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Following a similar benchmark set three months ago, IGI Hong Kong recently certified the largest laboratory-grown diamond received to date. With a finished weight of 12.75 carats, this collection-quality man-made gemstone was fashioned from a staggering 46.20 carat CVD-grown rough crystal

Where do you start seeing color in diamonds? Can you see the difference between F and H color? Can you see the difference between D and E color? In full context those answers will become diamond-specific.

In just 20 days this 14.83 carat Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink diamond will find a new home, when it’s offered via live auction by Sotheby’s Geneva. The auction house estimates this incredibly rare find could command up to $38 million.

Rob Bates is a highly regarded diamond and jewelry industry journalist. Now, drawing on his wealth of knowledge and experience involving the worldwide trade of gemstones and jewelry, Rob has created a fun, fictional work… A mystery novel entitled “A Murder Is Forever.”

A private, anonymous collector bidding by phone from Japan is the new owner of the first high-value item of its kind ever offered “without reserve” by Sotheby’s. Originally a 271 carat rough diamond unearthed in 2018 at the Victor Mine in Ontario, Canada, it was cut into this 102.39 carat D Flawless oval shape by Diacore.

Today we turn our attention to the optical phenomenon of iridescence, that is the display of dispersive prismatic colors caused by the interference of light – generally due to thin films of gas or liquid – like Iridescent Quartz, Iridescent Agate and Ammolite.

DeBeers has launched an initiative titled ReSet; a series of collaborations with jewelry designers spotlighting the positive impact of natural diamonds and stimulating conversations about sustainability.

Kevin Kinard visited Crater of Diamonds State Park regularly for more than 25 years, but never found a diamond until Labor Day 2020. Now he has the distinction of discovering the second largest diamond to ever come from the popular Arkansas tourist site, at just over nine carats.

Earlier this month IGI received two large HPHT-produced lab-grown diamonds for analysis and grading. One of those stones has become the Guinness World Record Holder for the largest black lab-grown diamond in history.

Can we call them the Blues Brothers? Individually weighing 25.75 carats, 21.25 carats, 17.57 carats, 11.42 carats and 9.61 carats, Petra Diamonds reports that these spectacular siblings were assessed to be individual stones, not originally part of a larger diamond.

Another independent analysis has concluded that IGI’s loose diamond grading ranks among the world’s strictest. In an independent comparison of dual-certified diamonds IGI’s color grading was stricter than that of GIA in a majority of cases, with clarity the same or stricter in most cases, as well.

ALROSA reported more than $20 million in revenue generated by special-size rough diamond auctions in Belgium and Israel this month. The diamonds were sold to clients from Belgium, India, Israel and United Arab Emirates.

USA jewelry sales are climbing. Signet Jewelers, the parent of Kay and Jared, saw sales rise at the end of the last quarter and continue to climb in August. Tiffany & company reported the same trend. And diamond jewelry was one of the top product categories at both Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s during the quarter ending August 1.

An exceptionally rare, clear diamond “the size of a lollipop” is being offered without reserve at auction by Sotheby’s. According to the auction house, an item of this historic importance and value has never been offered with no-reserve before.

Tiffany & Co. has announced a program detailing the provenance of the diamonds they sell, beginning with country and mine of origin. The New-York based jeweler plans to share this “Full Craftsmanship Journey” for every newly-sourced diamond of 0.18 carats or more.

IGI has called upon the world’s creatives to step forward, with resounding success. With notice of abundant entries pending, the deadline for submission has been reset to the end of August due to popular demand.

Earlier this month GIA and AGS announced policy changes regarding lab-grown diamonds. IGI is proud to see other organizations adopt our long-held philosophy regarding the dual-channel legitimacy of natural and lab-grown diamonds, and believe professionals and consumers alike will benefit from the increased transparency in our industry.

Participation is free: IGI has called upon the world’s creatives to step forward and contribute. The 2020 IGI JEWEL Jewelry Design Contest invites jewelers, artists, teachers, students and fans alike to submit design-concepts in four categories.

No matter if I am Black, Crystal, White, Fire, Water or in a Matrix, depending on the basic color and in a decreasing progression of red, violet, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo… The title of Noble Opal is the one that I deserved and I still deserve.

Several years ago industry giant DeBeers went on-record with plans to go carbon-neutral at some of its mines by 2022. Now nine of DeBeers’ sightholder-producers are pledging to work toward the same goal of carbon-neutrality.

A chance to win awards, cash-prizes, education, recognition and exposure: The 2020 IGI JEWEL Jewelry Design Contest invites jewelers, artists, teachers, students and fans alike to submit design-concepts in four categories by August 20. Participation is free of charge and open to anyone, whether professional or not.

Discussing the world situation, the need to evolve and the importance of education, transparency and authority, Avi Levy, President of IGI North America provided diamond industry insight to Smiling Rocks CEO and Co-founder Zulu Ghevriya on their company podcast.

Have you ever heard of “trapiche” gemstones? Those elegant six- pointed stars, so unique, so rare, so peculiar, such as emerald-beryl, ruby-corundum and sapphire-corundum, garnet, tourmaline and chiastolite? What about Carmel Sapphire, never found before on the whole terraqueous globe

The stories of beautiful, creative 2020 wedding proposals are ongoing. This is something to celebrate. Something to share and spread. Every time I hear of a new adaptive, creative spirited marriage proposals during these past months are uplifting. I thought it would be nice to “share and spread” some of that joy here.