Lab Notes News and Links
2008 August
The lower Canadian dollar is having a strong effect on jewellery appraisal update values. The repeal of the excise tax in March 2006 coupled with the Canadian dollar at and near par have reduced the appraised value of jewellery significantly. Items appraised in 2000 to 2003 when the Canadian dollar was at an all time low relative to the US dollar have come down considerably in price today causing a significant reduction in insurance premiums.
The world-wide jewellery trade
uses US dollars to buy and sell their product and as a result of the stronger dollar, Canadian appraised values
are falling with the speed of leaves in November. Nothing occurs
in a vacuum and the dollar's strength is affecting everything from the
inventory value of diamond dealers to the ability of Tucson-buyers to
score some wicked deals this past February, despite the fact the the show was quiet due to economic uncertainty.
If the Canadian summer trade shows were any indictation, this Christmas is expected to be a slow one. Economic uncertainly and rising diamond prices due to Indian and Chinese demand seem to have made life very "interesting" for Canadian jewellery sellers.
The Diamond Promotion Service has abandoned Canada. It seems that we are considered a diamond producing not consuming nation. And what producers!!! New mines are opening now.
Beware the padparadscha sapphire. In times past they were a very rare
item, almost never seen; now they seem to be turning up everywhere.
We have started to test every piece of corundum, no matter what the
colour, for diffusion treatment, and a lot are turning up. Type 2B diamonds
seem to be a bit more common than was first thought too.
Synthetic diamonds from Carter Clark and Gemesis are now in the US
market. The company is in full production mode, but is unlikely to make
a major splash now simply because even full scale production still yields
relatively few diamonds compared to mined gems. However, it is worrisome
because Clark is the first of more to follow, and synthetics can be
difficult to detect if a grader is unaware. We, as a rule, test every
yellow diamond that comes in to determine origin. CVD colourless synthetic diamonds are now availalbe, in a limited quantity, today too.
Older News
Diamonds being sold via
the internet are a concern for every thinking diamond person. Misrepresentation
abounds as does tax/duty avoidance. Traditional "brick and mortar"
retailers and small diamond dealers are paying a heavy price for the
falling profits caused by having to compete with these "quick buck"
(get rich at any cost) artists.
Grade-misrepresentation
(obvious I-1's being called SI-2, for example) is a problem that MUST
be delt with, so that the consumer is treated fairly and honestly, because
in the end, we are all hurt by such fraudulent practices.
Stay tuned to this page
for the latest from our research division on synthetics and treatments
(especially Pegasus-GE/POL).
AN
Useful Link List (Not in any specific order)
This
month's web site:
 DeBeers
Canada A great
diamond mining resource.
Canadian RockhoundA
wonderful "Online Zine" about (what else) gems, rocks, minerals, etc.
of interest to rockhounds everywhere.
Diamond Promotion Service This
is De Beers' web site to promote (what else) diamonds. Some good detail
on clarity and colour, and very classy.
AGS (American Gem Society): A very prestigious
ethical organisation of retailers, labs and wholesalers.
GIA (Gemological Institute of America):
One of the most widely known and respected gem education organisation
in the world. (They have a lab too).
Canadian Jewellers Association : Canadian
group of retailers, manufacturers and jewellery professionals.
Royal Ontario Museum: Some interesting
animated gem graphics.
C. I. Gemtec Ltda.: Emerald organisation
in Colombia. Great photographs of emerald inclusions.
Jewelers of America : Very comprehensive
site with lots of good advice, from the largest organisation of retail
jewellers in the U.S.
International Colored Gemstone Association
: Good source for info on (what else) coloured gem stones. Try the quiz.
Diamond FAQ
: Frequently asked questions on diamonds. Very comprehensive.
Black Pearls Site from the
Tahitian Black Pearl Promotion organisation. The first page certainly
warms up a Canadian winter.
The indicates a Canadian link.
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