven and here to stay.Not surprisingly, the price for natural (nonheated) sapphire is following this trend. Prices are very high, but dealers recognize with so little production of nice-quality rough, the prices haven’t approached a ceiling. Dealers report that the traditional model for buying is evo