One lucky winner will receive a “Lizzie” diamond bracelet.
SSEF Warns of Improperly Labeled Sapphires
The Swiss gem lab says it is seeing sapphires from a new source in Bemainty, Madagascar coming in labeled as Kashmir.
Basel, Switzerland--The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF is urging the trade to be vigilant about the “Kashmir-like” sapphires from Madagascar now hitting the market.
In October, a new deposit at Bemainty, near the town of Ambatondrazaka, began turning out sapphires.
The source has produced a large amount of blue, fancy colored and padparadscha sapphires of “partly exceptional size and quality,” and appears to be “a new gem source of greater importance than anything we have seen in recent years,” SSEF said in a statement.
In fact, SSEF Director Michael S. Krzemnicki told National Jeweler in an email that the highest quality goods from the source can compete with sapphires from any other gem deposit.
However, the lab has analyzed a number of these “Kashmir-like” sapphires from the new deposit, ranging from 5 to 50 carats, and began noticing in January that many of the stones coming into the lab were accompanied by gemological reports denoting a Kashmir origin when they actually are from Bemainty.
SSEF said it came to the conclusion after observing the gemstones under a microscope and using a number of scientific methods including Raman microspectrometry, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence and GemTOF for trace element concentration.
The lab said as soon as it started getting the Kashmir-like sapphires, it initiated research and established stringent criteria to identify the new material and distinguish it from Kashmir sapphires when characteristic features permit.
The work is based on the lab’s decades of experience with origin determination, top-of-the-line analytical information and an extensive collection that is constantly upgraded with gemstones from new deposits.
And while the sapphires coming from Madagascar do have a “Kashmir-like” visual appearance--with a subtle and fine “milkiness” that results in a velvety blue color typical of those that come from Kashmir--there also are a number of telling factors that distinguish goods from the two sources, including differences in clarity, growth zones, color zones and variation in the zircon crystals that appear inside.
(For a more detailed explanation about the differences between the sources, see the lab’s full trade alert.)
Krzemnicki said the trade should be careful when offered Kashmir sapphires, especially in large carat sizes, as this is “highly prized material.”
“We (had submitted to us), during one week of the Basel show, an outstanding
SSEF maintains that the new source in Madagascar has great potential and will be asset to the gem trade, as long as the true origin is correctly disclosed.
The Latest
Samantha Larson has joined the Boston-based retailer.
The Emerging Jewelers Accelerator Program will guide retail jewelry entrepreneurs through an eight-month educational curriculum.
From protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
Ten chosen designers will receive mentorship and participate in a design contest for the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award.
Dana J. Lorberg brings 35 years of experience in finance, technology, and strategy to the role.
The suspects are said to have been involved in the armed robberies of four jewelry stores across three Midwest states.
This fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
The new designs blend Creative Director Reed Krakoff’s aesthetic with the brand’s Balinese roots.
The Dallas-based jeweler will showcase timepieces from Cartier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Parmigiani Fleurier, and more.
The artwork, titled “Pristine,” was raffled off at the Canadian Jewellers Association’s recent summit.
The new store features a custom design studio and a bridal salon.
Designer Rosanne Karmes has created a collection to coincide with the release of the movie musical, which is expected to be a blockbuster.
The retailer said it will file the necessary paperwork to regain compliance as soon as it is able.
Whether you’re calming the jittery gentleman in seat 13B or selling a diamond ring to a hesitant customer, an empathetic approach is best.
The gala includes a red carpet, music from DJ Renata, an awards program, and “mystery boxes.”
The trade show, in its third year, will take place in late September at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
The jeweler shared her change of heart on lab-grown diamonds and why she keeps them separate from natural diamonds in her business ventures.
The 2025 Gem Awards are scheduled to take place March 14 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
Grosz had served as Assael’s senior vice president and creative director since 2017.
“Love and Celebration” is the jeweler’s first in-house collection featuring engagement rings, wedding bands, and celebration rings.
A more positive view of the labor market contributed to the strongest monthly gain since March 2021.
The funds will be distributed to schools in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Jennifer Mulvihill, the first woman to lead JSA in the organization’s 141-year history, takes over for the retiring John Kennedy.
This year’s festivities include more than 100 experiences, such as designer showcases, panel discussions, and even a treasure hunt.
The GMT-Master “Pepsi” that belonged to astronaut Edgar Mitchell is one of two Apollo-flown Rolex watches ever sold at auction.
The ads star brand ambassadors Chloe and Halle Bailey and Pamela Anderson.