#2.) Grizzly's Zambian Emerald Auction helps Market the Brand - Sales Top $19 Million

Gary Roskin –

Roskin Gem News Report –



If you are one who believes that all Zambian emeralds come from the Kagem mine, just look to the west. 

Grizzly Mining Limited has reportedly been one of the world’s largest producers of emeralds for the past 25 years. As part of their most recent press release, Grizzly announced the results of its latest international emerald auction held this month (March) in Dubai. The auction offered the latest production, including medium- to high-grade rough emeralds from their flagship emerald mine.

Grizzly has helped put Zambian emeralds on the map. As noted by a Grizzly spokesperson, "Known for their distinctive color and cast, Grizzly emeralds are famed for their size and quality."

Tap here to discover more about Grizzly and Zambian Emeralds!

#3.) He Sold Them on eBay!

Former Curator Accused of Stealing Gems

from British Museum

Katie Razzall & Larissa Kennelly

& Darin Graham & Emma Saunders

BBC NewsShare

The British Museum is reportedly suing Dr. Peter Higgs, a former curator, who they believe stole and sold much of the 1,800 missing gems.

This story has actually been going on for several months now. The museum first accused Higgs of possibly stealing the gems reportedly back in August. (British Museum sacks staff member after items vanish from collection) After months of trying to get Higgs to confess, the museum is now going to court.

The High Court has ordered the disclosure of eBay and PayPal records from the eBay account of the suspect, former curator Dr Peter Higgs. The museum says these records contain evidence of its items being sold online. The court was told Dr. Higgs intended to dispute the claims.

Tap here to follow the full incredible story!

Gary Roskin –

Roskin Gem News Report –

At tomorrow's Tuesday April 9th auction at Christie’s New York, there are a good number of ancient hardstone gem carvings set in gold that have withstood the test of time – many of them being 20, 21, and 22 centuries old! Anthony DeMarco introduces the exhibition in the latest Rapaport Magazine, and we follow up with a few additional pieces of interest.

Anthony DeMarco –

Rapaport Magazine –

Carved into history: Cameos and intaglios from as far back as the Roman Empire dominate the New York auction.

A collection of nearly 60 engraved gems mounted in gold rings accounts for more than half the 109 lots in the upcoming Christie’s Antiquities auction. The pieces in the single-owner collection, which date back mostly to the ancient world, are set to go under the hammer in New York on April 9, carrying estimates of about $700 to $30,000. The majority fall in the $4,000 to $6,000 range.

Tap here for more on this historic Auction!

Gary Roskin -

Roskin Gem News Report -

Heritage Auction House -

Spring Fine Jewelry -

Paraiba tourmaline from Brazil, Colombian emeralds with no enhancement, and a fabulous rose cut diamond ring, all up for sale at the Heritage Spring Fine Jewelry Signature auction May 6.

Heritage Auctions is one of the world’s largest collectibles auction houses, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with a significant online presence, specializing in a wide range of categories including fine art, rare books, coins, currency, comics, sports memorabilia, and of course, jewelry!

Color

Included in the sale is a beautiful vivid “Windex” blue 2.62 carat Paraiba tourmaline from Brazil, a distinct yet soft color change with a clean center 2.02 carat Russian Alexandrite, a no heat 1.01 carat cushion cut Burma ruby, another color-change, but this time a 20+ carat unheated Sri Lankan sapphire, changing from a very satisfying pastel bluish-Violet to Purple, and so much more.

Tap here to check out so many special lots in the Heritage Spring Fine Jewelry auction!

This May, Freeman's | Hindman presents the esteemed private collection of the late former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright across a sequence of live and online sales.

Featuring a range of personal property, from her distinctive pins to the beautiful fine and decorative arts that populated her Georgetown home and her offices, The Private Collection of Secretary Madeleine K. Albright shines a spotlight on the collecting sensibilities of this deeply influential national and international icon. 

Tap here to read more of Madeleine Albright's

legendary pins

NHK World Japan

Zero Waste Life

YouTube

Since ancient times, the Japanese have believed that a life force resides in all creations. – A Zero Waste Life.

In NHK’s series “A Zero Waste Life,” the Tick Tock Art of Ito Naofumi was featured, showing how a watch repair shop, during the pandemic, took old unusable watches, and created works of art – a rebirth of the watch into a different work, and using creations that would have previously been discarded.

Tap Here to see the incredible transformations! And watch NHK TV. Tap the images to view the YouTube video!

By Ana Rahlves -

Guinness World Records -

The record-breaking gem is an extraordinary tanzanite weighing 703.4 carats (140.68 g) and was carved by award-winning gem artist Naomi Sarna.

The rough of this extra large tanzanite is now named L’Heure Bleu, or the Blue Hour. Sarna acquired the rough in Tanzania.

Tap here for more on the awarded Tanzanite, and gem artist Naomi Sarna.

... and we take a peek at other Guinness gemstone awards!

Gary Roskin -

Roskin Gem News Report -

As reported by InformaMarkets - the fair organizer - the Istanbul Jewelry Show, held at the Istanbul Expo Center April 17 through 20, is one of the top 5 international jewelry events in the world, and the leading event of the region! 

Tap here as we get ready for the May/June crush of trade shows!

Hayley Henning -

Colored Gemstone Business Strategist -

"It’s undeniable that most colored gems hail from far-off and far-flung, little-known locations, which is also perhaps why we call them ‘exotic,’" writes Hayley Henning, colored gemstone strategist. "Until recently, and still, supply chains have remained opaque, regarding the environmental and human impact on mining, processing, and the distribution processes. Having had the privilege to witness some of these remote mining operations and processing facilities firsthand, I firmly believe that colored gemstones serve as a link between people and places." 

Henning was just named as one of five judges for the JWA Sustainability Awards.

Read Henning's report on fostering sustainability in the colored gemstone community.

As many in the diamond industry are taking up battle positions amongst themselves between natural mined diamonds and synthetic/created diamonds, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is going directly to the consumer (via the retailer) and has just released a new short video, designed for consumers who are trying to gather more basic and unbiased information.

Titled: "Natural and Laboratory-Grown Diamonds: What are the Differences?" GIA is offering this video for free to anyone who wishes to place it in their website. Certainly geared towards the retail sales staff and their clients, this intro video (emphasis on "intro") spells out the differences between the two diamonds in simple text and graphics, easy to understand and straight to the point, with no judgement call. 

Tap here to view the video and to download your own copy!

The Educational Impact of the

2023 JVA Conference

is a Lesson that Gemologists Should Heed

Alberto Scarani -

IGR – Italian Gemological Review -

Three days of intensive work, featuring 7 presentations alongside 47 multidisciplinary workshops. The JVA conference, held from September 8th to 13th, 2023, at Loughborough University, offered a dynamic format catering to the diverse needs of the market, a hallmark of the precious gem industry. In particular, the workshops fulfilled their role by delivering highly in-depth content, including previously unreleased materials even for industry insiders, all within an ideal networking environment for participants.

Tap here to find out more about the JVA conference!

Gems & Gemology

... Sedimentary rocks also host important primary and secondary occurrences of many gemstones.

Gems that formed in sedimentary environments include: Amber, chalcedony (agate), chrysocolla, chrysoprase, malachite, opal, rhodochrosite, smithsonite, turquoise. 

Gems found in sedimentary environments that formed elsewhere include: Apatite; beryl (aquamarine, morganite); chrysoberyl (alexandrite); corundum (ruby, sapphire); diamond; garnet (almandine, demantoid, hessonite, pyrope, rhodolite, spessartine, tsavorite); jade (nephrite, jadeite); kornerupine; olivine (peridot); pyroxene (diopside, enstatite); quartz (amethyst, citrine, chalcedony, agate, rose quartz, smoky quartz); sphene; spinel; topaz; tourmaline.

So let's check this out! Tap here to read the introduction,

but then link to G&G via the

GIA website for the full feature!

Gem-A Journal of Gemmology

In 2022, a new occurrence of exceptionally pure nephrite jade from central Wyoming, USA, became available to the trade.

This nephrite has an unusually fine-grained texture and a uniform medium-to-dark ‘olive’-green body colour. The material’s fine texture results in a highly vitreous lustre, rather than the more common waxy lustre typically displayed by nephrite jade.

It is being extracted from a newly recognised in situ occurrence with significant potential.

By comparison, past nephrite production in Wyoming has been unreliable and inconsistent, and derived mainly from secondary deposits that are now mostly depleted.

Tap here for more on this amazing find featured in the latest issue of Gem-A's Journal of Gemmology!

Photomicrography: Images from Within

Images by Sammantha Maclachlan

This is

Tanzanian Sunstone.

The image is a stack of 16 stills and is taken using fibre optic lighting only, which reflects beautifully on the hematite platelets creating a rainbow of colours.

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!

ONE MONTH SPECIAL - 5 Weeks in MAY

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One month’s worth of Newsletter Banner Ads - $350, or

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... add on the Magazine banner or box Ad for just an additional $100

Tap here to order your MAY MADNESS Ad space!

Georgia Jewelers Association

April 19-21, 2024

Gary Roskin will be speaking to the Georgia Jewelers, April 20th during their annual conference. Held at the Courtyard by Marriott, Jekyll Island, Georgia, about 5 hours from Atlanta. Roskin will be speaking on synthetic diamonds.

1. Almost Everything You Want or Need to Know about Synthetic/Lab Grown/Created Diamonds
2. The Fifth C – “Creation”… by man or mother nature? Identification and Testing of Synthetic/Lab Grown/Created Diamonds 

Tap here for more information!

Brussels Jewellery Week:

April 25–May 5, 2024

Celebrate the cutting-edge realm of contemporary jewelry, pushing boundaries and redefining traditional norms. Brussels Jewellery Week platform serves as a meeting ground for both established and emerging artists, passionate collectors, and a diverse global audience.

Save the date. Tap here for more information!

Mad About Jewelry 2024

May 5–8, 2024

At the Museum of Arts and Design’s annual benefit sale of contemporary jewelry, you’ll find work by 50 artists from 19 countries.

A gala brunch and preview shopping for ticket purchasers takes place May 4.

MAD About Jewelry has become known as the ultimate pop-up shop for contemporary, artist-made jewelry, where collectors and jewelry enthusiasts have the rare opportunity to meet and acquire pieces from some of the most innovative creators in the field. MAD About Jewelry is free with museum admission.

Save the date. Tap here for more information!

SNAG x San Diego June 5–8, 2024

SNAG (the Society of North American Goldsmiths) : 51st Conference.

With 1.4 million people, San Diego is the second largest city in California. The San Diego/Tijuana region is the largest bi-national conurbation shared between the United States and Mexico with a population of 7.1 million.

San Diego/Tijuana have been designated as the 2024 World Design Capital, exemplifying connection, cooperation, and collaboration. Come to SNAG’s conference to gain new creative inspiration and foster lifelong bonds of collaboration and friendship within the jewelry and metals community

Tap here for more conference information!