Fun

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

See the internally flawless fancy vivid yellow diamond set in a diamond studded necklace that will headline Sotheby’s Hong Kong auction this weekend, with a high estimate of $5.1 million USD, and more popular lots.

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, […]

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Enjoy a series of video shorts featuring some of the beautiful jewelry models and dazzling adornments appearing at the first international IGI D Show this weekend at the Hilton Dubai, Al Habtoor City in Dubai, UAE.

Tiffany & Co. has made a comeback in New York after four years of construction and relocation, and will open to the public tomorrow, with a number of changes. The Fifth Ave location is now called “The Landmark,” setting it apart from other locations.

On June 8, a 55.22 carat ruby discovered by Canadian company Fura Gems in Mozambique will be up for auction in New York. Named Estrela de Fura (or Star of Fura in Portuguese) it’s expected it to fetch “in excess of” $30 million.

The IGI GemBlog has improved its position among thousands of blogs and websites, ranked by traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness according to Feedspot, the internet’s largest human-curated database of bloggers.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around the world, particularly in Ireland and among those of Irish descent. It is a day of revelry, merriment, and green-themed festivities. One gemstone that’s often associated with St. Patrick’s Day is peridot.

GQ.com Style Editor Yang-Yi Goh recently published ‘The Wild New Era of High-End Men’s Jewelry’ covering modern masculine menswear from wallet chains to dental ‘grills.’ We found the photos masterful, employing vivid context to bring life and personality to the jewelry items described.

Amethyst, the birthstone of February, is an appealing gemstone with a long and fascinating history. Throughout the centuries, amethyst has been valued for properties other than its purple aesthetic. Here are some fun facts about amethyst.

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 – stepping into the new year with anticipation, excitement and hope – we share this collection of positive expressions and sentiments.

Natural diamond continue to command record breaking prices at auction. Looking back at 2022 we see a diverse set of exceptional diamonds, spanning a range of sizes, which the fall of the gavel transferred to new owners.

In the 1980s a young young girl in the DRC decided to explore a pile of rubble located near her uncle’s house. While playing she found a large golden-colored rock in the pile and took it home to her uncle…

If the emotional aspect of diamond engagement rings resonates with you, ‘Only Natural Diamonds’ has a beautiful pictorial essay – covering their history from Mary of Burgundy all the way through ‘Bennifer.’

IGI provided a ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour to attendees of last month’s NYC Jewelry Week in Manhattan, showcasing the institute’s grading and appraisal processes for diamonds, gemstones, and jewelry.

Last month IGI instructed a Polished Diamond Course in Antwerp attended by 15 students from 12 different countries; the most nationalities hosted in one class at IGI’s 14 worldwide schools since the pandemic.

“The perfect ring when it’s love at first sip,” is how a U.K. Jeweler is promoting an $11,300 diamond engagement ring inspired by the Pumpkin Spice latte.