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.
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.
Each year falconers assemble at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition to further their craft. This year's attendees were treated to a display of customized falcon hoods, adorned with precious metal and gemstones, certified by IGI.
You could say that minerals and gemstones are in the DNA of artist Naomi Sarna, who grew up in Montana, walking distance from some of the world’s greatest mineral mines.…
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.
The Diavik diamond mine will soon draw its energy from the largest solar power plant in Canada's Northwest Territories. With more than 6,600 solar panels, the new facility is expected to be operational by the first half of 2024.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
IGI has joined the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 (WJI 2030) as a partner member. Founded in 2021 by Kering and Cartier WJI 2030 is guided by the Ten Principals of the United Nations Global Compact and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
IGI instructors played a prominent role at the Fifth National Conference of Gemmology held at Sapienza University in Rome June 26-27. The event, titled "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: Gemology between Research, Market,…
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.
Have you ever been out somewhere and noticed a diamond that looks particularly bright and glowing, you can see it dancing from across the room? Or perhaps you’ve seen a diamond that looks dreary and dull, like it needs a good cleaning. Both of those looks could be caused by the same phenomenon - fluorescence.
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?
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.
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
IGI China returned to the stage at Jewelry Shanghai 2023 after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic. The institute showcased the latest developments in the lab-grown diamond sector, all categories of IGI reports, and hosted a thought-leadership seminar.
Most gem collectors and jewelry enthusiasts won’t need a specific reason to make a day of visiting the American Museum of Natural History’s newly renovated Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, but the advent of a new special exhibition might compel you to go sooner than later.