gemstone-jewelry

Sapphire, Ruby & Diamond Rings Lead Bonham’s Auction
A Ruser ring with a 21.15 carat sapphire and diamond side stones set in platinum surpassed its pre-sale estimate by four times, commanding $127,500 when the gavel fell at Bonham’s California Jewels auction in Los Angeles.
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Inclusions: A Road Map to Beauty
You could say that minerals and gemstones are in the DNA of artist Naomi Sarna, who grew up in Montana, […]
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Swarovski Takes Fine Jewelry Global in Partnership with IGI
Swarovski has announced the global expansion of its fine jewelry category to all flagship stores around the world, in partnership […]
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7 Fun Facts about Sapphire, Birthstone of September
As the leaves begin to change color and summer’s warmth yields to the crispness of autumn, September ushers in a new season of beauty and wonder. It is a month of transition, and fittingly, its birthstone, the sapphire, embodies the very essence of this change. Here are several fun facts and historical points of interest about this remarkable gemstone.
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4 Fun Facts about Peridot, Birthstone of August
Peridot, with its vibrant green hue, is a gem that has captivated human hearts for centuries. Celebrated in ancient times as the “gem of the sun,” peridot’s color ranges from deep green to yellow-green or greenish-yellow. Beyond its visual allure, peridot enjoys a fascinating history and an association with metaphysical and healing properties.
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The Unique Beauty of Inclusions
It all started in 2008/2009 when the global economy went into a downward spiral that launched a new jewelry trend. Many people were unemployed and those who were employed chose to wear jewelry that was more understated. Enter the highly included diamond.
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5 Must-See High Jewelry Collections From Paris Couture Week
Every year, while Americans are celebrating the Fourth of July over fireworks, sparklers of an entirely different variety descend on Paris around the same time. Known as Paris Couture Week, this important summertime event is when some of the most influential fine jewelry houses unveil their high jewelry collections to buyers, press and other VIPs.
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Celebrating ‘Ratnaraj,’ the Birthstone of July
All hail ruby, the birthstone of July, and one of the most widely celebrated colored gemstones. Technically the mineral corundum, all rubies are red. In any other color corundum is not classified as ruby, it is called sapphire.
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$1M ‘Royal Sapphire’ helps Christie’s to $12M total in Paris
A vintage sapphire weighing 7.58 carats, previously connected with a royal family, sold for more than three times its low valuation, helping Christie’s fetch a record-setting $12.03 million – well exceeding the sale’s $9.8 million upper presale estimate.
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18th Century King George III Medallion To Be Auctioned
A 234 year old diamond, ruby and emerald crowned medallion/locket, containing locks of both King George III and Queen Charlotte’s hair, will be offered at auction during Christie’s Classic Week in London, June 30th – July 14.
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Reel After Reel: See Scenes from JCK 2023
Enjoy this collection of reels from JCK Las Vegas 2023, as seen on IGI GemGrams and various other IGI social media channels around the world.
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What a Gem: Chinese Jewelry Artist Dickson Yewn
In 2011, Chinese jewelry artist Dickson Yewn was relatively unknown beyond the most exclusive collecting circles. Then First Lady Michelle Obama was photographed wearing one of his rings during a state dinner. It was the celebrity moment that put him on the map.
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Christie’s $150M ‘Largest and most valuable collection’ to sell in May
Christie’s is preparing for what may be a record-breaking jewelry sale featuring The World of Heidi Horten, a two-part live auction boasting over 700 pieces of exquisite high jewelry from the estate of the late European collector.
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IGI Hosts Reception at Expanded NYC Offices
IGI’s grading lab and offices in New York City have relocated to 545 Fifth Avenue. On March 16th the institute […]
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Bonhams ‘Perfect’ Eight Million Dollar March
Bonhams’ recorded ‘perfect’ sales of all 119 items at their aptly named ‘Perfect Jewelry Box’ auction in New York earlier this month. Every lot offered found a buyer, resulting in a total of 8.1 million dollars.
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Coming Tuesday – Sotheby’s Paris Fine Jewels Auction
A selection of chic, wearable jewelry goes on the block at Sotheby’s Paris this coming Tuesday, March 21st, in a two part sale featuring 347 lots. Of particular note in this sale are pieces incorporating natural pearls.
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Peridot for ‘Patty’s Day’
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around the world, particularly in Ireland and among those of Irish descent. It is a day of revelry, merriment, and green-themed festivities. One gemstone that’s often associated with St. Patrick’s Day is peridot.
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Fabulous Jewelry Photos from GQ.com
GQ.com Style Editor Yang-Yi Goh recently published ‘The Wild New Era of High-End Men’s Jewelry’ covering modern masculine menswear from wallet chains to dental ‘grills.’ We found the photos masterful, employing vivid context to bring life and personality to the jewelry items described.
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Three Fun Facts about Amethyst
Amethyst, the birthstone of February, is an appealing gemstone with a long and fascinating history. Throughout the centuries, amethyst has been valued for properties other than its purple aesthetic. Here are some fun facts about amethyst.
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Tonight: Miss Universe will wear this $6M crown
The 71st Miss Universe competition occurs this evening in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event will showcase almost 90 women from around the world, vying for the job of Miss Universe. The champion of this year’s event will wear a crown created by Lebanese Jeweler Fred Mouawad, valued at nearly $6 million.
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December 31 Deadline! Win $500, Recognition, More…
The IGI Expressions™ Jewelry Design Competition will accept submissions through this Saturday December 31, 2022. All entries must be uploaded by the end of this calendar year to be considered for one of nine grand prizes of $500, design fabrication, press coverage and more.
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New e-commerce platform offers ‘Future Forward’ jewelry
The Future Rocks (TFR) is a Hong Kong based platform offering ‘future-forward’ jewelry, espousing the shared values of sustainability, innovation and creativity. Since launching last year the online marketplace has more than tripled its roster of brands and products.
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Announcing the 2022 IGI Expressions Design Competition
IGI is again calling upon the world’s creatives to step forward and contribute. Starting next week submissions will be accepted for the 2022 IGI Expressions™ Jewelry Excellence Awards. Provided free of charge, this opportunity to share and celebrate talent is open to jewelers, designers, students, teachers, and fans alike.
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Graff Emeralds Smash Bonhams’ Auction Estimates
An emerald and diamond necklace created by Graff exceeded its presale estimate by more than five times at Bonhams’ 2022 London Jewels auction. A pair of emerald and diamond earrings also smashed expectations, quadrupling their estimated value.
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