7 Post-Tucson Predictions and Observations

eager to take advantage of the unique stories provided by colored gems today.

3. I love spinel and, it turns out, everyone else does too.

Was it just me, or did almost every exhibitor who was selling spinel say the gemstone was selling like hotcakes?

And it’s not just the beautiful pinks that people are lusting after; perhaps just as hot are the steely grays, gray-blues and gray-purples.

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For a long time, people have said spinel is one of the most underrated gems in the market, but if Tucson 2019 is any indication, I don’t think we can label them the underdogs anymore.

4. Garnets are on their way up.

A gemstone I think we can still call underrated is the garnet.

The gem comes in a rainbow of colors ranging from some of the most vivid oranges and greens found in the colored stone spectrum to the romantic purples, fuchsias and maroons.

Combine that with its (general) affordability, and the stone offers one of the best deals in the marketplace, in my opinion.

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It made me happy to hear how many people showed interest in garnets this year, especially the pinks and deep reds mined in Tanzania, as well as the saturated, luscious “grape” garnet.

Could 2019 be a turning point for January’s birthstone? I, for one, sure hope so.

5. Two shapes stood out.

Cutting and shapes are really having a moment in the colored stone world; they’re another way for designers and brands to create unique pieces that set them apart.

For me, there were two favorites that popped up several times in Tucson this year: hexagon cuts and slices.

The latter isn’t new, as slices have been growing in popularity for a while now, but I loved to see several booths carrying stones with hexagon cuts. The shape adds interest and a cool factor to gemstones.

  
 
 
 
 





 
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A post shared by Columbia Gem House (@columbiagemhouse) on Mar 1, 2019 at 2:45pm PST

6. Edgy is in.

This point originates from a conversation I had with Kimberly Collins at GemFair; she used “edgier” to talk about trends in the market. I loved it so much I’m borrowing it here.

Buyers are turning to colored stones to help give their jewelry a story, true, but it’s going beyond that now.

They’re not only looking for great stones, but also now the cool cut, the interesting shape—like the Geocuts above from Columbia Gem House, which the company said generated a lot of interest in Tucson—or the color that’s seen nowhere else, and the sector is answering that demand.

We’ve known it for a while, but I’m happy to hear more people are starting to understand: Color is cool.

7. Collaboration is needed to unify responsible sourcing meaning and efforts.

One thing that will come as a surprise to no one: Tucson 2019 was buzzing with “responsible sourcing” discussions.

It seemed like every other panel, education session or conversation revolved around responsible sourcing efforts or needs.

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Plenty of people in the industry want to get on board with it; one doesn’t have to look hard to see the interest.

The many conversations around responsible sourcing, ethical sourcing, sustainability and the like, are definitely a move in the right direction.

But now we’re at a place where I wonder: Are there too many separate conversations happening? Is it creating more confusion than aid, particularly when the vocabulary means different things to different people?

I think we’re at a critical point where the trade has to get on the same page.

We need to establish exactly what it would mean for a company or brand to be able to use “responsible sourcing,” “ethical sourcing” or “sustainability,” and in vocabulary that won’t risk pushing out any of the smaller players along the supply chain.

It’s critical for both the industry’s understanding and to help communicate the messaging with consumers.