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In 2015, a field team from GIA visited the Indian city of Jaipur to capture the full scope of its gem and jewelry industry: colored stone cutting, wholesale trading, jewelry design, manufacturing, and retail. The authors documented the current state of the industry from a manufacturing as well as a business perspective. The results substantiated many of the team's prior assessments but also brought to light recent developments with far-reaching effects. The impact of vertical integration, consolidation, globalization, and jewelry television retail far exceeded expectations. Once known as a colored stone manufacturing center, Jaipur has rapidly climbed the value chain into jewelry manufacturing and retail by successfully incorporating experience and tradition with technology and innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on the opal industry of Australia. Topics discussed include opal formation on the Great Artesian Basin, the black opal and opalized fossils found in Lightning Ridge area in New South Wales, and the boulder opal found in Queensland fields. Also noted are the challenges facing the Australian opal industry such as drought.

The article offers information on a museum exhibition titled "Nature Art Science" in which artist Paula Crevoshay displayed her gems and precious stones.

The article presents views of Ian Harebottle, chief executive officer (CEO) at colored gemstones producer Gemfields, on the success of his firm. It mentions Gemfields clients appreciate the standards set by the company on emerald and ruby mining and distribution. It also mentions the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia has paid federal taxes.

In the wake of its phenomenal economic growth since 1978, China has captured the attention of the global gem and jewelry industry. Already a global hub for jewelry manufacturing, it is now a rapidly growing consumer market. While rising costs of labor in China have created challenges for the manufacturing sector, this has led to greater domestic consumption of luxury products, including jewelry. The highest growth potential lies in the inland urban centers, as Chinese citizens continue a massive migration from rural areas to the cities. Chinese consumers are becoming more knowledgeable about gemstones and jewelry and more astute in their purchases. They have a keen sense of both value and brand trust, and they have become more open to contemporary and Western designs and materials. At the same time, technological advances in manufacturing are leading to higher quality standards and lower labor costs, allowing China to meet the increasing demands of the global and domestic markets. Although the recent global economic crisis has affected domestic sales, the Chinese gem and jewelry industry shows great potential for growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on supply chain transparency and beneficiation in the gems and precious stone industry.

The article offers information on gem trader Miriam Kamau, who runs Mimo Gems Traders Ltd. in Nairobi, Kenya.

The article offers infromation on the jewelry designs of designer Erica Courtney who displayed her creations at the gem fair of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) in Tucson, Arizona in 2018.

The article offers information on the 40th anniversary of the emerald mine in Belmont, Brazil.

The article offers information on the new generation of the emerald industry of Colombia.

The article presents views of Zoe Michelou, marketing manager of a mining company on the production of gemstones like tourmaline and sapphire from Nigeria. It mentions miners are paid a salary and provided with food and tools, as well as a bonus based on the value of the production. It also mentions rubellite is kept in a safe and then transported to the city of Ibadan for grading.

The article focuses on showcase of jewelry designs made by jewelry designer Paula Crevoshay at the 2017 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show like "Queen Thai" bracelet contains five large freeform fire opals and the "Swallowtail" butterfly piece.

The article focuses on showcase of gem paintings made by Than Thong Arts at the 2017 GJX show. It mentions its owner Wanlaya Suwannapirom is having a lot of experience in the jewelry industry. It also mentions gem paintings are made using natural uncut gem fragments sourced from all over the world and the process of gem painting include sketching the painting on paper, a reverse transfer to glass, gluing the gem fragments and the dyed quartz or calcite powder.

The article presents views of Arthur Groom of Eternity Emerald, on dealing of Emerald in Afghanistan. It mentions spreading out the stones helps the buyer see the appearance of individual stones. It also mentions use of old Soviet ammunition from to blast the emerald-bearing rocks due to the shortage of mining dynamite in Afghanistan and larger stones are broken during the blasting in emerald mining.

The article presents views of Alaeddine Rafei, director of grading and sales for Geostone Group, on the mining and marketing of the Moroccan amethyst. It mentions the topmost grade of amethyst consists of double-terminated single crystals. It also mentions Geostone's founders brought their Moroccan amethysts to Tucson to test the market in 2013 and got connected with gem carver Glenn Lehrer.

The article focuses on the production of the emerald in the Belmont mine in Brazil; and presents views of Marcelo Ribeiro, general manager at Belmont mine, on emerald crystallization.

The article reviews the exhibition "East Coast Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show" in Springfield, Massachusetts in August 2014, which features the two giant pieces of graphite of Jason Baskin.

The article presents views of Sheahan Stephen of Sheahan Stephen Sapphires, Inc., on ethical and sustainable vertical integration in the sapphire market; and mentions consumers want more information about their jewelry.

The article focuses on sapphires and a suite of fancy sapphires extracted from the Potentate Mining's Rock Creek operation in Montana in 2016; and most of Rock Creek sapphire is small.

The article discusses the Mustang Resources LLC is developing a ruby mining operation in northern Mozambique; and mentions Mustang's concession is similar to that of Gemfields concession.

The article offers information on the Jang 1024, a robotic system for cutting colored stones, from technical consultancy group KLM Technology.

South America is considered by many in the gemstone industry to be the most important continent for emerald production. Colombia is the number one exporter of emeralds to the United States, and Brazil is also a highly important commercial source of emeralds. This information was obtained during two trips to the mining areas organized by the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) and subsequent correspondence with ICA members. The techniques used to explore and develop new mines, such as the Piteiras mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil, are typically more common for diamond mines than for colored stone mines. Emerald cutter and wholesaler Stone World of São Paulo, Brazil, formed a joint venture with Seahawk Minerals to vertically integrate the operation from mine to cutter to wholesale office. The Belmont mine, also in Minas Gerais, began in a more traditional process for colored stone mines. Emeralds were found on this property, which still operates as a cattle ranch. The Belmont mine began as a highly successful open-pit operation, which continues today. The most advanced resources in geological modeling and mine planning have led to the opening of an underground mine to complement the open-pit operation. Belmont has an extensive sorting operation for their rough to meet the needs of their customers. The La Pita area in Colombia has become the major commercial emerald-producing area in the country, with most production coming from the Consorcio mine. A number of other productive underground mines also exist in this area by the Río Minero, including the La Pita Tunnel, Cunas, El Totumo, and Polveros mines. The Puerto Arturo mine in Muzo is still in production and under control of the Carranza group, which also has a minor partnership in the Consorcio mine and an influential stake in the Cunas mine. Many of the mine stakeholders in Colombia, whether they have interests in the La Pita, Muzo, Coscuez, or Chivor areas, are also involved in cutting and wholesale sales of polished goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aticle offers updates concerning gems and gemology from around the world as of December 2015. These include the discovery of demantoid garnet with giant fluid inclusion, the discovery of gem-quality grandidierite from Madagascar, and the recognition of the andradite varieties melanite, topazolite and demantoid.