WatchesApr 10, 2026
These Watches Have Increased in Value the Most Since 2018, Says Chrono24The top-performing watch models may be surprising, with Rolex and several popular pandemic-era picks notably absent from the top 20.
EditorsDec 23, 2019
7 ‘Gems’ I Discovered in 2019
Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator revisits interesting facts, stones and people she learned or wrote about this year.
Getting to see a number of fine grandidierite specimens in person was a 2019 highlight for Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator.
One of my favorite things about my job? There’s always so much to learn and discover.
We attend conferences and events, talk to so many people, see so many gems and jewelry, and do so much research and reporting for our articles that new information is constant.
As a person who’s infinitely curious and loves to be in a learning position, I can’t get enough.
2019 was chock full of “gems” of information, especially when it came to colored stones. Here are just a few of my highlights.
We attend conferences and events, talk to so many people, see so many gems and jewelry, and do so much research and reporting for our articles that new information is constant.
As a person who’s infinitely curious and loves to be in a learning position, I can’t get enough.
2019 was chock full of “gems” of information, especially when it came to colored stones. Here are just a few of my highlights.
1. Learning the natural pearl market in the U.S. is a by-product of the button industry.
This little nugget came to me via the Accredited Gemologists Association’s Tucson conference in February, where Gina Latendresse of the American Pearl Company spoke.
According to her, by the late 1800s, the freshwater pearl button industry in the U.S. was flourishing, thanks to the number of mussels available in the country’s waters as well as the availability of cheap labor.
Decades later, this would give way to a new market created around cultured pearls in Japan, and, specifically, their need for the nuclei from North American natural pearls.
“All cultured pearls around the world, if they’re using a mother-of-pearl bead, they have a little bit of Tennessee or Mississippi River tributary mollusk inside of them,” she said.
2. Discovering the magic of grandidierite.
This year was something like the year of grandidierite for me, and oh how lucky I am for it.
At the AGTA GemFair show in Tucson, I got to see a handful of beautiful specimens in person at the booth of—who else?—Omi Gems.
I then got to view a few more faceted stones at the Wilensky Gallery in the New York, which put three spectacular specimens from gem dealer and Mineral Art manager Brice Gobin on display last spring.
Chatting with the team in Tucson and getting to see so many pieces in real life—and touch and play with them!—led me to write a “5 Things to Know About … Grandidierite” blog post, full of information about the gem's discovery, rarity and so much more. I hope you readers enjoy(ed) it as much as I liked writing it.
This little nugget came to me via the Accredited Gemologists Association’s Tucson conference in February, where Gina Latendresse of the American Pearl Company spoke.
According to her, by the late 1800s, the freshwater pearl button industry in the U.S. was flourishing, thanks to the number of mussels available in the country’s waters as well as the availability of cheap labor.
Decades later, this would give way to a new market created around cultured pearls in Japan, and, specifically, their need for the nuclei from North American natural pearls.
“All cultured pearls around the world, if they’re using a mother-of-pearl bead, they have a little bit of Tennessee or Mississippi River tributary mollusk inside of them,” she said.
2. Discovering the magic of grandidierite.
This year was something like the year of grandidierite for me, and oh how lucky I am for it.
At the AGTA GemFair show in Tucson, I got to see a handful of beautiful specimens in person at the booth of—who else?—Omi Gems.
I then got to view a few more faceted stones at the Wilensky Gallery in the New York, which put three spectacular specimens from gem dealer and Mineral Art manager Brice Gobin on display last spring.
Chatting with the team in Tucson and getting to see so many pieces in real life—and touch and play with them!—led me to write a “5 Things to Know About … Grandidierite” blog post, full of information about the gem's discovery, rarity and so much more. I hope you readers enjoy(ed) it as much as I liked writing it.
3. Discovering dumortierite during a deskside.
In October, jewelry designer Alison Nagasue dropped by the office for a deskside visit.
We had a great appointment, during which she showed me her new designs, including a number using carved opals that were adorable.
But one stand-alone stone that really caught my eye was a ring centered on quartz with dumortierite (pictured above), a blue quartz that ranges from about 7 to 8 on the Mohs scale
The specimen she had chosen looked like it had icy blue crystals growing inside. It was mesmerizing and, given that the appointment was in October, was perfect for the season we’d soon be heading into.
4. Meeting this (opal) fish.
I love seeing what comes out of the industry’s design competitions, especially when resulting works use materials in a completely unique and fun way.
This year, I was a judge for Jewelers of America’s CASE Awards for jewelry retailers, and I met a piece with which I became slightly obsessed for its playfulness.
Master Jewelers’ Bernie Benavidez designed this brooch, which features a carved Lightning Ridge Australian opal in 18-karat gold.
The 0.23-carat briolette diamond on the front moves to provide the “light” for this comical anglerfish.
As soon as I saw him, I was hooked (pun intended). It wasn’t a CASE winner, but it was a winner in my book.
5. Learning sphene has more “fire” than a diamond.
Picking subjects for the “5 Things to Know About…” blog is a combination of focusing on stones that might be getting more attention in the trade and picking colored gems that I personally just want to know more about.
Sphene was the latter for me this year; I have seen a few great stones in person in recent years, and a really good one in Tucson this year convinced me I should dive into it more.
One of my favorite discoveries as I was researching and pulling it together was learning that the gem has one of the highest dispersions—referring to a mineral’s ability to break white light into spectral colors—of any mineral.
In fact, the dispersion of sphene is 0.051. A diamond’s, by comparison, is 0.044.
This is what gives sphene its intense “fire,” allowing it to showcase multiple colors, and one of the factors that gemstone connoisseurs appreciate so much about it.
6. Spotting these amazing inlay pearls.
I intended to write a story about the inlay pearls that were popping up and my newfound obsession with them this year, which never came to fruition, so I’m happy to give them a little love and attention here.
Eliko Pearls is offering pearls inlaid with abalone shell and even 24-karat gold powdered paint, creating the most beautiful and intricate patterns unlike anything I’ve seen.
The craft of making the maki-e and mosaic pearls stems from an ancient Japanese technique; the CPAA has a great story that delves deeper into the art on its website.
The inlay pearls are popping up in finished jewelry, and the look is unbeatable.
Picking subjects for the “5 Things to Know About…” blog is a combination of focusing on stones that might be getting more attention in the trade and picking colored gems that I personally just want to know more about.
Sphene was the latter for me this year; I have seen a few great stones in person in recent years, and a really good one in Tucson this year convinced me I should dive into it more.
One of my favorite discoveries as I was researching and pulling it together was learning that the gem has one of the highest dispersions—referring to a mineral’s ability to break white light into spectral colors—of any mineral.
In fact, the dispersion of sphene is 0.051. A diamond’s, by comparison, is 0.044.
This is what gives sphene its intense “fire,” allowing it to showcase multiple colors, and one of the factors that gemstone connoisseurs appreciate so much about it.
6. Spotting these amazing inlay pearls.
I intended to write a story about the inlay pearls that were popping up and my newfound obsession with them this year, which never came to fruition, so I’m happy to give them a little love and attention here.
Eliko Pearls is offering pearls inlaid with abalone shell and even 24-karat gold powdered paint, creating the most beautiful and intricate patterns unlike anything I’ve seen.
The craft of making the maki-e and mosaic pearls stems from an ancient Japanese technique; the CPAA has a great story that delves deeper into the art on its website.
The inlay pearls are popping up in finished jewelry, and the look is unbeatable.
7. The industry is full of so many kindhearted people.
This isn’t really something I just discovered this year, of course, but as I was going back through the stories I wrote in 2019, something that stood out was how many stories I wrote about good projects from members of the industry or money being raised to help others out through gems and jewelry.
There was the launch of Gem Legacy in Tucson, designed to give back to the East African gemstone communities and which immediately raised money to provide a compressor to women miners in Kenya. (They’re always looking for more ways to give back, so if you’re still in need of a good cause to donate to this holiday season, look no further.)
Then in March I wrote a story about jewelry designer Theresa Kaz losing her house in a fire. After it happened, do you know what she did? She turned around and raised money for the volunteer fire department that helped her and her family out.
Then there were the many individuals and companies raising money for organizations fighting the fires in the Amazon or helping its communities—Hannah Becker of Diamondoodles and Noelle Habib of Noelle Habib Gems, blogger A Thousand Facets, and Gurhan, among others.
It was such a nice reminder that so many recognize how lucky we are to be in our position and how we can use it for the best.
I’m going to end the blog with that to close the year on a note of hope and positivity.
Happy holidays, all! See you in 2020.
This isn’t really something I just discovered this year, of course, but as I was going back through the stories I wrote in 2019, something that stood out was how many stories I wrote about good projects from members of the industry or money being raised to help others out through gems and jewelry.
There was the launch of Gem Legacy in Tucson, designed to give back to the East African gemstone communities and which immediately raised money to provide a compressor to women miners in Kenya. (They’re always looking for more ways to give back, so if you’re still in need of a good cause to donate to this holiday season, look no further.)
Then in March I wrote a story about jewelry designer Theresa Kaz losing her house in a fire. After it happened, do you know what she did? She turned around and raised money for the volunteer fire department that helped her and her family out.
Then there were the many individuals and companies raising money for organizations fighting the fires in the Amazon or helping its communities—Hannah Becker of Diamondoodles and Noelle Habib of Noelle Habib Gems, blogger A Thousand Facets, and Gurhan, among others.
It was such a nice reminder that so many recognize how lucky we are to be in our position and how we can use it for the best.
I’m going to end the blog with that to close the year on a note of hope and positivity.
Happy holidays, all! See you in 2020.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Editors
The Latest
CollectionsApr 10, 2026
Ophelia Eve’s Toggle Pendant Holds Your SecretsThe “Scroll” toggle pendant, our Piece of the Week, opens to reveal a hidden message, mantra, or love letter written on washi paper.
ColumnistsApr 09, 2026
Jewelry Demand Isn’t Stronger, Prices Are Just Higher Jewelers who misinterpret the state of the jewelry market risk employing the wrong retail strategy, cautions columnist Sherry Smith.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
MajorsApr 09, 2026
Tiffany & Co. Promotes Nathalie Verdeille to SVP, Chief Artistic OfficerIn her newly expanded role, she will continue to oversee the jewelry category, as well as watches, home, and accessories.
Weekly QuizApr 09, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
WatchesApr 09, 2026
Jacob & Co. Rolls Out Its Sequel to ‘The Godfather’ Musical Watch“The Godfather II” watch plays two melodies from the mob film’s score, “The Godfather’s Waltz” and “The Godfather Love Theme.”
Events & AwardsApr 09, 2026
JCK Announces Jesse Itzler as 2026 Keynote SpeakerOrganizers have also introduced the new JCK Talks Signature Series, as well as an offering of watch-focused workshops and lectures.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
SourcingApr 09, 2026
AGA To Honor ‘Quiet Leadership’ With New AwardThe Alan Hodgkinson Medal recognizes gemologists who are consistently generous with their time and expertise.
WatchesApr 09, 2026
Oris Names New CEO, CFOThe Swiss watchmaker is changing up its executive leadership team as part of a restructuring.
CollectionsApr 08, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30 Years By Asking a QuestionThe “What’s Your Signature?” campaign invites women to think about how they see themselves.
SourcingApr 08, 2026
Sale of 42-Carat Blue Diamond Gives Petra a Boost in Q3The big diamond’s sale added to the company’s revenue though the market remains “challenging” overall, particularly for smaller goods.
Events & AwardsApr 08, 2026
AGS Confluence Returns with AI, Sustainability SessionsRob Bates of The Jewelry Wire will also moderate a panel on the state of the jewelry industry during the virtual event.
Events & AwardsApr 08, 2026
TJS to Honor 2 Longtime Former Stuller EmployeesThe Jewelry Symposium will honor two industry veterans with lifetime achievement awards at its upcoming May event.
TrendsApr 08, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: April’s Brilliant Birthstone With their durability, brilliance, and beauty, diamonds are the perfect stone for everyday birthstone jewelry.
MajorsApr 07, 2026
QVC Group’s Latest Filing Calls Its Future Into QuestionThe retailer failed to file its annual report on time and said it may issue a going concern warning.
ColumnistsApr 07, 2026
Peter Smith: A Tip to the Post Office on Workplace CultureSmith recounts a recent trip to the post office that included an uncomfortable, embarrassing, and public exchange between two employees.
GradingApr 07, 2026
GIA CFO David Tearle to Retire in June John Cowley, who has more than 30 years of experience, is succeeding Tearle as the lab’s chief financial officer.
CollectionsApr 07, 2026
Nerd Out Over Gemology Geek’s First Jewelry CollectionFounder Erica Silverglide has designed 35 colorful pieces set with fluorescing gemstones for the brand's first finished jewelry offering.
CollectionsApr 07, 2026
Ukrainian Jewelers Highlighted In New Book“Ukrainian Jewelry | Contemporary Jewelry and Art Jewelry from Ukraine” features 33 contemporary Ukrainian designers and studios.
CollectionsApr 06, 2026
Fope’s New Jewelry Debuts Are Golden“The Golden Now” campaign celebrates the here and now with the brand’s signature styles and a selection of its new pieces.
MajorsApr 06, 2026
Kecia Caffie, Corinne Bentzen No Longer With Signet JewelersSignet confirmed that Caffie, president of Zales and Banter, and Bentzen, who headed Blue Nile, have left the company.
CollectionsApr 06, 2026
Historian Tanzy Ward Pens Book on Black Victorians’ JewelryThe antique jewelry dealer talks about the importance of including Black Americans in jewelry history and preserving their stories.
SourcingApr 06, 2026
Gemfields Reports $51M Loss in 2025Both its mines faced challenges last year, from operational issues to disruptions in the market.
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Taylor Swift’s ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ Video Puts Jewelry Front and CenterIconic pieces, like the Mike Todd Diamond Tiara, appear in the superstar’s new music video for her song inspired by the actress.
MajorsApr 03, 2026
Saks Global Says It Will Emerge From Bankruptcy This SummerThe luxury retailer, which went Chapter 11 in January, announced Thursday that it has secured $500 million in exit financing.
Events & AwardsApr 03, 2026
JCK Luxury, NouvelleBox Partner on New Designer BallroomThe NouvelleBox ballroom will feature independent jewelry designers, including Lene Vibe, Wyld Box Jewelry, and Kiaia Limited.
