education

IGI wishes a joyful Diwali to everyone celebrating, Nov 12-16. Diwali, the festival of lights, is India’s largest and most […]

First published in National Jeweler. Over the past 10 years the diamond and jewelry industry has evolved at a dizzying […]

David Prager, Chief Brand Officer of De Beers is taking on the role of Chairman at the Natural Diamond Council (NDC). He replaces outgoing Chairman and Director Stephen Lussier, one of the NDC’s co-founders.

There’s been a lot of excitement around vintage these days. Celebrities are showing up on the red carpet in vintage […]

October’s birthstone, the opal, presents like a kaleidoscope of natural art. Renowned for its captivating play of color, opals are […]

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.

You could say that minerals and gemstones are in the DNA of artist Naomi Sarna,  who grew up in Montana, […]

Swarovski has announced the global expansion of its fine jewelry category to all flagship stores around the world, in partnership […]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Enjoy this collection of reels from JCK Las Vegas 2023, as seen on IGI GemGrams and various other IGI social media channels around the world.

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.

Take note of IGI’s daily schedule for the upcoming JCK show, where we will offer onsite diamond screening and grading, provide education at two “JCK Talks” sessions, conduct demos and host happy hours daily, and provide information to attendees at two separate booth locations.

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.

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.