Blog

Ruby is widely recognised as the July birthstone. It has been revered for millennia by many different cultures, including the Mogul dynasties of ancient India who referred to it as the “king of gemstones.” Akin to sapphire, ruby is a member of corundum family.

Alexandrite has often been referred to as “emerald by day, ruby by night,” thanks to its unique colour shifts between shades of green and red. The closer the colours are to pure green and red, and the greater the contrast between the two colours, the higher the value of the stone. The transition between the […]

Moonstone is the second in our trio of articles examining the June birthstones. The name is derived from the ‘moon like’ appearance of the light refracted from the micro-structure of feldspar layers on the stone’s surface, otherwise known as lamellae.

As spring advances towards summer and the trees steadily regain their foliage, it is perhaps appropriate that emerald is the May birthstone.

One of the intriguing things about birthstones is the fact there is no unanimous agreement on what each one should be and most sources site multiple stones for the same month! Different cultures have developed differing birthstone calendars and these have often been revised and changed over the years.

For 101 years the small Swiss town of Basel has hosted what has become the biggest annual watch and jewellery spectacle on earth.

Last June an 18.04 carat Colombian emerald fetched US$5.5 million when it went under the hammer at Christie’s.

Aquamarine, as the name suggests, is a gemstone that has long been associated with sailors and the sea. For many centuries aquamarine was thought to have protective powers and the ability to improve a person’s health.

Founded in 2013, London DE Limited (“The Company”) is a UK based supplier of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones to the global market place, supplying all levels of the supply chain with loose stones and bespoke jewellery.

Crypto currency, including Bitcoin, has been making headlines for almost a decade, since it was first conceived by a mysterious programmer in 2009. However, its uptake in the jewellery and gemstone industry has been rather slow.

Amethyst, the birthstone of February, is an enigmatic stone that is found in a range of hues from deep reddish purple to pale lilac. It is a crystalline quartz that sits at a relatively hard 7-8 on the (1-10) Moh’s scale and as such it is a fairly easy stone to look after.

Emeralds have been growing in popularity for some time but it is the Colombian variety that have seen the greatest increases in value over recent years. A good example of this comes from Rayaz Takat, CEO of New York based Takat

As the queen celebrates the sapphire jubilee of her coronation in 1953, the Crown Jewels are receiving more public interest than at any time in their history.

As the festive period starts to recede into memory, thoughts turn in earnest to the year that lies ahead. We have researched the published material of industry insiders to shine a light on what may lie in store for the jewellery market trends that develop in 2018.

Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon until 1972, is a fast growing island economy in the Indian Ocean. Almost a decade on from the conclusion of its 30 year civil war, the island is becoming a Mecca for gem dealers and tourists alike.

Having closed in 1998, the Welsh mine that produced the gold for three generations of royal weddings, including those of the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Princes Anne, Diana, Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Cambridge, is set to reopen this year.

Alexandrite is famous for the fact that it can change colour, appearing bluish-green in daylight and reddish-pink by indoor lamplight. The value of this stone increases with the distinctness of the colour shift.

After more than a century of the domination of diamonds, coloured stones are returning to the fore. References to the value of coloured gemstones can be traced back to ancient history, including descriptions in the bible such as “she is more precious than rubies,” when referring to a virtuous wife.

It was recently announced in a press conference chaired by Martin Rapaport that the Peace Diamond has been purchased by Laurence Graff, of Graff Diamonds, from the government of Sierra Leone for US$6.5 million

Red is one of the most evocative primary colours, conjuring powerful images in our imagination of fire, heat, excitement and passion. So it is little wonder that the most popular colour for high performance cars (not least Ferraris) is red!

Christmas is, famously, a time for giving. It has now overtaken Valentine’s Day as the peak time of year for marriage proposals and more people than ever before are choosing to give their loved ones festive jewellery gifts.

The world famous Swiss luxury jeweller de GRISOGONO was founded in 1993 by black diamond specialist Fawaz Gruosi and it is known affectionately by its high clientele simply as ‘de Gris.’ Their most recent creation

Prior to the advent of modern gemmological testing, many gemstones were mistakenly identified as something they were not. Eduard Gübelin (1913-2005), the ‘father’ of modern gemmology, was the man widely accredited with devising the laboratory techniques to distinguish one stone from another.

We are an internationally recognised specialist bespoke jeweller and dealer of natural Colombian emeralds, sapphires, rubies and other coloured gemstones, diamonds and coloured diamonds.

Key to understanding how the gem trade operates are the tiers in its complex supply chain. According to industry expert Jim Grahl, these can be roughly broken down as follows:

Key to understanding how the gem trade operates are the tiers in its complex supply chain. According to industry expert Jim Grahl, these can be roughly broken down as follows:

(An example of a unique four stone custom made ring designed by LDE for a bespoke customer) Bespoke engagement rings have never been more popular and now account for almost half of all those sold, both in the UK and elsewhere. More and more couples are now looking for a unique, one-of-a- kind, showstopper to […]

In what is set to be the most exciting gem auction of 2017, the largest D-colour flawless diamond ever put under the hammer, at 163.41 carats, will be on sale on 14th November at Christie’s Geneva.

With Christmas on the horizon many of us start to turn our attention to the annual question of what to buy our nearest and dearest.

Are diamonds still a girl’s best friend? It may surprise you that right up until the early twentieth century around 50% of engagement rings featured coloured gems and 50% diamonds.

Thailand is a medium ranking regional power among the South East Asian economies but it is showing signs of rapid economic development beyond its tradition staples of tourism, agriculture and fisheries.

The coloured gemstone mining industry is going through a revolution, shifting irreversibly away from artisanal mining towards large scale mechanised production. This is being propelled by the increasing participation of larger mining entities and the enhanced formalisation of the industry.

Emeralds have been one of the best performing gemstones in recent years and their increasing prices have been well documented but the fine art of successfully buying and selling these beguiling stones is a lesser known industry secret.

  (Beryl can be found in a range of colours and hues) The beryl family comprises stones of beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate, the best known examples of which are aquamarine and emerald. However there are also many other sub-classes to this multi-coloured family that are starting to grow in popularity. Pure beryl is actually colourless but […]

The popularity of sapphires has never been greater, perhaps due in part to Prince William’s decision to propose to Kate Middleton with the sapphire engagement ring of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. In addition to superstar celebrity and royal endorsement, the young and increasingly economically powerful millennial generation …

(An example of an Ethiopian opal recently won from the earth)  In recent years exciting new deposits of precious and semi-precious stones have been reported from this ancient, but long troubled, African nation. The country is known to have significant deposits of at least nine gemstones: opal; corndium, beryl, garnet, peridot, quartz species and tourmaline. […]

Within the gemstone mining industry, Mogok is unique for the variety of types of production found here, each tailored for the local geology. These include alluvial mining of the gem-bearing gravel, known as byon, and the hard rock mining of spinel and ruby from the marble deposits themselves.

Coloured gems are enjoying a renaissance at the moment and of the “big three” (emerald, ruby & sapphire) emeralds are shining especially brightly. At the route of this phenomenon is a virtuous circle of consistency of supply from fresh mining sites in Zambia, Brazil and most notably Colombia

Iconic business leader and self made billionaire Richard Branson recently stated “every business we have was set up to disrupt a market with products or services that make a real difference to people’s lives.”

With a market capitalisation of $41 million AUD, Mustang Resources in one of just two listed ruby mining companies in the world. Their main rival and African mining neighbour, Gemfields PLC, has a market cap of $433 million US, and some are pointing to the potential future growth of Mustang Resources to this scale in the foreseeable future.

The world renowned Pink Star diamond has now officially become the world’s most valuable gemstone of all time, fetching an eye-watering $71.2 million (£57.3 million / $553 million HKD) at auction. The event was held by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, who had estimated its pre-auction value at $60 million (£48.3 million).

The London Diamond & Emearld Exchange (LDE) is a hybrid online marketplace for precious stones and bespoke jewellery with a personal touch. Investitin.com has interviewed the Director and Founder, Phil Spencer, on the services London DE offers and their crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs. For decades precious gems have been of great interest to the general […]

A unique set of Gübelin certified Colombian emerald jewellery from: https://www.londonde.com/ It is the long held opinion of most industry experts that the finest emeralds on earth are of Colombian origin. However, for many years it was almost impossible to ascertain with certainty the true origin of any given stone to a high degree of […]

All businesses have one thing in common, they all require investment to succeed. In the past, that often involved a formal meeting with a bank manager to discuss a business loan and overdraft facility. However, since the financial crash of the late 2000s, all that has now changed and peer-to-peer lending and investing has become the new springboard for start-up and grow-up enterprises.

Mogok consists of a collection of gemstone producing areas in Burma (Myanmar), sometimes referred to as the “Valley of Rubies,” a name immortalised by the book Mogok, the Valley of Rubies, authored by Joseph Kessel and Stella Rodway.

On 25th April 2017 history will be made at Guernsey’s auction house in New York as it hosts the sale of what is thought to be the world’s most valuable private collections of emeralds, the Marcial de Gomar collection.

Until fairly recently spinel was a largely unrecognised gem in relatively low demand. Lately the growth of coloured gems, including rubies, has lead to a renaissance in the appreciation for this richly coloured gem and its fascinating history.

In 2016 the global e-commerce market grew to a staggering $1.85 trillion US, driven largely by increasing internet use in emerging markets, most notably India and China.

Marketing, advertising and PR have long been the cornerstones of any successful brand but the inclusion of celebrity endorsement in particular has taken centre stage in recent years.

It may sound obvious that the most sought after characteristic of an engagement ring or piece of fine jewellery is its ‘sparkle’ but unearthing that illusive quality is not as straight forward as you might think.

Just 30 years ago Paraíba tourmalines were completely undiscovered, now they are one of the most coveted of all gemstones. They were unearthed in 1988 by Heitor Dimas Barbosa, a man who had spent years digging in the hills of the Brazilian sate of Paraíba, based upon information that a very rare and highly prized gem was to be found there.

Founded in 1837 In Brookly, Connecticut as a “stationery and fancy goods emporium” by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young, “Tiffany, Young & Ellis” were one of the earliest luxury brands to establish themselves in the then nascent United States of America.

Joel Arthur Rosenthal was born in the Bronx, New York City in 1943 as the only child of a postman and a school biology teacher. He is famous for his founding of the French fine jewellery house JAR in Paris in 1978.

Over the years there have been some extraordinary auctions of fine jewellery collections. The world’s largest auction houses, Christies’s, Sotherby’s and Bonham’s, date back to the eighteenth century and they originally came to prominence for their sales of rare books and art, before diversifying into jewels and rare gemstones.

An eternity ring is a powerful symbol of eternal love and companionship, traditionally given to mark a specific milestone in a marriage or long term relationship, such as a wedding anniversary or the birth of a child.

For many years Africa was home to the world’s largest diamonds, however advances in mining technology and infrastructure in other parts of the world have led to some colossal discoveries elsewhere. The most recent example of this is that of the Foxfire diamond

Brexit is one of the hot media topics of the moment in the UK and elsewhere around the world. In this article we are going to examine the possible implications of Brexit on the gem and jewellery industry.

While the experts agree that Colombian emeralds and the finest examples, their lighter-hued African counterparts are carving out a low to mid market niche. The principle emerald producing countries are Colombia, Brazil, Afghanistan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Brazil began to exploit its emerald deposits in the early 1970s. Although not quite of the same high standard as their erstwhile Colombian cousins, the Brazilian stones have none the less carved out a significant mid market niche.

Colombia is world renowned for the quality of its fine emeralds. What is not so well know is the fact there are subtle differences between the colours and characteristics of Colombian stones originating from different mining areas within the country.

The vast cost savings that can be achieved buying jewellery online are well known about but many people find the process a daunting one. If you follow some basic steps you can find truly breathtaking value for money without any risks or pitfalls.

With Christmas now a fading memory many of us are now looking ahead to the coming year and all that it may bring. In terms of treating those most dear to us, the next key event in the calendar is Valentine’s Day (Tuesday 14th February).

Ramat Gan is a city located in the Tel Aviv District of Israel, to the east of Tel Aviv city, and it is home to one of the world’s largest diamond exchanges. It is also where you can find the Moshe Aviv Tower, the tallest skyscraper in Israel and this thriving metropolis is a technology hub.

The Jewellery Quarter is a vibrant area in the south of the Hockley region of Birmingham which covers just over a square kilometre and contains a population of approximately 3,000 people. The Quarter contains Europe’s largest concentration of manufacturing jewellers, between them producing more than 40% of UK jewellery output.

Situated on the edge of the historic old City of London, Hatton Garden has been at the centre of the gem and jewellery trade in London since the middle ages. London traditionally had streets, or quarters, dedicated to types of business or trades and Hatton Garden is one such surviving example.

The archaeological record shows that people have been wearing items of jewellery for at least a hundred thousand years.

As 2017 dawns many in the media and broader society at large are reflecting upon a tumultuous 2016 and pondering what may lie in store for the year ahead. For the gemstone and jewellery industry the past year has been a very mixed bag, in which there have been winners and losers, although the overall […]

Following a period of rapid diamond jewellery growth between 2012 and 2014, 2015 and 2016 have seen some moderation in the market. The USA saw 3% growth in sales in 2015, at a time when the market across Europe at Asia remained relatively flat. Rough diamond prices actually fell by 24% in 2015, as suppliers […]

(A template for an ecommerce jewellery website – functionality is key) Ecommerce has been slow to make a significant entry into the gemstone and jewellery market. However many industry analysts believe it is approaching a tipping point, beyond which it will gain significant momentum over the coming years. Indeed Forbes predict a doubling of the […]

China is now the world’s second largest economy and the largest manufacturer on the plant. Within that market, the jewellery sector has grown apace but the variety, design and raw materials are highly varied and do not follow any discernible patterns observed in other consumer markets.

In the 21st century it is plain to see that computers have entered every aspect of our lives, and jewellery is no exception.

For most people an engagement ring is the most valuable and important jewellery purchase they will make in their life so getting it right is clearly important!

When most people think of Australian precious gems their attention is often drawn to the world renowned Argyle mine (which is responsible for over 90% of global pink diamond supply) but in fact this vast island continent is home to one of the most suitable geographical locations for sapphires.

Laurence Graff has earned the nickname the ‘King of Diamonds’ or the new Harry Winston as a self made billionaire and one of the most successful jewellers and gem dealers of our age.

One of the key developments in the jewellery and gemstone industry in recent years has been the drive towards ethically sourced products.

It has long been speculated that celestial bodies may contain vast quantities of precious metals and precious gems.

The Koh-i-Noor is one of the world’s most famous and controversial precious stones. Dating back to the Mughal princes of pre-colonial era India, it has found its way into the possession of Persian warriors.

Consumer appetite for jewellery is at an all time high and it is forecast to increase year on year by a compound of 5-6%, according to Forbes.

It is important to always buy any gem from a trustworthy dealer. Internet recommendations and reviews can be a good starting point, as can word of mouth.

Until recently Canada was not considered an important producer of diamonds and most attention was focused upon Africa, Asia and Australia.

When most people think of diamonds they immediately think of De Beers but it wasn’t always this way. Up until the mid nineteenth century few could afford diamond jewellery, apart from the super rich and royalty.

For many gem lovers the Kashmir is the King of blue sapphires. Kashmir is the only place on earth where sapphires are found in the deepest blue hues, without any other overtones.

The Burmese ruby is by far the rarest and most valuable of the corundum stones and although the colours range from pinkish red to dark red the finest examples are termed pigeon blood red.

The jewellery and gemstone industry in India contributes a quite remarkable 7% to the nation’s GDP and it is has been identified as one of the fastest growing areas of the economy.

Of the three precious coloured gems (rubies, sapphires & emeralds) emeralds are emerging as the most popular.

The beleaguered nation of Afghanistan is very well known for its enduring conflict and political and social unrest.

Right up to the 1930s coloured gemstones and diamonds each enjoyed roughly a 50% share of the global gem market.

In the modern age of mass consumerism and instant communication there is a natural tendency to look back at times gone by with an air of nostalgia

Elizabeth Taylor (27 February 1932 – 23 March 2011) was one of the most iconic figures of her generation. Over the course of her life she built an unparalleled collection of jewellery which was sold at auction for $137 million by Christies in New York after her death.

Coloured gems as investment vehicles have attracted a lot of interest over the past 10 years, some have made healthy returns while others have had their fingers burnt so it is important to get the facts straight.

The name Harry Winston is now synonymous with the high end jewellery manufacturer but this disguises the fact that the man behind it was born with almost nothing.

Colombia has enjoyed a reputation as the premier emerald producing region of the world for the past 500 years and stones from this South American national have attracted some of the highest prices ever recorded for coloured gems.

Given the complexity (not to mention the cost) of modern wedding planning it comes as no surprise that many couples often leave the buying of wedding rings to the last minute.

Natural diamonds were formed under immense tectonic pressure over 3 billion years ago, when the earth was only a third of the age it is today.

Sapphires have endured as one the key precious stones of choice for royalty and the well to do for many centuries but in more recent times they are becoming increasingly popular as the centre stone for engagement rings and bridal jewellery.

At a staggering 22,892 carats (4.58 KG), this stone holds the record as the largest polished yellow topaz gem in the world and one of the largest faceted gems of any kind.

Rubies, along with diamonds, emeralds and sapphires, are a precious gem in high demand. They are hard gemstones (although not as hard as diamonds), a quality that makes them fairly scratch resistant and practical to wear routinely, rather than just on special occasions.

One of the most widely reported developments in the precious stone market relates to the appearance of synthetic diamonds and the effect they may have on levels of supply and demand going forward.

After your house (and possibly your car) jewellery forms one of the highest value categories of asset that most people own.

The value of a diamond is largely determined by its rarity. When it comes to white (or colourless) diamonds, that rarity is found in the absence of colour, however this is turned on its head with fancy colour diamonds because the rarest are those saturated in the deepest colours.

Whether you are interested in rubies, sapphires, coloured diamonds or emeralds, consider the 12 points below to ensure you enter the market place fully equipped:

Many a man has come unstuck in the process of buying fine jewellery for the special lady in his life, the aim of this article is to help you avoid the common mistakes and find her that special piece she’ll treasure for the rest of her life.

The economic growth of China over the past three decades has been phenomenal but the rate at which luxury brands, including designer jewellery, gems and watches, have expanded in the Far East is even more remarkable.

From Cleopatra to Angelina Jolie, through Maharajas and Catherine the Great, emerald engagement rings and jewellery have been a must have for celebrity ladies.

Buying the perfect engagement ring used to mean setting aside 2 months’ salary and spending a huge amount of time scouring jewellers’ windows looking for a suitable design.

In a few short decades, since its opening in 1983, the Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia has taken on an almost mythical status as the World’s premier source of pink and red diamonds.

The ancient craft of making jewellery can be traced back to the days of early man, archaeological evidence of which dates back more than 100,000 years.

The level of detail that goes into the creation of fine jewellery is truly breathtaking! High jewellery designers Van Cleef & Arpels have developed a formidable reputation as industry leaders, most notably with their collections of coloured gem pieces.

Gemfields have become the market leaders in coloured gemstone production and their outlook for the market can only be described as markedly ‘bullish!’ Ian Harebottle, Gemfields CEO.

The fine gems and jewellery industry has been slow to embrace the digital age and the current e-commerce share of this market stands at a mere 5%.

I have never written a blog, but I have just bought the perfect Engagement ring for my bride to be from London DE. In fact, I went through a selection of rings with my nearest and dearest and decided none were right for her or for us.

Emeralds are a green to bluish-green variety of the mineral beryl. Traces of the elements chromium and vanadium give these precious stones their distinctive colour and hue.

Chromium, the very element that gives emeralds their beautiful colour, also causes a brittleness that results in internal fissures that affect the clarity and this is further intensified by the fact that the emerald cut (the most common emerald shape) exacerbates the effects of this phenomenon.

The coloured gem market has always fired the imagination of collectors but recent trends seem to suggest a marked increase in the trajectory of emeralds, rubies and sapphires as well as diamonds.

Most people with an interest in gemstones have become very familiar with the much vaunted ‘four-Cs’ (cut, colour, clarity and carat) but the importance of the validity of a stone’s certificate in terms of assessing its value and provenance has often been overlooked.

In the view of the International Coloured Gemstone Association, it is clear that “Colombia will continue to be at the top of the list in terms of the countries in which fine emeralds are found.

Diamonds and emeralds have adorned the jewellery of the wealthy and powerful ever since the time of Antony and Cleopatra and modern fashion trends seem to show that there is no let up in this fact.