FOCUS 18 | JNA Mar/Apr 2022 Ring with a 30.24-carat Colombian emerald, sold for US$2.55 million at the Yongle Spring 2021 auction (Picture courtesy of Yongle Auction) 镶嵌30.24克拉哥伦比亚祖母绿的戒指，在永乐2021年春季拍卖会上以255万美元成交(图片由永乐拍卖提供) 绚丽的中国彩色宝石市场 Spectrum of China’s coloured gem market Coloured gemstones are gaining traction in China, which has long been a gold, jade and pearl market. Apart from the Big Three of the coloured gem world – rubies, sapphires and emeralds, strong contenders for Chinese consumers’ affections include spinel and Paraiba tourmaline. 中国市场长期以来由黄金、玉石和珍珠主导。目前，彩色宝石越来越受欢迎； 除了彩色宝石界的三巨头 — 红宝石、蓝宝石和祖母绿外，中国消费者对尖晶石和 帕拉依巴碧玺也愈发喜爱。 | Julius Zheng 郑嵘 | China’s love affair with jade and pearl is firmly rooted in history. The ancient Chinese book Shang Shu (the Book of History) recorded the oldest written mention of natural pearls in 2206 BC. Chinese fondness for jade, meanwhile, dates back to the Neolithic Age some 7,000 years ago. Jadeite from Myanmar reached the imperial court of the Qing Dynasty in late 1700s. In the late 18th and early 19th century, carvers in China created jadeite masterpieces that are still unsurpassed in concept, design and technique. Coloured gemstones are relative newcomers in this setting but are increasingly making headway in China. Transparent, facettable varieties such as ruby, sapphire, emerald, spinel and Paraiba tourmaline are winning over gem enthusiasts, collectors and jewellery lovers in a market where translucent and opaque gems have historically thrived. Rubies, sapphires and emeralds first started to gain favour in 2013 and 2014. Momentum accelerated in 2015 and 2016 as awareness grew among jewellers and consumers, according to Lin
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