CollectionsSep 18, 2025
Ashley Zhang Launches Garçon New YorkThe designer, who is the creative force behind her namesake brand, has now started a new mini line focusing on chains for fathers and sons.
Events & AwardsFeb 06, 2016
7 Market Updates from AGTA GemFair
The two-tier gemstone market, trending colors, and best-selling gemstones were all addressed by Richard Drucker of GemWorld International in a recent seminar at AGTA GemFair.
Tucson, Ariz.--As 2016 gets going and the colored gemstone industry takes over Tucson, it’s a good time to examine what trends shaped the gem market last year and what will affect it in the year ahead.
On Thursday morning, Richard Drucker of GemWorld International gave a market update at AGTA GemFair, outlining what he found when he recently surveyed AGTA member gemstone dealers on supply, demand and pricing trends as well as what stones sold best for them in 2015.
Highlights from his seminar are as follows.
1. The two-tier market. Colored gemstones are operating in a two-tiered market right now. The high end is doing well and there is a lot of demand for fine gems. At the same time, demand for rare and beautiful gems peaked in 2015, especially when it comes to the market for non-heated sapphires and rubies, as well as Paraiba tourmaline.
Drucker said in the lower price points, the “bread-and-butter” material are the gems weighing between 1 and 2 carats, but possibly up to 5 carats if price points are met. The middle tier, he said, “is dead.”
2. New buying habits. Consumer purchasing habits are changing, and shoppers today are looking for lab reports for gems more than ever before, he said. Customers also are asking for specific colors instead of specific stones, perhaps substituting popular, more expensive gems with affordable-yet- comparable stones, and are showing more concern about possible treatments.
3. Retailer gem knowledge. According to the survey Drucker did of gem dealers, many expressed concern over retailers not understanding color as well as they should. “There is so much opportunity to educate consumers in colors, but retailers need to be educated first,” he said.
4. Best-sellers. Here is what gem dealers reported as their best-selling stones: sapphire (blue is number one, with the other shades a distant second), rubies, fine emeralds, tanzanite, aquamarine, tourmaline, garnets, spinel and morganite.
5. Trending stones. Lately, there’s been a return to the classics--sapphires, emeralds and rubies--while rare and unusual stones still are selling because of their uniqueness and the design opportunities they provide. Rough crystals and minerals also are on-trend.
Alexandrite at the high end also is doing well, where prices for a 1-carat stone can go as high as $16,000 per carat. “Our caution here is what’s happening with nomenclature,” Drucker said, noting that there has been an increase in the number of stones being marketed as alexandrite
that don’t exhibit the classic color change.
6. Problems with lab reports. While everyone seems to understand and agree upon the value of a lab report, one issue gemstone dealers mentioned in Drucker’s survey is the inconsistency when it comes to the nomenclature used for gem varieties. For example, is Paraiba an origin or a “look?” What color exactly constitutes a padparadscha sapphire?
“There is absolutely no consistency,” Drucker said.
Color nomenclature is another issue that arose with the dealers who were surveyed. Demand for naming colors to describe gemstones started overseas, Drucker said, and is strongest there. The concern expressed by AGTA dealers is that, like nomenclature, labs all have their own standards for what makes a stone “pigeon’s blood” red, for example, or “cornflower blue.” This creates confusion on multiple levels.
“If we’re confused, where does that leave the consumer?” Drucker asked.
7. Future predictions. Drucker said there’s a lot of uncertainty ahead, especially as global markets remain in flux and as the United States faces an election year, raising the question, will consumers shy away from gems or will they move toward tangible assets?
6. Problems with lab reports. While everyone seems to understand and agree upon the value of a lab report, one issue gemstone dealers mentioned in Drucker’s survey is the inconsistency when it comes to the nomenclature used for gem varieties. For example, is Paraiba an origin or a “look?” What color exactly constitutes a padparadscha sapphire?
“There is absolutely no consistency,” Drucker said.
Color nomenclature is another issue that arose with the dealers who were surveyed. Demand for naming colors to describe gemstones started overseas, Drucker said, and is strongest there. The concern expressed by AGTA dealers is that, like nomenclature, labs all have their own standards for what makes a stone “pigeon’s blood” red, for example, or “cornflower blue.” This creates confusion on multiple levels.
“If we’re confused, where does that leave the consumer?” Drucker asked.
7. Future predictions. Drucker said there’s a lot of uncertainty ahead, especially as global markets remain in flux and as the United States faces an election year, raising the question, will consumers shy away from gems or will they move toward tangible assets?
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
SurveysSep 18, 2025
Deloitte Thinks the Holidays Will Be Merry, PwC Isn’t So Sure In its holiday report, PwC said the season will be more like jazz—improvisational and less predictable—than an easy-to-follow melody.
MajorsSep 18, 2025
Pandora to Open New Distribution Center in MarylandThe jewelry giant will relocate its existing facility to a larger space in Anne Arundel.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
SourcingSep 18, 2025
SSEF Opens Applications for 2 Gemology Education Scholarships The awards include tuition for a course at the Swiss lab, economy flights, and hotel accommodation.
Weekly QuizSep 12, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologySep 18, 2025
Hill & Co. Launches AI Strategy ProgramThe 21-day program was designed to help jewelry retailers identify opportunities and eliminate inefficiencies with AI.
AuctionsSep 17, 2025
Mythical Set of Patek Philippe Pocket Watches Expected to Sell for $10M+A set of four Patek Philippe “Star Caliber 2000” pocket watches is part of Sotheby’s upcoming auction in Abu Dhabi.
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key IssuesJewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.
TrendsSep 17, 2025
Silvia Furmanovich’s Book Tells the ‘Journey of a Jeweler’The Brazilian jeweler’s latest book marks her namesake brand’s 25th anniversary and tells the tale of her worldwide collaborations.
WatchesSep 17, 2025
Bob’s Watches Acquires Vintage Rolex Won on ‘The Price is Right’ The Submariner Ref. 1680 with a Tiffany & Co. dial came from the original owner, who won it as a prize on the game show in the 1970s.
TechnologySep 17, 2025
Jewelers Mutual Launches Shipping Solution App for Shopify The new integration allows users to manage shipments directly from the Shopify dashboard.
EditorsSep 16, 2025
Out & About: 7 Great Quotes From Converge in CarlsbadAt Converge 2025, Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff attended sessions on DEI, tariffs, security, and more. Here are her top takeaways.
CrimeSep 16, 2025
2 Robbery Suspects Killed in California Pawn Shop ShootoutSix people were shot last week at an Oakland cash-for-gold shop as employees exchanged gunfire with individuals trying to rob the store.
CollectionsSep 16, 2025
Chopard Adds New Designs to Its ‘Ice Cube’ Capsule CollectionThe jeweler has expanded its high jewelry offering, which launched last year, with new pieces featuring its cube motif that debuted in 1999.
SourcingSep 16, 2025
Natural Diamond Council Launches Retailer Accreditation ProgramBen Bridge Jeweler and Lux Bond & Green were a part of the pilot program.
EditorsSep 15, 2025
Skipping the Necklace, Embracing Snakes: The Best Jewelry From the 2025 Emmy AwardsAssociate Editor Natalie Francisco shares eight of her favorite jewelry looks from the 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, held Sunday night.
SurveysSep 15, 2025
Resilient Shoppers to Boost Holiday Retail Sales, Says DeloitteIt’s predicting a rise in retail sales this holiday season despite economic uncertainty and elevated inflation.
SourcingSep 15, 2025
Gemfields Achieves $32M at High-Quality Emerald AuctionIt included the sale of the 11,685-carat “Imboo” emerald that was recently discovered at Kagem.
SourcingSep 15, 2025
AGTA Elects 8 Members to Board of Directors The newly elected directors will officially take office in February 2026 and will be introduced at the organization’s membership meeting.
EditorsSep 12, 2025
Out & About: Mining Sapphires in Rock Creek, MontanaAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.
TrendsSep 12, 2025
Piece of the Week: Arunashi’s Fordite and Rhodolite EarringsFordite is a man-made material created from the layers of dried enamel paint that dripped onto the floors of automotive factories.
Policies & IssuesSep 11, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case in November A decision likely won’t come until January 2026 at the earliest, and the tariffs remain in effect until then.
MajorsSep 11, 2025
Tabayer Opens Nordstrom Shop-In-ShopLocated in the revamped jewelry hall at the retailer’s New York City flagship, this opening is Tabayer’s first shop-in-shop.
SourcingSep 11, 2025
Need to Sell More Natural Diamonds? De Beers Has an App for ThatThe new, free app offers accessible educational content, like games and podcasts, for U.S. retailers.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
Stuller to Swap Gold Scrap for Full Credit to AccountAs the gold price rises, the manufacturer is offering a 100 percent payout through Sept. 30 for gold clean scrap.
SourcingSep 10, 2025
Tech Meets Style in the New Loewe x Jacob & Co. HeadphonesJacob & Co. partnered with the German technology company on two pairs of headphones, one set with diamonds and the other with sapphires.
TrendsSep 10, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Archival Jewels Bring Life to ‘Frankenstein’Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 “Frankenstein” will feature 27 jewels and objects from the storied brand, including pieces from its archives.
