MajorsOct 13, 2026
David Webb Owner Purchases Lugano JewelryThe high-end jewelry retailer was sold to private investment firm Middle West Partners and a group of longtime clients.
SourcingApr 15, 2022
Colored Stone Expert and Wholesaler David Patterson Dies at 89
He helped develop a process to synthesize alexandrite and founded manufacturer and wholesale company Geminex in the 1970s.
New York—Longtime gemstone expert David Patterson died April 8 at the age of 89, the International Colored Gemstone Association confirmed.
Patterson was born in Colorado in 1933 and attended Colorado State University, where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering.
But gemstones always called to him, ICA said. Patterson designed and built his own faceting machine and taught himself lapidary.
He also learned and developed the process to grow alexandrite.
In 1970, he contacted a group that had synthesized alexandrite and emerald and eventually started working with them, according to a column Patterson wrote that appeared as part of an article in the Gemmological Association of Great Britain’s Journal of Gemmology in 2012.
They had grown the crystals through one method but were starting to look at growing them via seeding.
When one of the team members was set to move to a new job, they asked Patterson if he wanted to buy the operation. He did, establishing Creative Crystals and stepping into the role of president.
Creative Crystals continued to develop the process, introducing its lab-grown alexandrite to the market officially at the 1972 AGS convention in New Orleans.
Though it drew “a significant amount of interest” there, according to the article, they still ran into plenty of resistance from jewelers.
“We came to believe the cost of marketing would exceed the size of the market. Therefore, we concluded it was a dead-end project for us.”
They sold the operation in 1979 to a limited partnership.
Patterson also started a gemstone manufacturing and wholesaling company called Geminex Corp. in 1975 in California.
Patterson was a longtime member of the ICA who established many relationships around the world throughout his career.
“He shared his knowledge and love of gemstones with all. He loved his alexandrite with a passion,” the organization said in an email remembrance.
Patterson was born in Colorado in 1933 and attended Colorado State University, where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering.
But gemstones always called to him, ICA said. Patterson designed and built his own faceting machine and taught himself lapidary.
He also learned and developed the process to grow alexandrite.
In 1970, he contacted a group that had synthesized alexandrite and emerald and eventually started working with them, according to a column Patterson wrote that appeared as part of an article in the Gemmological Association of Great Britain’s Journal of Gemmology in 2012.
They had grown the crystals through one method but were starting to look at growing them via seeding.
When one of the team members was set to move to a new job, they asked Patterson if he wanted to buy the operation. He did, establishing Creative Crystals and stepping into the role of president.
Creative Crystals continued to develop the process, introducing its lab-grown alexandrite to the market officially at the 1972 AGS convention in New Orleans.
Though it drew “a significant amount of interest” there, according to the article, they still ran into plenty of resistance from jewelers.
“We came to believe the cost of marketing would exceed the size of the market. Therefore, we concluded it was a dead-end project for us.”
They sold the operation in 1979 to a limited partnership.
Patterson also started a gemstone manufacturing and wholesaling company called Geminex Corp. in 1975 in California.
Patterson was a longtime member of the ICA who established many relationships around the world throughout his career.
“He shared his knowledge and love of gemstones with all. He loved his alexandrite with a passion,” the organization said in an email remembrance.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Sourcing
The Latest
Lab-GrownOct 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Takes Lab-Grown Diamond Collection WholesaleThe jewelry designer has partnered with Sofer Jewelry to distribute her 85-piece lab-grown diamond collection.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Sean DunnDunn, this year’s Single-Store Independent inductee, is passionate about innovation and telling the story of natural diamonds.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
AuctionsOct 13, 2026
Christie's Geneva To Auction 'Bulgari Pink' DiamondThe 24-carat fancy intense pink diamond ring could fetch up to $18 million at the November sale.
Weekly QuizOct 08, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Greenwich St. Jewelers’ New Candle Smells Like HomeThe “Island Jewel” candle honors New York City and Puerto Rico and raises money for the island’s water relief efforts.
TechnologyOct 13, 2026
GemFind Is a New JA Member Benefit Partner The partnership will give JA members access to preferred pricing, exclusive benefits, technology solutions, education, and resources.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
SurveysOct 09, 2026
These Will Be the 10 Busiest Days for In-Store Shopping This Holiday SeasonStores should expect to see the most customers on Nov. 27, and Christmas week is expected to be hectic too, as Dec. 25 falls on a Friday.
CollectionsOct 09, 2026
Elisa Solomon Collabs With Serendipity 3 on ‘Frozen Hot Chocolate’ CharmThe charm, our Piece of the Week, features brown diamond frozen hot chocolate topped with white diamond whipped cream and a ruby straw.
AuctionsOct 09, 2026
8-Carat Blue Diamond Goes Unsold at UK Jewelry Auction The top lot of Elmwood’s recent fine jewelry sale in London was a 1.84-carat, D color Tiffany & Co. solitaire diamond ring.
WatchesOct 09, 2026
Movado to Sell Majority Stake in Ebel for $66.5MThe watch company agreed to sell a 95 percent interest to a group comprised of F.P. Journe, Chanel, and Swiss watch exec Pierre Jacques.
Policies & IssuesOct 08, 2026
Third Wave of IEEPA Tariff Refunds Begins This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
Events & AwardsOct 08, 2026
Pattons Fine Jewelry Sweeps Local Design ContestAra Chanakian, a jeweler at Pattons, took home top honors in every category at Jewelers of Louisiana’s annual jewelry design competition.
AuctionsOct 08, 2026
Reba McEntire’s Jewelry, Watches Head to Julien’s AuctionsThe live charity benefit sale in Nashville will also feature gowns, boots, and other memorabilia from the country music legend.
Supplier BulletinOct 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Helps Jewelers Turn Custom Design into a Hands-On Selling ExperienceSponsored by Overnight Mountings
Policies & IssuesOct 07, 2026
The Plumb Club Amplifies Its Voice as Geopolitical Pressures MountThe supplier organization recently joined JA and JVC to have more input on political issues affecting the jewelry industry.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
Blue Nile, Royal Asscher Collection Highlights Natural Diamond BeautyBlue Nile, a Signet Jewelers-owned brand, is now Royal Asscher’s exclusive licensed retailer in North America.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
4 Standout Pieces in Audemars Piguet’s First High Jewelry Collection “Royal Oak” pays homage to the brand’s most popular watch model using 18-karat gold as well as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.
MajorsOct 07, 2026
Empire Safe & Vault Promotes Juan Morales to CEOAs part of the transition, Joseph Nicosia has stepped into the role of COO.
CrimeOct 06, 2026
6 Charged in Connection to String of New Jersey Smash-and-GrabsThe alleged thieves used crow bars and sledgehammers to smash into jewelry stores across the state.
ColumnistsOct 06, 2026
Sherry Smith: Is the Consumer Really Trading Up?Ahead of the holidays, Smith urges jewelers to take a hard look at who’s buying jewelry, what they’re purchasing, and who’s stopped buying.
SourcingOct 06, 2026
DDG Taps Influencers for ‘My Diamond Does Good’ CampaignIn the new consumer-facing campaign, four fashion and lifestyle creators share the stories behind their natural diamond pieces.
MajorsOct 06, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names COO, CMOFGI President John Orrico is also leaving the company after more than 13 years.
Events & AwardsOct 06, 2026
JIS Fall Returns to MiamiThe 2026 edition will feature presentations on alternative materials and design trends, as well as pop-up activations on the show floor.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
De Beers to Take Full Ownership of Gahcho KuéIt is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.
