Sherry Smith unpacks independent retailers’ January performance and gives tips for navigating the slow-growth year ahead.
Gemstone Passports: Colored Stone Origin Determination
Navigate origin determination with Continuing Education seminars offered by the GIA Alumni Collective™.

Brought To You By GIA Alumni Collective
Origin has long been a factor in determining the value of colored stones, but new demands from within the industry and increased interest from consumers have escalated the importance of origin even further. Traceability and the sourcing pipeline are no longer considered add-on factors but are now central to the storytelling aspect of fine jewelry. Accurate, authoritative origin determination is now considered of equal importance to quality factors such as color, size, and shape. The value of high-end colored stones can increase dramatically depending on their origins, making 'country of origin' a critical value factor.
Knowledge of stone origin and how it is evaluated provides essential knowledge for sellers and confidence to buyers. It can also be a connection point for consumers who are demonstrably more interested in the stories behind the finished product. The characteristics of a region – its geology, geography, and even human history – provide a colorful backdrop to each gemstone’s unique origin story. This valuable insight expands not only our understanding of how gemstones formed, but how they travel through the supply chain before ultimately reaching their new home as a cherished memento.
Protect Your Customers with Advanced Science
Continued Education Opportunities with GIA Alumni Collective
Visit collective.gia.edu/continuing-education to explore the seminars.
The Latest

From how to get an invoice paid to getting merchandise returned, JVC’s Sara Yood answers some complex questions.

Amethyst, the birthstone for February, is a gemstone to watch this year with its rich purple hue and affordable price point.

Launched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.

The Italian jewelry company appointed Matteo Cuelli to the newly created role.


The manufacturer said the changes are designed to improve speed, reliability, innovation, and service.

President Trump said he has reached a trade deal with India, which, when made official, will bring relief to the country’s diamond industry.

Criminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.

The designer’s latest collection takes inspiration from her classic designs, reimagining the motifs in new forms.

The watchmaker moved its U.S. headquarters to a space it said fosters creativity and forward-thinking solutions in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The company also announced a new partnership with GemGuide and the pending launch of an education-focused membership program.

IGI is buying the colored gemstone grading laboratory through IGI USA, and AGL will continue to operate as its own brand.

The Texas jeweler said its team is “incredibly resilient” and thanked its community for showing support.

From cool-toned metal to ring stacks, Associate Editor Natalie Francisco highlights the jewelry trends she spotted at the Grammy Awards.

The medals feature a split-texture design highlighting the fact that the 2026 Olympics are taking place in two different cities.

From tech platforms to candy companies, here’s how some of the highest-ranking brands earned their spot on the list.

The “Khol” ring, our Piece of the Week, transforms the traditional Indian Khol drum into playful jewelry through hand-carved lapis.

The catalog includes more than 100 styles of stock, pre-printed, and custom tags and labels, as well as bar code technology products.

The chocolatier is bringing back its chocolate-inspired locket, offering sets of two to celebrate “perfect pairs.”

The top lot of the year was a 1930s Cartier tiara owned by Nancy, Viscountess Astor, which sold for $1.2 million in London last summer.

Any gemstones on Stuller.com that were sourced by an AGTA vendor member will now bear the association’s logo.

The Swiss watchmaker has brought its latest immersive boutique to Atlanta, a city it described as “an epicenter of music and storytelling.”

The new addition will feature finished jewelry created using “consciously sourced” gemstones.

In his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.

The index fell to its lowest level since May 2014 amid concerns about the present and the future.

The brands’ high jewelry collections performed especially well last year despite a challenging environment.

The collection marks the first time GemFair’s artisanal diamonds will be brought directly to consumers.



























