MARKET IN BRIEF:Feb. 10, 2005 … AGTA’s 2005 Tucson GemFair excited high-end colored-stone jewelry dealers. Demand was equally distributed and buying was concentrated at fine and extra-fine qualities.
Extra-fine-quality natural pink sapphires and other pinks (pink spinel, topaz, and morganite) fetched strong demand and prices. Blue sapphire, the U.S. market’s top-selling colored gemstone, continues strong. Untreated blue sapphire had better-than-expected availability.
The finest Chinese freshwater pearls produced to date offered retail jewelers beautiful natural colors, round shapes, and good value. The akoya harvest is much improved. The Tahitian pearl market, reenergized by vast quality improvements and smaller production, offers an array, including multicolors ranging from 8-15+ mm. Sales for 8-10-mm white South Seas are good, and 12-15 mms improving. Overall quality appears improved and production statistics are in line with last year.
Diamond: ¼-carat round
| VS1 | VS2 | SI1 | SI2 | |
| G | $1,200 | $1,150 | $975 | $850 |
| H | $1,100 | $1,000 | $925 | $800 |
| I | $1,000 | $950 | $850 | $750 |
| J | $950 | $900 | $800 | $725 |
Diamond: ½-carat round
| VS1 | VS2 | SI1 | SI2 | |
| G | $3,200 | $2,800 | $2,400 | $2,000 |
| H | $2,800 | $2,400 | $2,200 | $1,800 |
| I | $2,200 | $2,100 | $1,900 | $1,700 |
| J | $1,900 | $1,800 | $1,700 | $1,600 |
Diamond: ¾-carat round
| VS1 | VS2 | SI1 | SI2 | |
| G | $3,800 | $3,600 | $3,300 | $2,900 |
| H | $3,500 | $3,300 | $3,000 | $2,800 |
| I | $3,200 | $3,000 | $2,600 | $2,200 |
| J | $2,500 | $2,300 | $2,100 | $2,000 |
Diamond: 1-carat round
| VS1 | VS2 | SI1 | SI2 | |
| G | $5,800 | $5,500 | $4,800 | $4,200 |
| H | $4,900 | $4,800 | $4,400 | $4,000 |
| I | $4,000 | $3,800 | $3,600 | $3,400 |
| J | $3,600 | $3,400 | $3,000 | $2,900 |
Pink topaz
| Good | Fine | |
| 1 to under 3 cts. | $100-$300 | $300-$600 |
| 3 to under 5 cts. | $100-$325 | $325-$650 |
Red Spinel
| Good | Fine | |
| 2 to under 3 cts. | $150-$400 | $400-$850 |
| 3 to under 5 cts. | $250-$500 | $500-$1,100 |
Blue Sapphire
| Good | Fine | |
| 1 to under 2 cts. | $125-$420 | $420-$1,250 |
| 2 to under 3 cts. | $275-$630 | $630-$1,750 |
Akoya Pearls (by the strand)
| Fine | Extra-Fine | |
| 18-in. strands, 6 to 6.5 mm | $650-$850 | $1,000-$1,200 |
Nigerian Spessartite garnet
| Good | Fine | |
| 1 to under 2 cts. | $75-$90 | $90-$120 |
| 2 to under 3 cts. | $90-$125 | $120-$160 |
Blue Zircon
| Good | Fine | |
| 1 to under 3 cts. | $15-$40 | $40-$60 |
| 3 to under 5 cts. | $20-$50 | $50-$100 |
Red Tourmaline (Rubellite)
| Good | Fine | |
| 1 to under 3 cts. | $70-$120 | $80-$120 |
| 3 to under 5 cts. | $100-$160 | $120-$150 |
Tanzanite
| Good | Fine | |
| 1 to under 2 cts. | $175-$325 | $325-$425 |
| 2 to under 5 cts. | $250-$400 | $400-$500 |
Round Tahitian Black Pearls
| Good | Fine | |
| 8.0 to 8.5 mm | $30-$60 | $60-$120 |
| 10.0 to 10.5 mm | $35-$90 | $90-$150 |