#3.) He Discovered Paraiba Tourmaline

Heitor Barbosa, Dead at 90

The man credited with the discovery of Brazilian cuprian elbaite tourmaline, the gemstone known around the world as Paraiba Tourmaline, has passed away at the age of 90. 

"From my very first knock on his door in the very real outback of Paraiba state Brazil 1989, his keen piercing eyes sized me up, and then began our life long connection, sharing the enchantment of a marvelous new stone. Trials and tribulations. Victory." - Brian Cook

Tap here for a memoriam, from Sergio Pinheiro Barbosa.

Gary Roskin

Roskin Gem News Report

As reported in the Epoch Times, Reuters, and other news agencies, an undercover NCA officer, known only as Charles, was sent to act as a “firewall” for the illicit payments, bribes, which were to be paid in cash, gold, or gems, for mining licenses in Madagascar.

President’s Chief of Staff Convicted

The president of Madagascar’s former chief of staff, along with an accomplice, have been convicted of bribery offences and face prison after they demanded money and shares in exchange for securing a lucrative emerald mining deal for the British company, Gemfields.

Gemfields played a pivotal role in uncovering the bribery scheme.

To read all about this scandal, tap here!

Gary Roskin

Roskin Gem News Report

Parisian born jeweler André Chervin is the man behind magnificent works of jeweled objets d’art now on display at the New York Historical Society Museum on Central Park West.

Curated by Debra Schmidt Bach with the assistance of Carole Chervin, daughter of André Chervin, co-founder of the Carvin French Jewelry studio.

“Like many workshops, there are down times,” notes Carole Chervin. “In order to keep everyone busy, whether it was a break in orders or simply waiting for one jeweler to finish their task on a specific project, André dished out ‘treats’ to the staff…” dreams/designs that were to be made into little gemstone objects.

There are 58 of these dreams in the exhibition, on view to the public for the very first time. None were ever sold or given away as gifts. They remain, to this day, a private Carvin French collection.

This is an interview with Carole Chervin and Debra Schmidt Bach.

Gary Roskin

Roskin Gem News Report

As a continuation of the presentation by Gemworld’s Stuart Robertson and Brecken Branstrator at AGTA’s Elevated Seminar Series in Tucson, our Part II focuses on Gem Notes.

In Place of the Big Three

Affordability and availability were two big topics of discussion during the second half of the presentation. (Read the first half, Part I, here.)

Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are a bit pricey these days, and that opens the door for the similar color, colored gems, says Robertson.

They reviewed numerous gems, including zircon, sapphire, ruby, tourmaline, garnet, beryl, topaz, peals, and even synthetic diamonds.

Tap here to read PART II of our report from Tucson!

BY STELLENE VOLANDES

FEB 23, 2024 9:00 AM EST

Town & Country Magazine

The Inspiration

“As my eyes grew accustomed to the light,” archaeologist Howard Carter wrote as he gazed into the tomb of Tutankhamun, “details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold—everywhere the glint of gold.” Can you get all that down on a diamond bracelet? Why, yes, in fact, Van Cleef & Arpels actually did.

After Carter discovered King Tut’s tomb in 1922, the house captured the ensuing Egyptomania on bracelets that told tales of pharaohs, sphinxes, scarabs, and phoenixes. Each jeweled panel was a hieroglyph scripted against a diamond background and written in lapis and coral, turquoise and sapphire, ruby and emerald.

“If you asked me to name 10 jewels that a collector should own,” says Claibourne Poindexter, vice president and senior specialist in the jewelry department at Christie’s, “a Van Cleef 1920s narrative bracelet would be one of them.”

These gems of the Art Deco Egyptian Revival period have long been collectible—a connection to history and exceptional craftsmanship will do that—but they have now won a global audience of collectors and achieved icon status.

Tap here to read the full feature story on VC&A and their bracelets, from Town & Country Magazine!

FEBRUARY 25, 2024 

BY LAURALEE

WhoWoreWhatJewels

Get ready to swoon over the hottest jewelry looks from the 2024 Screen Actors Guild SAG Awards, where the guys brought their A-game in bling!

Lots of Art Deco!

It was all about the brooches, —whether they were rocking Art Deco vibes, vintage antique designs, or sweet floral touches.

Lauralee really gives us the goods - from dapper to daring, these celebs showed us how to make a statement with style.

So Tap Here to see some of the hottest styles in men's jewelry from the 2024 SAG Awards!

Preziosa Magazine

Press Coverage

The 40th edition of the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and the 10th edition of the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show return to the old pre-pandemic formula. The diamond, gem and pearl show will be held from 27 February to 2 March at the AsiaWorld-Expo, while the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 29 February to 4 March and will offer sourcing and global trading opportunities to industry players.

The fairs will have a common denominator. The leitmotif is ‘Be Part of the Splendid Legacy’. Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, unveiled it: ‘The events will attract 4,000 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and regions to Hong Kong,’ she explained. ‘The overall scale of the fairs is close to pre-pandemic levels: more than 60 per cent of the exhibitors come from outside Hong Kong, thus accentuating its character as an international trade and jewellery sourcing centre. There will be buyers from 65 countries and regions.

Tap Here to read the Hong Kong review inside PreciosaMagazine!

A ring discovered in Southwest Jutland, Denmark, suggests a previously unknown princely family who had strong connections with the rulers of France.

The ring is made from 22-carat[karat] gold and is set at the centre with a semi-precious cabochon almandine garnet gemstone.

On the underside are two spirals and trefoil knobs, all characteristics of stylish forms found in Frankish craftmanship from the 5th to 6th century AD.

It was discovered at Emmerlev, just 10 kilometres from the site of the famous Golden Horns of Gallehus, and 2 kilometres from the ring rampart of Trælbanken, suggesting that the area was a centre of ruling elite for hundreds of years.

Tap here to read the full report on a most intriguing find!

The British Academy Film Awards

Roll out the red carpet, because the 2024 BAFTA Awards brought a dazzling display of glamour and style to London’s prestigious event. Often hailed as the British Oscars, the BAFTAs honor outstanding performances from both British and international actors on both the silver and small screens.

While the spotlight may have shone brightest on the stage, it was the stunning jewelry adorning the stars that truly stole the show. Margot Robbie set hearts aflutter with her jaw-dropping Lorraine Schwartz diamond and jade earrings, while Tiffany and Co. reigned supreme, adorning Emily Blunt, Dua Lipa, and Ayo Edebiri with their exquisite creations.

Lauralee captures it all with the Pre- and Post- parties as well as the Red Carpet!

Fura Gems

Dubai, February 15, 2024

Press Release

FURA Gems, the colored gemstone mining company currently producing ruby and pink sapphire rough from its Montepuez mine in Mozambique, proudly introduced its Mine-to-Market program Celebration Sapphires to the Indian market during this past Valentine’s Day.

This initiative showcased a “stunning range of pink sapphire jewellery,” crafted in collaboration with world-renowned manufacturers, namely KGK, Jewelex, Caara, Kama Jewelry, Midas Diamonds, Laxmi Diamond, Sanghi Jewellers, and Priority Jewels.

The collection of pink sapphire jewellery will initially be made available in India through six leading retailers: Senco, PNG, Khimji, Talla Jewellers, Abhushan Diamonds and Gold, and Batukbhai Sons Jewellers.

A Bollywood Launch

The launch is further reinforced by an impactful campaign featuring Bollywood celebrity, Saiyami Kher.

Tap here read more about this line of pink sapphire jewels from Fura Gems!

Yes, this is from 2022, but it's a great story!

Just in case you missed it .... here it is again.

Scott Overland, who is vice president of the Phoenixville School Board, was dining out while on vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware last week with his family when he discovered a purple pearl in his clam dish from the seafood restaurant Salt Air, writes Joseph Lamour, for Today Food.

A Quahog!

It is not quite time to go oyster shucking, but the next time you do, just make sure not to bite down too hard!

Tap here to read the full - and fun - story in Vista,Today!

Shantanu Guha Ray

Opinion - NDTV

February 26, 2024

A decade after a 19.88-carat Kashmir sapphire shattered auction records in Geneva, the potential return of the priceless gems from the strife-torn region to global markets is on the horizon.



The cushion-shaped sapphire, known as the Star of Kashmir, surprised buyers in 2013 with a sale price of nearly $3,483,017 (approximately ₹ 20 crore). Now, officials claim that more peacock blue-coloured sapphires will be mined in the Paddar region, one of the most inhospitable terrains in the bordering state.

Kashmir sapphires are revered as among the finest in the world.

This resurgence in the Kashmiri economy marks a significant shift, seemingly overcoming longstanding hurdles related to mining and marketing rights. It's reliably learned that local traders, previously resistant to outsider involvement in mining and marketing the gems, had persistently demanded exorbitant prices, hindering progress.

Tap here to read more of the Kashmir story!