This article first appeared in GEMSWORLD 2026.

Coloured gemstone specialist Color Jewels Inc attributes a strong business in 2025 to solid demand for luxury gems in leading jewellery markets such as Asia and the US, with the trio of rubies, sapphires and emeralds garnering particularly robust buyer interest.

According to Color Jewels Managing Director Ashish Dangayach, other highly regarded gems such as Paraiba tourmaline and Mahenge spinel, especially those bearing exceptional colour and clarity, also moved fast. Asian buyers led the demand for premium pieces while Europe and the US drove business for important single stones for custom and high jewellery production.

“2025 was a strong year, with the biggest growth coming from Asia and the US. Demand for fine rubies, blue sapphires and high-quality emeralds was steady across both retailers and private clients,” remarked Dangayach. “The major challenge was sourcing as top Burmese and Colombian stones have become harder to come by.”

Top-range gems

Fuelled by continuously steady demand, prices for top Burmese rubies and sapphires and Colombian emeralds increased by a percentage margin that Dangayach described as high-single to low-double digits in 2025.

Sturdy market demand coupled with tighter supply of gems with good colour and trusted origin contributed to the spike in prices. “With limited output coming from Myanmar and Colombia, prices of the best goods have gone up. We expect this trend to continue due to scarce supply,” shared the company official.

As sales continue to gain momentum, Color Jewels is eyeing to expand its reach in potential areas of growth in Asia and Europe – markets where its business saw a steady uptick throughout 2025.

Asian and European clients are paying closer attention to origin, certification and one-of-a-kind pieces, revealed Dangayach. “We are also watching the Middle East and India closely as interest in coloured gemstones in these regions is rapidly increasing,” he continued.

Sparkling future

Apart from the Big Three, a number of coloured gemstones were market favourites in 2025. These were pink and Padparadscha sapphires, Paraiba tourmaline from Mozambique and Mahenge spinel, which all delivered compelling results in the previous year.

According to Dangayach, buyers responded strongly to these gems’ captivating colours and rarity. Color Jewels expects Paraiba tourmaline, Mahenge and cobalt spinel and tsavorite to continue drawing market interest in 2026 alongside classic rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

“We plan to source more carefully selected stones in these categories to meet growing demand,” he added. “We feel positive about 2026 as more clients are turning their attention to coloured gemstones while designers are incorporating more vivid colours in their collections.”

This shift in consumption preference, combined with steady interest in high-quality stones, should support growth moving forward.

“Long-term demand for rare stones remains strong and we think suppliers who focus on quality and transparency will be in the best position,” noted Dangayach.

Meanwhile, technology and responsible sourcing are becoming key components of the gemstone trade. Clients are increasingly opting for clear information about gemstone origin, treatments and mining conditions. Providing such clarity are improved digital reports and traceability systems and these will continue to shape the coloured gemstone landscape going forward. “We are investing in stronger internal tracking, so clients receive accurate information quickly and confidently,” he continued.

As for challenges, Dangayach pointed to the limited supply of top materials and global uncertainties, which could affect short-term buying.