Rough diamond crystal. Transmitted and reflected light. Image by Gary Roskin. Diamond provided by AMGAD.


Issue 16, June 26, 2024

Top 3 Newsletter Features from our last Report:

#1.) Barbara M. Berk’s "Aquamarine Rhapsody" now in the Smithsonian


Platinum and Aquamarine Pendant Donated to the National Gem Collection


Gary Roskin

Roskin Gem News Report


Barbara M. Berk is an artist, an expert in textile techniques in metal, and a jeweler, weaving precious metals into museum quality wearable art, including brooches, necklaces, earrings and hair ornaments. Her award-winning works have been worn, displayed, placed in art museums, and now, “Aquamarine Rhapsody,” a woven platinum pendant, featuring a Sherris Cottier Shank carved aquamarine, resides at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History as part of the National Gem Collection in Washington, D.C.


Tap here to read all about the artists and the jewel.

#2.) Who Wore What Jewels at the Met



... and Now, the Women



Lauralee

WhoWoreWhatJewels.com


“When it comes to showcasing stunning jewelry, the Met Gala red carpet always steals the spotlight,” says Lauralee from Who Wore What Jewels. “Renowned as 'fashion’s grandest stage’ and arguably the pinnacle of haute couture events, the Met Gala never disappoints with its display of extravagant and inventive jewelry pieces.”


Well said, Lauralee. The Met Gala is all about Extravagance and being out-of-the-box Creative.


Tap here for the WWWJ Met Gala jewel review!

#3.) High Inflation May Affect Real Cost of Gems


We look at Malawi, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, & Others


Gary Roskin

Roskin Gem News Report


There may be all sorts of reasons for high steady pricing of gems (supply, demand, rising costs of mining equipment, fuel, shipping, travel, manufacture, etc…), but one reason you may have left out of the equation is seen here in the global economic numbers.


According to reports by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released in April 2024, updates in current and projected rates of inflation show significant numbers in over a dozen countries, and we take a closer look at a few.


Tap here to see what inflation is predicted for several gem producing countries. It may just be eye-opening!

This Week in the Roskin Gem News Report

A Remembrance

Bernd Munsteiner

The Father of the Fantasy Cut

March 2, 1943 - June 6, 2024

Gary Roskin

Roskin Gem News Report


Bernd Munsteiner, the father of the “Fantasy Cut,” died on Thursday, June 6th, surrounded by his family, his wife Hanne, daughter-in-law Jutta, and grandson, Philipp, in Stipshausen, Germany. He was 81 years old.


Brave New World

Bernd Munsteiner was the determined young gem cutter who, after graduating from the school for art & design in Pforzheim, instead of going back to cutting traditional shapes with his father, took the rough gem materials, polished a top window, and then carved polished wedges into the girdles and pavilions, creating multiple displays of light within the gem, offering the world a new vision, the art of a gem – the Fantasy Cut. After decades of accolades, and becoming a gem industry icon, this style of cutting is now appropriately called “a Munsteiner Cut.”


At first, his countrymen shunned the design. But this did not deter Munsteiner from looking to the rest of the world, where open minds could appreciate his gem art. And the rest, as they say, is history.


We spoke to Bernd's daughter-in-law Jutta, long time close friend Hans-Jürgen Henn, and Smithsonian curator Dr. Jeffrey Post about the life and legacy of Bernd Munsteiner.


Tap here for our tribute to Bernd Munsteiner

JCK Las Vegas - De Beers

Spotlight on De Beers

Insight from the Group's New CEO

and then the Jaw Dropper 30 Seconds before the End!

Gary Roskin

Roskin Gem News Report


It was opening day of the JCK Las Vegas show. Al Cook, the new De Beers Group chief executive officer, greeted a packed ballroom of mainly diamond wholesalers, including site-holders, some retailers, and a good number of industry notables.


Cook, at the time of this presentation, had been CEO of the De Beers Group for just 15 months. And now he was addressing a room filled with well-informed and concerned industry members. They were concerned about the economy, about falling diamond prices, about Russian sanctions, about the rising market share of synthetic diamonds, and about the sale of De Beers!


Tough Crowd

It must have been challenging for Cook to stand in front of this crowd, openly admitting that it took him 15 months to familiarize himself with De Beers and his team. Not only was this presentation important for his shareholders, it was necessary to win the room, that the attendees should set aside their concerns and know that De Beers was going to keep the global diamond industry on track. And he made this presentation all the while having a corporate take-over looming above him. A lot is riding on De Beers. The question is, can they maintain control of the market, and itself?


Tap here to read our review of what was said,

 and what was not said!

Professional Gemological Laboratories

GIA Pilot Program to Grade Mounted Goods

Gary Roskin

Roskin Gem News Report


GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is piloting an innovative Jewelry Report service that offers insights into the components of submitted items, including metal details, gemstone characteristics, and existing engravings. Anyone interested in the pilot program can sign up here for the waitlist.


The GIA Jewelry Report offers a comprehensive description of the submitted jewelry piece(s), including metal verification and ranges for the clarity, color, and carat weight of D-to-Z diamonds that do not have previous GIA reports for unmounted diamonds. If the diamonds have existing GIA report numbers, the specific grades will be detailed on the report with a link to GIA’s Report Check for added verification. The GIA Jewelry Report also includes details of any current markings.


Grade Ranges

We spoke with GIA about the new jewelry report, as we are especially interested in grade ranges. “For diamonds that do not have a previous GIA report, the GIA Jewelry Report will provide ranges for weight, clarity and color, as it is not possible to offer precision grading for mounted diamonds. Industry norms will be used and, in most cases, the ranges will be two grades. However, the ranges may be larger for some diamonds that are highly masked in the setting. The same is true for estimated weights.”


And there's more!


Tap here to find out more about GIA's new pilot program for grading mounted goods.

Fun Merch!

Garden of Adin adds Jigsaw Puzzle and More! 

One of the Antique & Estate websites (and newsletters) we follow is the Garden of Adin, Adin Fine Antique Jewellery, located in Antwerp, Elkan Wijnberg, CEO.


Last week we received notice that Adin has added a few non-jewelry items, a few educational games, a set of greeting cards, and our personal favorite, a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle.


"Discover our expertly curated collection of luxurious card games, greeting cards, puzzles, and more, each crafted to captivate and educate. Designed to the highest standards, our selection brings the elegance of antique and vintage jewellery right into your home."


Game on!


Tap here to view all of the cool new merch from Adin!

Photomicrography

More Great Gemmological Eye-Candy

Images from Within by Sammantha Maclachlan

Photomicrography: Images from Within

Images by Sammantha Maclachlan


Featured here are Trigons on the octahedral face of a yellow diamond crystal.


This is a stack of 15 images with a magnification of 120x.


Sammantha Maclachlan is an accomplished gemmologist and photomicrographer. Her attention to gemmological detail and beauty is evident within the incredible shots shown here and in the Roskin Gem News Report online magazine. We thank Sammantha for sharing her images, and welcome you to enjoy the page!


Tap Here for more Gemmological Eye-Candy from Sammantha Maclachlan! 


Educational Conferences

NAJA’s 62nd Annual Mid-Year ACE©It

Education Conference

Rosemont, IL

August 10–12, 2024



August 11 - Sunday


Duncan Parker, FGA

  • Fakes, Counterfeits, Frauds, and Misrepresentation

Deborah Finleon, GIA GG

  • NAJA’s Report Writing Standards: A Usage Guide

Dave Atlas, GIA GG

  • The Cost Approach: A Basic Tool

Reginald Brack

  • Watching the Market: Current Trends in the Watch Industry

Stuart Robertson, GIA GG

  • A Practical Approach to Building a Pricing Database During Trade Shows


  • Research at the InStore Show



August 12 - Monday


Jessica DuBroc, GIA GG & Gina D’Onofrio, FGAA

  • Power Search Tips: Finding and Refining the Best Comps

Vera Prather, GIA GG & Ana Wroblaski, GIA GG

  • Deaccessioning a Collection: Preparing Your Client for Success

Lisa Key

  • Driehaus Museum: A Jewel Box of a Museum

Steve Turner, GIA GG

  • Review of Ethical Standards and Their Application in Our Daily Practices


Panelists – Raphael Boivin, Richard Drucker, GIA GG, & Thom Underwood, GIA GG

Moderators – Lance Nygaard, GIA GG, & Stuart Robertson, GIA GG

  • Appraisal Software Solutions: Exploring Their Use, Benefits and Limits


Stuart Robertson, GIA GG

  • Research Results


Tap here for more information about the NAJA’s 62nd Annual

Mid-Year ACE©It Education Conference

Tiffany & Co.

“If you get bored by the Tiffany Diamond, there’s no hope.”

Tiffany & Co. Chief Gemologist Victoria Reynolds 

by GORDON NG

16 JUNE 2024

Vogue Singapore


As Tiffany & Co. closes another exhibition in Tokyo, the brand’s chief gemologist Victoria Reynolds opens up on the legacy of the New York jeweller.


Legacy is an interesting thing. With 187 years of history behind it, the American jeweller Tiffany & Co.— despite more easily imagining and relating it with youth—has oodles of history behind it. It’s a fact that the house is now eager to reclaim and celebrate, as evidenced by its latest project: Tiffany Wonder, an ambitious brand exhibition that recently closed at Tokyo Node in the Japanese capital city.


Tap here for a very nice interview with

Victoria Reynolds, Tiffany's Chief Gemologist.

Antique & Estate

18th and 19th Century Jewellery Houses

More Relevant than Ever

by JESSLYN LYE

19 JUNE 2024

Vogue Singapore


A growing interest in jewellery designs from the 18th and 19th centuries has been spurred by the FX series ‘Feud: Capote vs the Swans’


Earlier this year in the FX drama Feud: Capote vs the Swans, the dramas of New York high society socialites in the ’60s and ’70s were laid bare. An unlikely protagonist emerged: the distinct, opulent jewels of the era.


There is a scene of socialite and former Vogue editor Babe Paley, after a cancer diagnosis, surrounded by her jewels and doling them out to friends. A particular piece catches the eye of one of Paley’s friends—a rubellite Verdura bracelet.


Thshow has since spurred a growing interest and fever for designs from those decades, and particularly designs by jewellers whose names had otherwise lost their lustre to time.


Tap here for the full feature written Vogue Singapore

Exhibition

“Cartier, Crystallization of Time”

An Exhibition at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul 

By Choi Si-youngLee Yoon-seoKim Da-sol

The Korea Herald


CRYSTALLIZATION

OF TIME



Held at the DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza), Art Hall 1, Conference Hall, the May-June exhibition “Crystallization of Time” by Cartier, was organized by the DDP operator Seoul Design Foundation for the landmark’s 10th anniversary.


Experience eternal moments.

The world of Cartier’s creations transcends time.


“Gemstones, born from immense periods of time, and design, inspired by natural wonders and cultures worldwide, are crystallized in Cartier’s jewelry, where exceptional craftsmanship fuses the blessings of earth and humanity. This exhibition focuses on the powerful cultural and creative dimensions of Cartier Collection and archive documents together with contemporary creations from private collections, usually not displayed for the public.” – Cartier


Tap here to know more about the Cartier exhibition.

Awards

24 Karat Club of So. California to Honor Rapaport, Kazanjian, and Larson 

Los Angeles, CA

May 29, 2024


The Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California and its board of directors are pleased to announce that Martin Rapaport, Douglas Kazanjian, and Carl Larson will be honored at The Club’s 80th annual dinner and dance on September 28, 2024. This year’s exclusive event will be held at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, a new venue for the gala.


The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Martin Rapaport. The Excellence in Service Award will be presented to Douglas Kazanjian. And the Rising Star Award will be presented to Carl Larson.


Tap here for more about the Awards

 and the honorees!

High Jewelry

Louis Vuitton Presents

Its New High Jewelry Collection

Luxferity Magazine


Louis Vuitton's High Jewelry Collection:

Awakened Hands, Awakened Minds


Featuring a 56.23 carats, “warm champagne” color, octagonal step cut (right), the centerpiece of the collection takes its inspiration from the Eiffel Tower.


The Awakened Minds chapter echoes expansion and innovation through hypnotic settings infused with the interconnectedness of movement — a new stylized interpretation of industrialization in a masterful play of geometry and the signatures of the Maison.


At 220 unique masterpiece jewels set across 13 different themes, this is Amfitheatrof’s sixth High Jewelry Collection for the Maison and its largest Collection yet.


Tap here to see more of the LV High Jewelry Collection!

Trade Shows

International Gem & Jewellery Exhibition

Sri Lanka

Saturday, June 29 - Monday, July 1, 2024

This weekend! Don’t miss the International Gem & Jewellery Exhibition Sri Lanka 2024!


“Join us for an unforgettable experience in Gem City, Ratnapura, showcasing the world’s most stunning gems and jewellery.


Secure your spot now and witness the splendor of Gem City, Ratnapura.


Step into luxury at the International Gem & Jewellery Exhibition! Make an on-site purchase of USD 100,000 or more and have your hotel stay on us. Experience the ultimate in elegance and craftsmanship at the Grand Silver Ray Hotel, Sri Lanka.


Tap here to find out more!

Trade Shows

The Australian Opal Exhibition Wednesday, July 31 – Thursday, August 1, 2024

The 21st Australian Opal Exhibition - trade only event - will take place at the Southport Sharks events center in Queensland, Wednesday, July 31st and Thursday, August 1st.


As their promotions states, the Australian Opal Exhibition is “the world’s most elite and inclusive opal experience, showcasing the beauty of Australia’s national gemstone.”


“Do not miss the opportunity to visit the Australian Opal Exhibition where the world’s most comprehensive display of Australian Opals and opal jewellery will be for sale from New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia’s leading opal wholesalers and miners. The beauty of this exquisite gemstone cannot ever be underestimated!”


Tap here for more information!

Upcoming Trade Shows Calendar

If you know of an important trade show

and believe it should be listed here, contact us here!



The 21st annual Australian Opal Exhibition

Trade Only

Southport, Queensland, Australia

– July 31 – August 1, 2024


The International Jewellery & Watch Fairs

Sydney, Australia

– August 17-19, 2024


Japan Jewellery Fair – Informa Markets

Tokyo, Japan

– August 28-30, 2024


The Jewellery Show

Olympia, London, UK

– September 1-2, 2024


VicenzaOro

Vicenza, Italy

– September 6-10, 2023


Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair

Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand

70th Edition – Bangkok, Thailand

– September 9-13, 2024


HardRock Summit

Westminster, Colorado, USA

– September 12-15, 2024


Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong – Informa Markets

Hong Kong, China

– September 16-20, 2024 AWE

– September 18-22, 2024 HKCEC


The Rare Gem

Bear Essentials

HardRock Summit

Flawless: Blue White & D Flawless

GIA - Gemological Institute of America

The Canadian Gemmological Association

ASA - the American Society of Appraisers

AGTA - the American Gem Trade Association

AGA - the Accredited Gemologists Association

Gem-A - Gemmological Association of Great Britain

NAJA - the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers

Visit our online Magazine






ENJOY THE REPORT




As always, stay informed and keep in touch. I'd like to know where you've been and what gems you've seen.


We will continue to post features on the website, so feel free to log on to the Roskin Gem News Magazine any time at www.RoskinGemNewsReport.com

Want to contribute?

If you would like to contribute, or you have read something somewhere that you feel would be perfect to share with the community, then please feel free to contact me directly at Gary@RoskinGemNews.com


I will see you again SOON!


Stay safe and stay healthy!


Gary Roskin

The Roskin Gem News Report, Newsletter and online Magazine, is your one-stop destination for all current global gem news.


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