MARKET INTELLIGENCE 46 | JNA Jan/Feb 2022 origin report. The gem possesses the same captivating blue colour and other internal features. Using Raman spectroscopy, GIA confirmed the stone’s identity as hemimorphite – a zinc silicate, whose purest form is white or colourless. Impurities however produce different colours: Copper for a bluish and greenish tint, ferrous iron for green, and ferric iron for brown. Noor Gems also offers a rare demantoid – the largest ever mined from Russia at 56.48 carats. The gem is valued at US$40,000 per carat. Fiery possibilities Two especially resplendent stones likewise commanded attention at SMGems Ltd’s display windows – sphalerite and rhodonite. Sphalerite, an orangey-yellow gemstone from Spain, is favoured for its extraordinary glow that brings to mind iridescent colours of the sunset. According to KK Kwan of SM Gems Ltd, sphalerites are most ideal for pendants. The gems sell for US$200 per carat. Sphalerites’ dispersion level is three times higher than that of a diamond – 0.156 compared to 0.044, respectively. The higher a stone’s dispersion value, the more colourful flashes it can display. High-dispersion gems have exceptional fire, which refer to flashes of colour when the stone is moved under a source of light. This type of gem is especially desired by collectors, explained Kwan. Rhodonite from Brazil – a red or pinkish gemstone – is also attracting buyers nowadays. The gem, which could fetch around US$300 per carat depending on the quality, is best used for pendants. Rhodonites are typically fashioned into cabochons, beads, small sculptures, tumbled stones and other lapidary projects. Gem-quality faceted rhodonite has a deep, mesmerising colour and is extremely rare. It is also one of the most difficult gemstones to cut. Kwan revealed that both sphalerite and rhodonite have a strong following in the US and Japan. Mysterious gems Hong Kong-based Fancy Gem House meanwhile offers a treasure trove of coloured gemstones and among these are promising gems that are gradually gaining traction globally. According to Abdul Azeez Jaburulla, president of Fancy Gem House, the market is increasingly on the lookout for fresh coloured gemstone alternatives. Among these is chrome diopside from India, a vivid green gem that is rich in chromium – the same mineral that gives emeralds its opulent green hue. According to the American Gem Trade Association, chrome diopside’s colours range from light to bright green and almost black. The bigger the gem, the darker the colour gets. Clarity-wise, the gem comes in transparent and opaque variants. Chrome diopside hails almost exclusively from Inagli in eastern Siberia although deposits have recently been discovered in Pakistan. Jaburulla said the stone, which is well-liked in India and China, has a hardness level of 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, making it most suitable for pendants and rings. At present, chrome diopside sells for US$25 per carat. Kyanite is another stone that is garnering attention in the global trade. It comes in multiple colours but those bearing an intense blue hue are considered the most appealing. “Kyanite from Nepal is popular as a sapphire alternative, thanks to its vivid blue hue that is comparable to sapphires, depending on the quality and the cut,” shared Jaburulla. It comes in both facetted and cabochon stones and carries a price tag of US$20 to US$200 a carat. According to gemsociety.org, facetted kyanite appeals mostly to collectors of non-conventional gems or those who fancy artistic gem cuts. Kunzite from Brazil and Afghanistan meanwhile is highly desired for its ultra-feminine colour range – from pastel pink to vivid purple. Jaburulla revealed that stones originating from Afghanistan tend to be in a deeper colour. “Kunzite is popular among Chinese and Japanese customers. They also come in big sizes and sell for US$30 per carat,” he added. 29.02-carat cushion-cut sphalerite from SMGems Ltd SM Gems Ltd的29.02克拉枕形切割闪锌矿 Pink kunzite 粉红色紫锂辉石
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjAxOTU=