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The February birthstone: Amethsyt

Etymology : the word originates from the latin "amethystos", with a possible Greek origin, the negative prefix « a » associated methustes « drunk », because water poured into a violet coloured glass appears to be wine, which when consumed obviously does not cause drunkeness. Because of this, amethyst was considered as a talisman that protected against drunkeness.

You have on Gemfrance Amethyst from Uruguay and Amethyst from Brasil And for Valentine’s day, a lot of Amethyst in heart shape... ->

January 20th, 2012: The world’s largest emerald

This emerald is being described as "The world’s largest cut emeral".

It will be auctionned in Canada by Kelowna on January 25th.

This emerald weights 57.000cts. It has been appraised at $1.5 million.The gem was bought in Brazil and was cut in India. Regan Reaney, the Calgary wholesaler, said that this semerald is "slightly treated".

A gemologist, Jeff Nechka, owner of Premier Gems, who examined the “forest green” stone dubbed it natural but “slightly treated."

You can find comments on the forum "gemology on line".
  Just follow the link->

My comment will be only "can we call it a gem?"

2012-01-04: new calibrated emeralds

Coming from Brasil, a new lot of calibrated emeralds, diamond cut. They have some inclusions but they are very sparkle.

Click here to see these emeralds->

Merci!

2011 has been for Gemfrance another year of incresing. Thanks!.

Each time you visit our website helps to improve our SEO. You are the architects of our success.
We look forward to serving you in 2012.

2011, December 19th: more sapphires from France.

We suggest the new French sapphires. They are all collected in a river of Auvergne, in France with pans.

All these sapphires have been faceted in France, a perfect cutting.
These sapphires are not subjected to any enhancement and no heating process. 100% French 100%, 100% natural.

The sapphire from France is very rare. We cannot talk about a production in quantity. It will remain a rare gem. Sapphires over one carat are very rare.

The history of one of these deposits has been traced by Forestier (1993). "This is an alluvial deposit type on river Riou Pezzouliou. The volcano Croustet is the source of these sapphires. The gems from this locality are known at least since the XIII century, and had provided all over medieval Europe, mainly in the Middle Ages as sapphires, garnets and hyacinths...”

These sapphires have been the subject of an article in the magazine "Le Règne Minéral" (mai-juin 2010).

For more information see the scientific study from Eloise Gaillou (DEA Clermont Ferrand 2003): “Mineralogical Study of Sioulot sapphires from Mont Coupet and Meynore".
  Les saphirs du Massif Central "Etude minéralogique des saphirs du Sioulot, du Mont Coupet et du Meynore".

To see our sapphires, click here->

2011 December 15th: The Europe’s largest emerald mine reopens in Urals

Moscow, Dec 3 (IANS/RIA Novosti)
Production has resumed at Europe’s largest emerald deposit in Russia’s Sverdlovsk region in the Ural mountains following an idle period of several years. The Ural Mountains, or the Urals are a mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic ocean to the Ural river and northwestern Kazakhstan.

Beryl, the source of emeralds and the principal ore of beryllium, as well as ores of rare earth metals, were produced at the deposit for defence and nuclear industry needs. But in the 1990s the mine faced financial difficulties due to the cancellation of state orders and neglect by the new owners.

Beryl is a strategic raw material for aircraft and rocket manufacturing, guidance and positioning systems, production of special alloys and other high-tech industries.

Ultimately the licence to the deposit was issued to the Kaliningrad amber plant that maintained it in a safe, working condition for the past three years.

The mine will provide 560 jobs once production reaches design capacity.

«For a small mining town, this is a substantial figure. Many social and economic problems in the district will be resolved, and the quality of life will rise. People will feel confident about the future», acting Governor Anatoly Gredin said.

©Ria Novosti, 2012 Dec 3th.

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Several experts are saying that we cannot expecting a large production of emeralds in the next future. Closed since 16 years, 90% of the infrastructre is obsolete.

Even if the reopening of the emerald mine will be a success, it will take time to have a consistent production.

We have only a few specimens of these emeralds for selling on our website. Click on the link->

Warning: The emeralds are the precious stones the most difficult to photograph for us. We assure that these emeralds are even more pretty in the reality...

2011-12-10th: A unique Diaspore

The usual deposit is in Turkey but it is the first Diaspore we have ever seen from Burma - Mogok.

It is a very attractive well cut cushion gesmstone.

A rare gemstone! 

This diaspore is coming with a certificate from a la laboratory.

More details->

2011-12-10th: A huge spinel

This exceptional stone is coming from an old collection and was recut shaped "emerald cut" by a great American lapidary.

This stone weighs 4.00ct. It is a deep red that looks like a ruby.

To see more->

The December birthstone: the Turquoise トルコ石 Wee all know this color "blue Turquoise" in association with this stone.

The color is coming from cupper.

The Turquoise could have also a green tone and have some black inclusions.

But the finest quality is a blue color without any inclusion.

The name "Turquoise" is coming from Turkey. But there is no turquoise mine in Turkey. The stones were coming from Iran (Persia) through turkey to join the Europe, since more than 1000 years.

Some turquoises are dyed with resins to obtain enough hardness. They are cheaper but they are closer to synthetic stones than natural stones...

All how turquoises are natural stones, coming from Arizona Sleeping Beauty Mine - USA. Paraffin is used during the polishing.

Visit our gallery to see the quality: "ONLY THE FINEST".

2011 november 16th: : Sun-Drop Sells for a Record-Breaking $12.3 Million

The 110.03-carat Sun-Drop Diamond fetched $12.3 million Tuesday at Sotheby’s Sale of Magnificent Jewels in Geneva.The auction house said the price paid for what is considered to be the largest known pear-shaped fancy vivid yellow diamond in the world set a world auction record for yellow diamonds.

The 110.03-carat Sun-Drop Diamond fetched $12.3 million Tuesday at Sotheby’s Sale of Magnificent Jewels in Geneva.The auction house said the price paid for what is considered to be the largest known pear-shaped fancy vivid yellow diamond in the world set a world auction record for yellow diamonds.

The previous record for a yellow diamond was achieved by “The Vivid Yellow,” a 32.77-carat pear‐shaped fancy vivid yellow diamond, VS2, which sold for nearly $6.6 million at Christie’s New York in October. The previous world auction record price per carat for an emerald was achieved by a 10-carat emerald ring, sold for $113,000 per carat, at Christie’s Hong Kong in May 2000.

The Sun-Drop is graded fancy vivid yellow, the highest color grading for a yellow diamond, and has a purity of VVS1. The stone was exhibited earlier this year at London’s Natural History Museum. The rough for the Sun‐Drop was discovered in South Africa in 2010, and was cut and polished by Cora International, a New York diamond manufacturer.

The sale of diamonds, gemstones and jewelry took in nearly $70.2 million with a sell‐through rate of 82 percent by lot. It was one of Sotheby’s highest totals ever for a jewelry auction.

“We are thrilled with the price achieved by this spectacular daffodil yellow diamond; it is one of the most impressive I have had the pleasure of selling,” said David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby’s Jewellery Department in Europe and the Middle East and co‐chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland. “Today’s strong sell‐through rates are a reflection of the continued strength and resilience of the international jewelry market.”

Other colored diamonds and gemstones that achieved strong results included:

* A 38.88-carat, cushion‐shaped diamond that fetched nearly $7 million. The D color, flawless clarity stone is part of the Type IIa subgroup, which comprise less than 2 percent of all gem diamonds. They are chemically the purest of all diamond crystals and often have extraordinary optical transparency.

* A 4.16-crata fancy vivid blue cut‐cornered rectangular modified brilliant‐cut diamond sold for $4.2 million.

* A 12.01-carat Muzo emerald which sold for $1.4 million, smashing its pre‐sale estimate of $400,000 to 600,000 and setting a per carat record price for emeralds at auction.

Top selling period and signed jewels included:

* A Cartier natural pearl and diamond necklace designed in the 1930s, which sold for $3.3 million, smashing its pre-auction estimate of $765,000 to $1.2 million.

* A 1987 JAR rock crystal and diamond brooch, which sold for $370,874.

* A 1984 JAR morganite and diamond pendent, which sold for $370,874, beating auction estimates.

From jewelry news network->

In search of the lost andesine mines: by Richard W. Hughes.

We recommend that you read this article about the Tibetan andesine.

Click here->

Thanks Richard!

We do not have the Tibetan andesine, but only the Congo Andesine, since 2002.

To see our red-orange andesine, click here->

To see our red andesine, click here->

2011-10-30th: The most expensive perfume in the world.

Martin Katz Creates Million Dollar Fragrance Bottle For DKNY To Be Sold For Charity

Be Delicious Fragrance fans, prepared to be dazzled! DKNY Fragranced has partnered with celebrity jeweller Martin Katz to create the world’s first million-dollar fragrance bottle.

Bringing to life the rich and sparkling aromas of the new DKNY Golden Delicious Eau de Parfum, the apple-shaped flacon is adorned with rare jewels and will be capped off with a unique, round-the-world expedition making its final stop on DKNY’s Facebook page where it will be available for purchase, net proceed will benefit Action Against Hunger - a global humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger.

The DKNY Golden Delicious Million Dollar Fragrance Bottle is carved from polished 14-karat yellow and white gold and features 2,700 Round Brilliant White Diamonds weighing 15.17 carats, 183 Golden Yellow Sapphires weighing 2.28 carats in a micro pave setting in 14kt. white gold making up the Manhattan skyline that is so iconic to the DKNY brand. A 2.43 carat Flawless Vivid Yellow Canary Diamond adorns the “cap” of the bottle alongside a DKNY Golden Delicious diamond oval logo.

The Apple sits upon a majestic base comprised of two layers of water white glass between which the 14 karat gold continents of the Earth are set with precious gemstones indigenous to each country. Adorned with 2,909 precious stones sourced from all over the world including: a 1.65 carat Turquoise Paraiba Tourmaline from Brazil, a 7.18 carat Oval Cabochon Sapphire from Sri Lanka, 15 Round Brilliant Vivid Pink Diamonds from Australia weighing 1.28 carats, 4 Round Rose Cut Diamonds weighing 0.32 carats, a 3.07 carat Oval Cut Ruby and a 4.03 carat Pear Shape Rose Cut Diamond. Martin Katz-whose glittery designs regularly grace the red carpet-hand placed each stone in a pattern to mimic the New York City skyline. The process took nearly 1,500 hours to complete, making this “apple” the most regal in the DKNY Delicious Collection.

The DKNY Million Dollar Bottle will be unveiled across the globe from London, to Mexico to Malaysia. Fragrance lovers will have a chance to marvel at the stunning, one-of-a-kind bottle, as it is unveiled. Fans may follow the bottle as it travels the globe on the DKNY Fragrances Facebook Core Club Application. Once the tour is complete, the Million Dollar bottle won’t be stored under lock and key in the DKNY safe-instead it will be sold to enthusiasts with net proceeds to be donated to the global charity, Action Against Hunger. DKNY is honoured to raise awareness for the global fight against hunger. With over 30 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster, and chronic food shortage, Action Against Hunger works to supply communities with access to safe drinking water and sustainable solutions to hunger. The humanitarian organization carries out life-saving programs in more than 40 countries worldwide and assists some five million people each year.

This artile is coming from Haute living.

2011 October 14th: The rarest gem in the world is on gemfrance.com The Hibonite.

Ethymologie : This rather rare mineral was named after Paul Hibon, the French prospector who discovered it.
This mineral was known since 1955 in Madagascar as opaque blacks crystals or grains. Hibonite occurs also in meteorites.
two transparent orangy brown crystals weighing 0.23 and 0.71 g g (7.02 x 7.32 x 5.44mm) were submitted to the AIGS Gemological Laboratory in Bangkok for identification. The crystals were said to originate from Burma.
The 0.23g crystal was faceted (0.39ct) and the 0.71g was kept like this.
These 2 crystals are the only 2 Hibonite known in gem quality.
Gemfrance.com is the owner of the 0.71g crystal.

This new gem have been analysed and the results have been published in Gems and Gemology: Thomas Hainschwang, Franck Notari, Laurent Massi, Thomas Armbruster, Benjamin Rondeau, Emmanuel Fritsch, et Mariko Nagashima - GEMS & GEMOLOGY, Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 135-138. © 2010 Gemological Institute of America .

Proprieties:
Chemical formula: (Ca,Ce)(Al,Ti,Mg)12O19
Hexagonal
Uniaxial negative
IR : 1.79 - 1.81
Mohs hardness : 7.5-8
SG : 3.84
No fluorescence.

You can obtain the full article in PDF here->

More information and the price, click here->

Minimum purchase 20€ for retail, 80€ for wholesale.

The minimum purchase is 20€ + VAT for retail and 80€ + VAT for wholesale.

Reminder: The professional Web access is restricted to jewelers, jewelers, designers ... all members of a profession using gemstones.

For the access to the wholesale prices, click here->

2011, september 5th: An essential new book: "Terra Spinel" For spinel lovers or just lovers of fine books

"Terra spinel, a celebration fo the spinel gems", 2010 december.
by Vladyslav Y. Yavorsky and Richard W. Hughes.

You will discover beautiful pictures of both spinels and producing countries. You will understand how spinels lovers can become "addicted to spinels" ...

You can view on the website spinelbook.com, all the pages of this book.

You have two options to order this book.
  On spinelbook.com. The price is $95 + $65 for shipping (about 123€ without taxes) sent from Thailand.
  On Gemfrance.com. The price is 79€ without taxes - or 83,35€ with taxes in Europe) + shipping charge (11.78€ including taxes for France).

200 pages - 240 x 260mm - 1,190kg
ISBN 978-0-645-408001-6

Click here to order on Gemfrance.com for 79€ (without taxes)

2011-05- 22th: yellow sapphire - A museum piece

Just arrived, a huge unheated yellow sapphire, from Sri Lanka.

2011 February 23; 2 huge pearls necklaces

These two necklaces are with selected pearls.

We select the finest...->

2010-11-18th Are you blue, white, red, or pink, or orange? or purple?

Whe have add on Gemfrance more than 100 new fine spinels, from Burma, Viet Nam, Tanzania.

  Blue Spinel
  White Spinel
  Red Spinel
  Pink Spinel
  Orange Spinel
  Purple Spinel
  Star Spinel

2010-11-17th A 24.78carats pink diamond at the Sotheby’s auction. The Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels auction on Novembre 16th have included a 24.78-carat “fancy intense pink VVS2” (GIA) emerald cut diamond.
This fancy pink diamond is a Type IIa diamond, a classification that less than 2 percent of diamonds have. It was carried a pre-sale estimate of $27-38 million. That stone was sold $46,158,674. It is a new record.
This diamond comes from a private collection. It has not appeared on the market since 60 years ago. It was purchased by the jeweller Mr Harry Winston
David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby’s international jewellery department in Europe and the Middle East, said: "During my 35-year career at Sotheby’s I have had the opportunity to examine many magnificent and rare gemstones and, put simply, this stone is one of the most desirable diamonds I have ever seen.What makes it so immensely rare is the combination of its exceptional colour and purity with the classic emerald-cut; a style of cutting normally associated with white diamonds and one that is so highly sought-after when found in rare colours such as pink and blue. The stone’s character is further enhanced by the gently rounded corners which impart a unique softness and charm to this truly outstanding gemstone.”
The new owner is the jeweller Graff, from London.

2010-10-26th: A record for a 10.95ct blue diamond This 10.95ct blue diamond was sold at Christie’s auction in New York on Oct. 20th;
It is the largest triangular shaped fancy vivid blue diamond ever to come to auction. It is paired with a 9.87ct white diamond in the same shape.
This blue diamond was sold $15.7 million; It is a new record per carat for a blue diamond.
The ring wa purchased for $1 million from Italian luxury jeweler Bulgari in Rome in 1972.

2010 July 3: We prefer the diamond cut

As for Amethyst, Citrine, London Blue Topaz, we have a lot of stones in diamond cut in different sizes.

Click on the pictures...

The largest Vivid Green Diamond at the Sotheby’s auction: 2.52 ct.

An extremely rare natural Fancy Vivid Green diamond sold for USD 3.08 million (CHF 3.1 million/EUR 2.07 million) last November at the Hotel Beau Rivage in Geneva, Switzerland during Sotheby’s “Magnificent Jewels” auction.

Compared to some of the other fancy coloured diamonds up for auction - including a 5.96 ct Vivid Blue named the "Star of Josephine," a 6.63 ct Vivid Pink, and a 74.80 ct Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond - this exquisite green collector’s diamond weighed a mere 2.52 ct. Nonetheless, it is the largest natural Fancy Vivid Green diamond ever sold at auction.

Read more (Kulsen & Hennig GBR)->

To learn more about fancy color diamonds, visit Kulsen & Hennig’s website

This book about diamond is the best one in French.

You can buy it on Gemfrance, 69.50€.

Dureté 10, le diamant est le livre de référence sur le diamant.

Ecrit par Eddy Vleeschdrager, ce livre est le plus complet sur le sujet. C’est une référence pour les bijoutiers comme pour les gemmologues, les passionnés des pierres précieuses ou les simples curieux.

Cette 4eme édition de 1068 pages (octobre 2009) est enrichie des dernières informations en gemmologie et géologie.

Vous y découvrirez tout sur le diamant, son extraction, les pays producteurs, les modes d’exploitation, les filières de vente, la taille. Y est aussi abordée l’histoire des contrefaçons et des synthèses de cette pierre précieuse.

Ce livre est actuellement en vente sur Gemfrance.

Commandez dès maintenant!

Our gemstones and the designers

We have selected here some designers using the gemstones form Gemfrance.

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A ring with a huge 1.23ct blue spinel from Viet Nam - Luc Yen.

This fantastic ring in the "renaissance" style is made by the famous Italian jeweller Bucellati,.

Visit his website

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A nice ring in a personal style by a French designer in Paris Thierry Grave.
A 4.08ct white sapphire, with blue sapphires in princess cut.

His website->

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  Jewelry designed by Christiguey

a belgium artist
Visit her website->

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Jewelers using our andesines from Congo

  Hank B. Siegel de Hamilton Co., Jewelers
Lawrenceville, Princeton, Red Bank, NJ USA
Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, FL USA
hanksiegel@hamiltonjewelers.com

  Jeffrey Appling, a Californian designer.
  his website->

  A rind with Andesine and Blue Diamond by Patrick Lionnet (Paris).

  Two rings by the jeweler Remy (Besançon - France)
  Son site->

  Jewelry by Christiguey
Jeweler - Artist from belgium.
See her website->

  Jewelry by Laurent Sikirdji

The DVD by Patrick Voillot: The Amétrine from Bolivia

During 52 minutes you’ll travel from the rain forest to the Anahi mine threw Santa Cruz, the La Paz mountains, the Oruno carnaval.

You’ll see this huge gemstone at the limit of Amethyst and Citrine, from the rough to Paris - Place Vendôme with the famous designer Lorentz Baumer.

This CD is in French, 17€.

-Click for order->

The Congo Andesine by jewelers.

  Hank B. Siegel de Hamilton Co., Jewelers
Lawrenceville, Princeton, Red Bank, NJ USA
Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, FL USA
hanksiegel@hamiltonjewelers.com

  Jeffrey Appling, designer from USA - California:

This expressive ring is titled "Ring That Rock".
The trillion red stone used for that ring is one of our Congo Andesine.

  His website->

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  Patrick Lionnet from Paris, andesine and blue diamonds.

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  Remy, a French Jeweller (Besançon)
  His website->

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  Laurent Sikirdji

2009-10-13th: Our trip in Viet Nam and Thailand:

Only in French:

Départ pour le Viet Nam et la Thaïlande.

Au programme du Viet Nam: prise de contact avec le pays (une première), Hanoi, mines de Luc Yen, rencontres avec des universitaires, des mineurs, des négociants en gemmes, en 5 jours.

Au programme de Bangkok: 3 jours pour faire la tournée de nos fournisseurs et trouver des nouveautés pour vous ravir.
Bangkok est ma destination la plus fréquente: 2 voyages par an depuis 20 ans.

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14-10-2009

Long voyage pendant lequel il faut oublier l’heure en France. C’est la meileure façon pour gérer le décallage horaire.
A l’escale de Bangkok je suis rejoint par deux amis francais qui se joignent à cette excursion vietnamienne.
Nous sommes attendus à l’arrivée par le Directeur du laboratoire de gemmologie de Hanoi.
Prise le contact avec le pays: la pluie, une grosse circulation bruyante et anarchique, la foule, les petites boutiques, les portraits d’Ho Chi Minh, des sourires...
La gemmologie commencera demain...

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15-10-2009
Aujourd’hui, toujours la pluie, à la traîne du dernier typhon.
Rencontre avec le directeur de la société DOJI qui à invité le Dr. Laurent MASSI, Directeur du laboratoire AIGS de Bangkok, pour une conférence sur les derniers traitements concernant les corindons et plus particulièrement les rubis.
Pour résumer cette conférence; le récent traitement au plomb des rubis a été "amelioré". Il devient ainsi plus difficilement identifiable par un joaillier ou par un gemmologue, sans équipement de laboratoire. Seuls quelques laboratoires ont le matériel nécessaire pour pouvoir identifier ces traitements.
Un contre-rendu de cette présentation sera prochainement faite sur Gemfrance... patience!

J’ai eu l’occasion de voir quelques belles pierres. Mais comme souvent le meilleur et le pire se côtoient. Comme cette pierre rouge présentée sous blister comme une pierre naturelle, avec certificat, avec la mention "Rubis". La mention "rubis naturel" est correcte. Mais le traitement par remplissage de fractures avec un verre au plomb, n’est pas mentionné...

Cette journée fut aussi l’occasion de voir quelques pièces remarquables de la société DOJI, dont un saphir brut de 15 tonnes, en plein air à l’extérieur du bâtiment et un rubis étoilé brut de près de 19 kg.

Nous pouvons voir aussi quelques pièces minéralogiques comme ce marbre avec des cristaux de spinelles rouges de Luc Yen.

Une découverte satsfaisant tout gemmologue: des champignons étoilés à 6 branches!

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16-10-2009

Visite des laboratoires de l’Université.
L’Univesité de Hanoi dispose de deux laboratoires: le "Laboratory of applied spectoscopy and gemology" et "Institute of material sciences".
Ces unités de recheche sont dans des locaux certes désuets et au confort sommaire mais pourvus d’un materiel important, dont spectroscopie optique, spectroscopie d’absorption a haute resolution, Raman, microscopie électronique à balayage, etc...

Visite d’un atelier de taille et de bijouterie de la société Doji.

Dans cet atelier on peut voir toutes les étapes de la création du bijou, de la taille des pierres au serti sur les pièces de bijouterie.

La plaque à l’entrée de la société est constituée d’un fond de 50 kg de rubis bruts.

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17-10-2009

Départ pour le Nord, objectif la zone minière de Luc Yen.

Il faut tout d’abord quitter Hanoi et ses milliers de cyclomoteurs. Les kilomètres défilent mais la ville semble s’éterniser. 170 km en 4 heures avant d’atteindre "le kilomètre 0".
Puis nous prenons la direction de Luc Yen. Encore 80 km mais les paysages comblent nos attentes. Les rizières, les collines aux plantations de thé, les buffles... une vrai carte postale.
Nous visitons une première zone qui est en cours de développement. Tout ce secteur semble riche en spinelles et rubis, mais de très petites dimensions.

Les gemmes de cette région sont d’origine métamorphique. On observe de beaux gneiss au bord des ruisseaux.

De beaux rubis étoilés ont été exploités. Ils sont opaques mais avec de belles teintes rouges avec une pointe de rose ou de mauve et une étoile à 6 branches très fines.
Les spinelles y sont rouges, orangés, bleus. Mais nous n’avons pas vu de pierres importantes. Les spinelles bleus sont très clairs. Nous n’avons vu que des petites pierres;

Cette excursion montre à quelle point les pierres d’une certaine importance sont rares, particulièrement en spinelles bleus. L’essentiel des spinelles et rubis de cette région seront taillées en petites pierres calibrées pour du pavage.
Par contre les bruts de rubis étoilés permettent de tailler des cabochons de grosses dimensions. Vous pourrez les découvrir bientôt sur Gemfrance.

Nous croisons des paysans qui nous adressent toujours un signe et nous offrent de grands sourires.

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18-10-2009

Luc Yen a son marché aux pierres tous les matins.
Pendant seulement 2 heures des pierres brutes, gemmes et cristaux, ainsi que quelques pierres taillées sont présentés sur de petites tables en bois.
Aucune pierre d’importance n’est disponible, en dehors des rubis étoilés
Chaque achat nécessite une intense négociation.

La visite des autres boutiques de Luc Yen permet de compléter les achats, particulièrement en rubis étoilés.

Ici se développe une activité de créations de tableaux faits entièrement avec des pierres gemmes brutes ou avec des gemmes pilés.

Les gemmes sont triés suivant leur pureté. Les plus purs sont destinés à être taillés, les autres pourront être utilisés pour ces tableaux. Soit ils sont pilés, soit utilisés bruts.

Nous quittons la ville de Luc Yen pour une autre zone à une quinzaine de km. Mais cette fois l’accès est plus difficile du fait des récentes pluies. Quelques passages sont surmontés avec crainte par notre chauffeur qui est plus habitué aux embouteillages d’Hanoi qu’aux difficultés de cette piste.

La piste devenant trop difficile pour notre chauffeur, nous devons faire du stop pour être pris par des motos. Ci contre Perig Ruffault, compagnon de ce voyage.

Sur cette piste, dans un village, nous pouvons de nouveau sélectionner des gemmes; mais toujours que des petites pierres.

Dans cette région, l’activité minière est souvent "artisanale".

Nous rentrons à Hanoi après ce premier contact avec la région de Luc Yen , à "la poursuite des spinelles bleues". (250 km en 6h30...)

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19-10-2009
Dernière journée à Hanoi après ce court séjour. Le bilan est positif et prometteur pour l’avenir. Sans nos contacts cette excursion aurait été impossible en si peu de jours.

Le voyage continue vers Bangkok.

20-10-2009

Bangkok.

Trois jours consacrés à la tournée de nos fournisseurs.
Les belles pierres sont rares mais vous pourrez bientôt profiter de nos trouvailles.
  20 ans de voyages en Thailande permettent d’aller à l’essentiel très rapidement. Les prix des gemmes sont actuellement très fermes mais nous profitons d’un taux de change très favorable. Partout dans le monde les gemmes se négocient en dollar.

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21-10-2009

Dernière ligne droite.

Nous vous rapportons de ce voyage:

Du Viet Nam:
  des spinelles roses, rouge et un orange;
  un seul spinelle bleu, de forme poire, retaillé à la perfection à Bangkok. Cette pierre est vraiment rare dans cette teinte;
  des rubis étoilés;
  des cristaux de spinelles et rubis.

A Bangkok je vous ai sélectionné
  des Tourmalines;
  des péridots du Pakistan;
  des spinelles roses de Tanzanie;
  de la Sodalite du Pakistan;
  des grenats verts démantoides calibrés (ronds 4 et 4.5mm) de Namibie;
  de l’Hackmanite du Myanmar;
  de la Sillimanite jaune d’Inde;
  de la Thulite de Norvège;
  et diverses autres pierres de collection (Phenakite, Pollucite, Hambergite, etc...).

Et jour de chance, j’ai trouvé de très belles sapphirines de Kolonne au Sri Lanka.

Avis aux collectionneurs. je vous ai trouvé une pierre rare: une BERYLLONITE incolore de 2.95ct de forme coussin.
Exceptionnel!
Si vous êtes interessé(e), si vous voulez plus d’information, nous contacter. Une seule pierre... pour le premier à la demander...

La chasse aux gemmes a été excellente! Que du beau!

Demain départ de Bangkok avec ses nouveaux taxis "rose Barbie" juqu’au pommeau du levier de vitesse.

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22-10-2009

Fin de ce voyage. Je quitte la Thailande par l’aéroport de Bangkok qui est l’un des plus beau au Monde.

Dr Laurent SIKIRDJI

PS : pendant ce voyage le service des commandes est bien entendu asssuré. Vous serez livré très rapidement... comme d’habitude.

ICA Expresses Concern for Collateral Damage in Burma

New York 2008, 08-22 - The International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) issued a statement today regarding the Tom Lantos “Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008,” signed by President Bush on July 29, 2008, which bars gemstones of Burmese origin - specifically rubies and jadeite - from entering the United States via third party countries. This importation ban encompasses all jadeite and rubies coming from Burma, including stones that have been processed in other countries such as Thailand.

ICA reiterated that its policies are in line with all national and international associations against the violent repression of individuals, human rights and pro-democracy movements in Myanmar (formerly Burma). In light of this, ICA has asked its members to stop buying Burmese gemstones from any government sources and/or people who support those endeavors.

However, the ICA also fears that, the US government’s decision to support a systematic ban on the trade of Burmese gemstones may very well have a negative impact and cause collateral damage upon independent and poor populations engaged in mining, processing and trading activities in Myanmar and other countries.

For each birth month, there is associated a birthstone:

  January: Garnet;
  February: Amethyst;
  March: Aquamarine;
  April: Diamond;
  May: Emerald;
  June: Pearl and Moonstone;
  July: Ruby;
  August: Peridot;
  September: Sapphire;
  October: Opal;
  Novemebr: Topaz;
  December: Turqoise.

A ring with an Andesine by Jeffrey Appling.

It is a pleasure to show you this ring created by Jeffrey Appling, designer from USA - California.

This expressive jewellry is titled "Ring That Rock".
The trillion red stone used for that ring is one of our Congo Andesine.

Visit his website->

15-nov. 2007 New price record for a red diamond.

  During the last Christie’s auction in Geneva, a red purplish diamond has been sold for $2,600,000, so $1,150,000 per carat.
The buyer is the jeweller from London Laurence Graff.
The previous record was $1,150,000 per carat in 1987, but for a 0.95ct red diamond.

A new record selling price for a ruby was set at Christie’s in St. Moritz on February 15, 2006.
It was a Burma "pigeon’s blood" 8.62 carat cushion-cut ruby.
This ruby realized a price of $425,000 per carat.
The stone was certified by the Switzeland laboratory SSEF, with "no indication of heating".
The new owner is the London jeweler Laurence Graff. The previous record for a ruby was sold by Christie’s in 2005,in New York: $275,000 per carat for a 8.01ct stone.

ANDESINE : A huge discovery in Congo in 2002!
アンデシン

This new gem was said discovered in 2002 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and as of the initial discovery of these stones, no more Andesine has been offered for sale from the RDC. The location was said from an area at southwest of the Nyaragongo volcano.

It is not really a "new gem", but it was the first time that andesine was discovered in gem quality with so large sizes and red colour.

Andesine is an intermediate member of the plagioclase series, close to Labradorite. The name depends on the ratio of Sodium and Calcium between Albite (Na(AlSi3O8) and Anorthite (Ca(Al2Si3O8). The stones examined by different laboratories have shown less than 50% of Calcium, thereby entitling them to be called Andesine (AGTA-USA / Nantes University - France / CCIP - France / JGGL - Japan / AIGS - Thailand). Based uniquely on the refractive index, certain of these stones could be classified as “Labradorite close to the boundary of Andesine/Labradorite” / Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF). But the chemical analysis confirms that these stones are entitled to be called Andesine. Several samples have been sent to laboratories. They have never found any evidence of enhancement. Our 200 largest stones underwent chemical analysis by the AIGS laboratory. All of these stones were confirmed to be Andesine.

Our 200 largest stones underwent chemical analysis by the AIGS. All of these stones were confirmed to be Andesine

The red colour of these andesines is due to copper. Their clarity is exceptional. Red feldspar gemstones are extremely rare. The most well known was the Labradorite from Oregon, also called “Oregon Sunstone”, but the these are never found in sizes as large with colours as red as this new discovery. The Congo Andesine contains more copper than the Oregon Sunstone.

The largest Congo Andesine known to date weights 33.42ct (in our inventory). See the picture below.

Since 2002 we have purchased only only 2,941 pieces for 4651ct.

Only a few hundred flawless "top red" stones were cut, and we certainly have the largest inventory of the world stock of this Andesine. We have also other andesines which have an orange-red or orange colour in a lower price range. You may find other Andesines in the market with an orange colour and/or visible inclusions in an even lower price range, however, we do not have stones in that lower quality.

A few rare specimens from the same source are yellow or green, and a few have an “alexandrite effect” colour change (green / red, yellow/red).

At the 2006 Tucson gemshow, we saw more Andesine, this time coming from a Chinese location. However, we can confirm that these new andesines, even in the dark red color, are not of the same high quality.
The "Chinese Andesine" (also called "Tibet Sunstone" or "Tibet Andesine") on the market is not as pure, and the red stones appear to have a brownish tone that is not present in the Congo Andesine. We also noted that the "Chinese Andesine" has a "sleepy" appearance compared to the stones from our inventory.
It is what we have seen, but, of course, some andesine for these chinease locations could be also in high quality.

Like Tanzanite, Andesine has a hardness of 6.5 (Mohs scale), and is therefore suitable for jewelry. Unlike Tanzanite, these stones are not heated or enhanced in any way, the bright beautiful red colour is as it came from the earth, and not induced by heat treatment, as is almost always the case with Tanzanite. In addition, Andesine is considerably rarer than Tanzanite; compare the few hundred stones of Andesine found to date to the tens of thousands of Tanzanites. Yet, our price per carat for top quality Andesine is about the same price as top quality Tanzanite.

If you are looking for a shape or size that isn’t yet on the website, please contact us. We would also be pleased to have your stone set into gold or platinum jewelry, ask us for a quote!

Hardness: 6.5. IR: 1.551 / 1.560. Specific weight: 2.67

Pictures: copyright © J.SCOVIL 2004

BLUE CHART: We have selected this chart, in english. It is very useful to determinate gemstones. Easy to use.

You can order directly ORDER on GEMFRANCE. 24€.