Impressions and reactions 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.
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.
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?"
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 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.
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.
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.
IGI congratulates Sanaz Ghafari, honored for her winning IGI Expressions™ design. Selected from 555 submissions representing 21 countries, this year's creative works were all designed as interpretations of the word “dream," the competition's theme.
Each year the Natural Diamond Council projects the latest jewelry trends, as identified by their "Style Collective," a group of leaders across jewelry, fashion and media.
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is a standalone, one-of-a-kind experience and should be on the visit list for all lovers of diamonds, gemstones and jewelry.
While travel between the United States and Central and South America is slow for the airlines right now, it poses a potential opportunity for savvy consumers.
When you compliment a lady on her diamond the response can vary from a bright smile to a proud origin story. But are younger generations learning “lab-grown lifestyle habits” which will increasingly inform their diamond decisions?
Amidst continuing waves of uncertainty, fostered by Covid variants, travel restrictions, climate change and supply shortages one thing that's certain is the importance of diamonds and jewelry to consumers.
Sapphire is the birthstone of September and the gem of the 45th anniversary. Second in hardness only to diamond, its mineral species, corundum, is well suited for jewelry. Let's enjoy some scrumptious sapphire pieces.
IGI Graduate Namita Naik was recently featured in The Pune Mirror, a publication by The Times Group, an Indian mega conglomerate which also publishes the largest selling English-language daily in the world.
It's doesn't quite sizzle, does it? "Fire Spinel" is far more electrifying, and that's how it's named in Bangkok gemstone shops. But Clinohumite, by any other name, is still Clinohumite.
IGI is partnering with Virtual Diamond Boutique on an auction of lab grown diamonds and jewelry to benefit Jewelers For Children. The auction begins prior to JCK Las Vegas and concludes the night of the Facets of Hope Dinner. We are accepting product or cash donations and encourage you to join us in this important mission.