intelligence

Surat Diamond Bourse Surpasses the Pentagon in Size
On December 17th Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India officially inaugurated the Surat Diamond Bourse in the state of Gujarat, India. Boasting a constructed area of 6.6 million square feet, the Surat bourse becomes the world’s largest office complex, surpassing Washington D.C.’s Pentagon which opened 80 years ago and covers 6.5 million square feet.
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Mokume Gane: From Swords to Jewelry
An ancient Japanese sword making technique, Mokume Gane, has become a uniquely modern jewelry making process.
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Did You Know? The Vital Role of IGI
First published in National Jeweler. Over the past 10 years the diamond and jewelry industry has evolved at a dizzying […]
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What A Gem – Get to Know Jewelry Designer Ray Griffiths
Born in Sydney and now based in New York City, designer Ray Griffiths is known for his bold, gem-forward pieces, which always give the stone or stones pride of place, from kaleidoscopic opals to turquoise the size (and color) of robin’s eggs.
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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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11.28 carat ‘Infinite Blue’ Diamond could sell for $37 Million
On October 5 Sotheby’s Hong Kong will present the 11.28 carat “Infinite Blue” diamond, with a low pre-sale estimate of $26 million, and high estimate of $37 million. The final carat weight, ending in “8,” was deliberately planned, as it’s considered highly auspicious in Asian culture.
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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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IGI Resumes Diploma Programs in Turkey
IGI has resumed classes in Istanbul, again providing Middle East residents with training and paths to careers in the diamond, gem, and jewelry industry. Students from Turkey, Syria, and Iran attended the first classes to recommence last month.
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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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IGI Graduation Ceremony Held in Rome
Some of IGI’s newest graduates were honored with a diploma ceremony in the evocative, historically significant lecture hall of Sapienza University in Rome. Timed to follow a major international gemological conference at the same site, the ceremony united over 30 IGI students and instructors from various parts of Italy.
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21 Fun Facts – What Causes Diamond Color?
Only about 1 in 10,000 natural gem quality diamonds is fancy colored. Within that small percentage, some colors are more common than others, making certain of the colors extraordinarily rare. So, what causes us to see these various colors, and why are some so rare?
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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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IGI Certified Gemstone Gifted to Jill Biden by Narendra Modi
A 7.50 carat IGI certified lab-grown diamond recently made headlines around the world, when it was gifted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States. Manufactured in Surat, Modi’s gift stands out for its exceptional quality, environmentally conscious production methods and national symbolism
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The Earthly Mystery of ‘Super Deep’ Diamonds
Mother Nature continues to amaze and delight us. Just as mankind seems to have “cracked the code” on the complexities of diamond creation up here, in our laboratories, she smiles and presents more earthly mysteries we have yet to solve.
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Adieu Gabi ~ Our Diamond World Loses A Giant
Sir Gabriel (Gabi) Tolkowsky, one of the most accomplished diamond cutters of all time, has passed away at the age of 84. Knighted by the Belgian government in 2002 for service and contributions to the jewelry industry, Sir Gabi was trusted with cutting some of the world’s most iconic diamonds.
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IGI Certifies Historic 50.25 carat Lab Grown Diamond
Just days after certifying a record-setting 35 carat lab grown diamond, IGI has certified a 50.25 carat specimen measuring 22.95 x 18.45 x 11.57 millimeters – the first lab grown diamond to surpass the significant “half-century” mark in carat weight.
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IGI Certifies 35.00 carat Lab Grown Diamond
IGI has analyzed and graded a 35.00 carat laboratory grown diamond measuring 23.37 x 15.24 x 9.06 millimeters, the largest to date. Produced by Maitri Lab Grown Diamonds (Maitri), the new record holder was grown using the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) process.
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World Diamond Council Elects First Woman President
Feriel Zerouki, a trailblazer in the diamond industry, made history last week as she officially assumed the role of president of the World Diamond Council (WDC). She becomes the first woman to hold this highly regarded position.
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Attend IGI Education Sessions at JCK Las Vegas
JCK attendees are invited to join IGI for two educational sessions, Thursday at 5:00 and Saturday at 10:00, at the 2023 JCK Show in Las Vegas.
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IGI Addresses Diamond Industry Developments on CNBC India
During the first international version of the IGI D Show in Dubai, May 5-7, 2023, CNBC India’s Manisha Gupta discussed diamond industry developments with IGI Global CEO Roland Lorie, and Tehmasp Printer, President of IGI India.
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Rio Tinto Debuts Argyle Rose™
Rio Tinto recently unveiled a stunning new creation featuring pink and blue diamonds from the Argyle Mine. The Argyle Rose TM Ring features a 1.36-carat fancy deep pink radiant cut, a surround of blue diamonds from Argyle and 2.80-carats of white diamond “petals.”
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