FAQs, advice and education from from IGI Worldwide
Five centuries ago Mary, Queen of Scots, and Cardinal Richelieu of France helped heart shaped diamonds become recognized as symbols of friendship and goodwill. For some, heart shaped diamonds are at their loveliest when they occur in fancy colors.
The world's largest cut diamond, a 555.55 carat fancy black named has a new owner and a new name. Purchased by Richard Heart, founder of cryptocurrency company HEX, the diamond's name will change from The Enigma to the HEX.com diamond.
Art Smith was a visionary jewelry artist who pioneered many innovations in the mid 1900s, including bold geometric pieces that both cover and reveal the body. Today we spotlight this 11 minute video, celebrating Art Smith.
The Year of the Tiger officially began on February 1, marking the start of holiday festivities celebrated by nearly two billion people around the world. To all who are celebrating Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year and Spring Festival this week, IGI wishes you health, prosperity and a joyful year ahead.
As we approach February 6, the date of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, The Natural Diamond Council regales us with the story behind her breathtaking coronation diamonds. It seems 'only natural' to share the council's stories on these forever-diamonds, as we move into the 70th year of this beloved monarch's reign.
Town & Country's Lynn Yaeger, who also pens for Vogue and the New Yorker, has offered refreshing perspective for jewelry lovers, portraying the act of self-gifting as "self-care."
In Diamond 4Cs analysis, clarity evaluates a gemstone’s relative freedom from inclusions and blemishes. There are 11 different clarity grades which descend gradually from flawless. However, nuanced gemological analysis notwithstanding, many buyers just want to know, is it "eye-clean?"
In 2017 Nick Boulle became the first certified Rolex retailer to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona. This weekend he'll compete in the 24 hour sunset-sunrise event again, driving the No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R, which boasts the name of his family's Texas based jewelry store.
A 555.55 carat diamond, recorded in the Guinness World Records as the largest polished black diamond in existence, will be offered at a single-lot auction at Sotheby’s early next month. The online sale will be without reserve, and cryptocurrency will be accepted as payment.
IGI has analyzed world record setting 150.42 and 141.48 carat lab grown diamond crystals produced by Meylor Global. These crystals smash the previous world record of 115 carats, also set by Meylor Global in September, 2020.
The legendary Mir Diamond Mine, built at the order of Joseph Stalin, had a surface operation which lasted 44 years. The recent discovery of an estimated 38 million carats of diamond reserves at Mir have now led to optimism from Mining giant Alrosa about its restoration and further development.
Astronomers call Neptune and Uranus "Ice Giants." How appropriate, then, that the 7th and 8th planets most distant from our sun may be under a constant deluge of diamond rain?
The auction market soared to new heights in 2021, with a total of $12.6 billion in sales brought in worldwide by Sotheby's, Christie's and Phillips. This surpasses the prior high…
John Pollard is a professional educator who has been collaborating on projects with IGI for more than a decade. On January 1, 2022 he became Senior Director of Education for the institute.
The Billionaire Ashoka Watch is covered with more than 171 carats of diamonds. The crown of the watch, at 3 o'clock, has been seen with different accents, including a rose cut diamond, an emerald, and a ruby. Here are videos featuring all three accents.
Around the world, IGI welcomes the arrival of New Year's Day over a period of 16 hours. As we celebrate from one location to the next and the next - we like to share this collection of positive expressions and sentiments.
In November we announced the results of the IGI Expressions™ Jewelry Design Competition. Now we are pleased to feature all seven winning creations together, bringing our coverage of this uplifting event to a close.
Earlier this month Bailey’s Fine Jewelry in Raleigh, North Carolina, created a fairy tale gingerbread and gemstone house, valued at more than $1.27 million. Best of all, it features diamonds, pearls and gemstones, not a cannibalistic witch.
Rio Tinto Minerals has named Angela Bigg the President and Chief Operating Officer operator of their Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada's Northwest Territories. Angela will be the first female to oversee the mine and its 1,100 employees.
In November 2020 industry analyst Edahn Golan correctly predicted a positive US holiday season for jewelry. After analyzing trends in 2021, Mr. Golan has again forecast a booming holiday season.