焦点 GEMSWORLD | 13 | 2023 The opal business meanwhile is also poised to pick up once pandemic-restrictions are lifted in major business destinations. Jessica Chan, operations manager at Opals Mine Factory Ltd, said prices of loose opals have risen by around 20 per cent to 30 per cent, but orders are still coming in, demonstrating the attractiveness of this unique gem. While the company focused mainly on finished gold and silver jewellery in 2022, which were popular among Hong Kong buyers, Opals Mine Factory is gearing up for a more dynamic 2023. “Our main market is the US, and we are excited to liaise with our clients once again at international exhibitions in 2023. We expect our loose opal products to move fast as we already have a lot of requests from buyers,” she noted. Chan added that opals as special gems are challenging to sell online since buyers need to examine them in person to appreciate their beauty. The company’s main product is white opal from Australia. Jeremy Wong of Aldoria Ltd, which specialises in natural Australian opals and Sleeping Beauty turquoise, also observed steady demand for opals in the market amid limited supply and other uncertainties, with US and European consumers asking for top-quality opals of all kinds. There is also rising awareness of and appreciation for opal doublets, noted Wong. He explained, “Doublets are rising in popularity as buyers increasingly opt for more affordable alternatives. Doublets are two natural opals pieced together and they can be similarly stunning.” Solid opals are 80 per cent more expensive than doublets. Gary Ng, manager at Opal Mine Ltd, meanwhile shared that black and boulder opals are among the most favoured in the market today. Strong demand pushed prices of black opals up by 20 to 30 per cent, with China and the US among the top customers. “Chinese buyers are partial to more valuable opals as opposed to US consumers who gravitate towards lower-quality opals,” noted Ng Technological advancements Transparency and fair practices will continue to be market-moving trends in the coloured gemstone trade. Raphael Gübelin, president of the House of Gübelin, said “transparently traded gems and jewellery” are likely to shape the business in 2023. To make traceable gems more accessible, sustainability start-ups Provenance Proof and Everledger introduced the first blockchain-supported online marketplace that allows buyers and sellers to directly connect, and trade ethically sourced gemstones. Such a platform has become more important with the market’s rising demand for sustainability and transparency in the gemstone trade, according to Provenance Proof – an initiative by the Gübelin Gem Lab, which subsequently spun off as an independent company. Buyers will keep sourcing for coloured gemstones amid a challenging scenario. They will be a bit cautious when making purchasing decisions, but higher-value stones, which are seen as investments, will continue to attract attention moving forward. – Clement Sabbagh, president of the International Colored Gemstone Association Rubies 红宝石
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