Facets 2008 - Gem and Jewellery Show

Sri Lanka's premire gem and jewellery show "Facets 2008" will be held from 6-9 September 2008 at BMICH, Colombo. This event is organized by Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association and Sponsord by National Gem and Jewellery Authority, Export Development Boead of Sri Lanka (EDB) and Sri Lankan Air Lines. Facets exhibition is the largest gem and jewellery exhibition in Sri Lanka and listed under international trade shows in event calenders.

The first day of the exhibition is reserved for VIP invitees. Second day onward the show will be oped for public audiance. The organizers are expecting more visitors in this year than previous years, this is due to increasing demand for Sri Lankan gemstones in the international market. Many visitors are expecting from Europe, USA, Thailand and India.

All leading gem and jewellery manufacturers in Sri Lanka will participate for this event and show their latest and most valuable designs and items. This will be an great opportunity for buyers to meet and find suppliers. Exhibitors from medium to large scale businesses are here to give service to suit to different buyers.

Gifts for All Seasons - Jewelry Gifts are Forever

A gift is a reminder of your appreciation, warmth, gratitude or love for someone who has a special place in your life. When you are planning to buy a gift for someone, the gift should be chosen so as to express the depth of your emotions. A well thought of gift which is chosen with a lot of care and love makes presenting and receiving a gift, a joy.

Jewelry Gifts - Jewelry is the passion that women across the world share equally irrespective of the different cultures, traditions, racial, economic differences. Jewelry is also preferred as a gift because it marks special occasions like engagements, wedding anniversaries and many more. Jewelry gifts are precious and last for a lifetime. It indicates that jewelry gift is mostly given to the people who are precious in our life.

Shopping online has made purchasing gifts even easier for people these days. For people leading busy lives time is an important factor and internet provides a fast convenient alternative. Online jewelry retailers like Angara.com offers an exciting range of exclusive jewelry gift sets for various occasions. Visit Angara and make your choice today.

Logon to http://www.angara.com/jewelry-gifts.do for more inormation.

Cutting and polishing diamonds

India has always been regarded as the natural and ancient home of the diamonds. Up to 1728 the whole world’s supply of diamonds was found in the deccan plateu in the valleys and on the beds of streams to a depth of twelve to sixteen feet of earth. Placed there by the gods as a gem endowed with magical qualities, Indians revered the diamond as far back as 1500 BC, the age of the Vedas.

During those ancient times, diamonds were not cut. The rough stones were mounted as such in jewellery, in helmets and on swords. This is why Indians who wrote on gems, such as Buddhabhatta, Thakkura Pheru describe the shape, and nature of rough diamonds in great detail. For example, Thakkura Pheru wrote in 1315 AD: “the best rough diamond has symmetric facets, free of impurities, sparkling, flawless and ligh in weight.”

Being the hardest known mineral in nature, only diamonds can cut or abrade other diamonds. Artisan used this property to best advantage; they rubbed one diamond against another for months to get the shape they wanted. They were expert in the art of grinding and polishing diamond crystals and kept gemstone shaping a family secret, not to be revealed to the outside world. It is likely that their techniques dated back thousands of years, but there is hardly any mention of this in Indian literature. Ancient texts state that while the diamonds was extremely hard and indestructible, it could easily be split by a light blow along certain directions and that the earliest diamond workers employed such techniques to remove heavy flows and cracks and to smooth the faces of crystals. Kautilya in this Artbhashastra wrote of the ability of diamond to scratch hard metals and other gemstones. It is possible that Indian workers tried to cut and polish diamonds with other diamonds as early as the first century BC. In Europe too, as early as 77 AD, engravers embedded diamond fragments in iron to make cutting tools. According to Pliny, these tools could in turn cut diamonds. During his travels in India in the eighteenth century Tavernier who wrote extensively on the gemstone industry in the country, found artisan in India were using iron wheels with diamond grit to remove flaws in diamond crystals. At the time of his visit, most Indians were merely polishing rough stones that had regular crystallized shapes. Faults like inclusions and grains were removed by grinding, but deep faults were sought to be hidden by a great number of small facets. Some European workers who had practiced diamond cutting in Europe but had settled in India were given the larger and more expensive stones for cutting. They were better at this work perhaps because they had already attained a higher level of perfection in their work. It has been recorded that as early as 1375 AD, diamond cutters in Germany were active and had even formed a guild in Nurenberg.

Cutting and polishing diamonds

India has always been regarded as the natural and ancient home of the
diamonds. Up to 1728 the whole world's supply of diamonds was found in
the deccan plateu in the valleys and on the beds of streams to a depth
of twelve to sixteen feet of earth. Placed there by the gods as a gem
endowed with magical qualities, Indians revered the diamond as far
back as 1500 BC, the age of the Vedas.

During those ancient times, diamonds were not cut. The rough stones
were mounted as such in jewellery, in helmets and on swords. This is
why Indians who wrote on gems, such as Buddhabhatta, Thakkura Pheru
describe the shape, and nature of rough diamonds in great detail. For
example, Thakkura Pheru wrote in 1315 AD: "the best rough diamond has
symmetric facets, free of impurities, sparkling, flawless and ligh in
weight."

Being the hardest known mineral in nature, only diamonds can cut or
abrade other diamonds. Artisan used this property to best advantage;
they rubbed one diamond against another for months to get the shape
they wanted. They were expert in the art of grinding and polishing
diamond crystals and kept gemstone shaping a family secret, not to be
revealed to the outside world. It is likely that their techniques
dated back thousands of years, but there is hardly any mention of this
in Indian literature. Ancient texts state that while the diamonds was
extremely hard and indestructible, it could easily be split by a light
blow along certain directions and that the earliest diamond workers
employed such techniques to remove heavy flows and cracks and to
smooth the faces of crystals. Kautilya in this Artbhashastra wrote of
the ability of diamond to scratch hard metals and other gemstones. It
is possible that Indian workers tried to cut and polish diamonds with
other diamonds as early as the first century BC. In Europe too, as
early as 77 AD, engravers embedded diamond fragments in iron to make
cutting tools. According to Pliny, these tools could in turn cut
diamonds. During his travels in India in the eighteenth century
Tavernier who wrote extensively on the gemstone industry in the
country, found artisan in India were using iron wheels with diamond
grit to remove flaws in diamond crystals. At the time of his visit,
most Indians were merely polishing rough stones that had regular
crystallized shapes. Faults like inclusions and grains were removed by
grinding, but deep faults were sought to be hidden by a great number
of small facets. Some European workers who had practiced diamond
cutting in Europe but had settled in India were given the larger and
more expensive stones for cutting. They were better at this work
perhaps because they had already attained a higher level of perfection
in their work. It has been recorded that as early as 1375 AD, diamond
cutters in Germany were active and had even formed a guild in
Nurenberg.

JCK New Delhi 2008 Keeps Getting Bigger & Better!

JCK New Delhi 2008, the jewelry exhibition is catching up in the country on a great pace and is now all geared up to brighten Delhi in July at Pragati Maidan. The show will see the best of jewelry manufacturers, wholesalers, exporters and retailers gather and explore huge business opportunity offered through this platform. The exhibition has set new benchmarks in the field of Jewellery trade fairs in India since its inception in 2006 and is on the way of scaling bigger heights year after year.

JCK New Delhi 2008 is backed by Delhi Jewellers Association, World Gold Council and GJEPC and offers a strict business-to-business platform for the most suitable business environment to trade. The exhibition is not only classy & luxurious but is also very meticulously planned out. There are well segmented pavilions of Gold & Fine Jewelry, Diamond & Fine Jewelry, Gem Stones & Gemstone Jewelry, Laboratories, Silver Jewelry & Hollowware, Machinery and Tools for focused exhibition browsing. The show will bind the traders from across India along with various other countries, and would also deliver a world class ambience and a show experience to remember!

Learn more by visiting www.jcknewdelhi.com or click here to contact JCK New Delhi 2008.

Well supported by the industry, the show features 250 prominent exhibitors both in national and international league like:

Aashna Diamonds, Abhay Navinchandra, ACPL, Amore Jewels Pvt. Ltd., Apple Gems International, A'Star Jewellery, Bhavani Jewels, Ciemme Jewels Ltd., CVM Exports, Diam Circle Mfg. Pvt. Ltd, European Gemological Laboratory Pvt. Ltd., Forever Precious Jewellery & Diamonds Ltd., Gitanjali Gems Ltd., GDK Jewels Pvt. Ltd., GIE Gold Creations Pvt. Ltd., Golkunda Diamonds & Jewellery Ltd., H K Jewellers, Hammer Plus Jewellery Pvt. Ltd., Hariprasad Gopikrishna Jewellers Pvt. Ltd., IGI, J.B. & Brothers, Jindal Diamonds and Gems Pvt. Ltd., Kantilal Chhotalal, KGK Creations (India) Pvt. Ltd., Kothari Jewels, Kundan Hut, M.R. Chains Pvt. Ltd., Majestic Gems, Nolkha Jewellers, Osia Gems, P. Manoharlal Jewellers & Exporters, Panache Exports Pvt. Ltd., Pranda Jewellery Pvt. Ltd., Ridhi Sidhi Gems, RMC Gems India Limited, Sanghavi Exports International Pvt. Ltd., Shanti Gold, Sheetal Manufacturing, Shivin Jewellers, Solitaire Diam, Sri Balaji Jewellers & Exporters, Suashish Diamonds Limited, S K Chains, Shashwat Jewels, Uni-Design Jewellery India Pvt. Ltd., Vikas Chain, Laxmi Dia Jewel Pvt. Ltd., Ary Gold Designers, GIA India, IDL, IGL, Reliance Money Ltd., Ashlyn Chemunnoor Instruments Pvt. Ltd., Nickunj Eximp Entp P Ltd., Citizen Scale (I) Pvt. Ltd., N Jewellery Techniques Pvt. Ltd., Tache, B&S Antwerp NV, Baymonte, Colombian Stone Co., Ltd., SIDRA S.A.R.L., Siam Shine Star Co. Ltd., Bassano Collection, Jewels & Nuggets and many, many more!

This year JCK New Delhi brings together exhibitors covering the entire jewelry segment & offers a complete range in trends and prices to ensure a reason for our visitors from every segment including organized, family owned, large and small buyers to do profitable business at the show. To ensure that the platform is approachable, various customized marketing initiatives and efforts are being taken for each segment simultaneously, consequently facilitating activities to meet the business objectives of all the exhibitors. Many programs are also undertaken to maximize business transaction possibilities for the exhibitors at the show. Minutest details are being given extra care to deliver a flawless show this time.

Some key show highlights:

~Features an wide variety from each jewelry category - gemstones, diamonds, gold, fine jewelry, high Italian jewelry, machinery & tools, silver jewelry and CZ jewelry to cater to all the retailer's need.

~Special Delhi Pavilion to showcase Delhi manufactures and wholesalers.

~Features unique exhibitor offers for the visitors exclusively for JCK New Delhi 2008.

~A true national scale exhibition covering with enhanced international participation from Thailand, Dubai, Italy, Belgium, Turkey, Lebanon, US, Japan and so on.

~No pre-registration fee for Visitors to encourage the trade to approach keeping the onsite registration fee to Rs. 1000!

~Offers desired serious business environment for pure business and transactions.

~Planned in July, which is the most favorable month for Retailers to buy and browse through the opportunities [Source: as per the survey conducted by the research agency, Facts & Opinion].

Reed Exhibitions Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Mandeep Singh added "We are 90% sold out in the month of April already with prominent players. Also, to pull buyers of various capacities we have special buyers proposition from the exhibitors only available in the 4 days of JCK New Delhi. We also have various campaigns running like Progressive Buyers CRM program to acknowledge leading buyers per city on certain parameters gaining popularity, along with Foot Soldier activity encompassing 9 cities ensuring penetration and high visitor registrations. This should ensure right crowd in right number at the show."

Various facilitation initiatives have been taken like recognizing preferred Airlines by negotiating rates between the ranges INR 499 to 999 from various sectors to Delhi, launching Key to business in India for international participants, doing a Travel Guide for all participants, online meeting scheduling facility for visitors, and so on!

JCK New Delhi 2008 is building to be a complete solution to all the buyer's needs from loose stones to a fine jewelry, from technology to packaging. The show promises to be a comprehensive showcase of ideas and concepts delivering an experience to its visitors!

Why all the hoopla over that curious copper color?

And why is Oregon Sunstone Labradorite so very, very special?

It is my experience that you can tell how well a student understands the subject being taught based on the questions they ask. And given the questions that we are receiving about the Oregon Sunstone Labradorite issues, I can tell that there are a lot of people who really don’t understand exactly how all of this plays out regarding copper and the feldspars. So I thought that this week we would take a look at this curious copper color and why there is so much hoopla over the issues.

First, let’s take a look at the most simple type of copper coloration in a gemstone. At left you see native copper, the metal that U.S. pennies and water pipes world wide are made from. This is what it looks like coming out of the ground. But if you take a close look at the image (as well as the banner image at the top of the page) you will see some green color patches forming on our native copper. This is oxidation.



The mixing of the copper with oxygen causes the copper to expand and get all bubbly due to the oxidation as you can see in the image at right. When copper oxidizes it turns green and eventually bluish green in color, and forms what appears to be the bubble formations known as botryoidal formation that we see in malachite. And the image at right is indeed malachite, an oxidation of copper as we saw above that can be cut and polished into the beautiful gemstone that you see below.



But this is a very common gemstone formed by the actual copper itself. Much the same as azurite and turquoise are both combinations of copper and other elements forming into a single massive formation.

But what about the Oregon Sunstone Labradorite? What makes it so rare and different? Well, in the Oregon formations the copper is not a prime ingredient of the feldspar, but instead an inclusion. An impurity. So rather than the copper forming the gemstone, it is the cause of the color in the gemstone, and by virtually all of the textbooks it is effectively the only place on earth you can find copper as a coloring element in labradorite feldspar. And not only that, the result of the copper in the Oregon Labradorite formations produces gemstones that are unique in the world of gemology.



At left you see a slide show of increasing magnification where the copper grains inside the Oregon Sunstone Labradorite create the shiller effect, and as you increase the magnification you can actually see the minute grains of copper inside this Oregon Sunstone Labradorite.

But it gets better. In an exceptionally rare occurrence, the copper is extremely small in the feldspar and rather than occurring as a shiller effect in the stone as we saw at left, it actually imparts a remarkably beautiful solid red and/or green color to the labradorite. Why two colors? This is because copper has what is called multiple valences. Meaning that it can form more than one type of bond with other elements to form different types of molecules. Sort of like when you hold both hands with one person you form a group of two people. But when you hold one hand each with two other people, you form a group of three people. This is one of my now famous (or infamous to the science geeks) grass roots explanations to help you understand that just like you holding hands with one or two other people will create different types of groups, copper can do the same with other elements, which is how the Oregon Labradorite can offer the different colors due to different types of copper bonds. And I know that the techies will have fun with that one.

But in truth, this is very much how it works. And when it does it is not only beautiful, but quite rare and valuable. Below are photographs of the red and green rough, and a beautiful faceted Oregon Sunstone Labradorite from the Desert Sun Mining website.



So what we have is a very rare, very beautiful and very valuable gemstone that is native to Oregon in the United States . But there are many types of feldspar out there, and some gemstone dealers in places like Thailand and China know how to do some pretty creative stuff to make cheap gemstones look like expensive gemstone, and then pass them off for the real thing. So what if someone could take a cheaper and more plentiful form of feldspar such as an oligoclase (as seen below left), cook it up and infuse it with some form of copper to make it appear to be the far more rare and expensive Oregon Labradorite, even though it was not the Oregon material? (as seen below right).



It might look like the real Oregon Sunstone Labradorite. But it would actually be a much cheaper result of artificial color treatment of the stone, and would require that buyers be properly informed about the treatment to understand that they were not getting the real thing. But would the treaters do that? Or would they try to claim that they had found yet another very rare formation just like the Oregon Sunstone Labradorite, but in some far off place like the Congo , Mongolia , Tibet or other hard to reach spot. And if the Thailand or Chinese dealers did this, what might the story sound like, and how could we identify the treatment so we could separate it from the real Oregon Sunstone Labradorite? Maybe we could take a stone from the Congo and have a lapidary cut the ends off so we could transmit a light through it and see the infusion boundaries. Or perhaps run more Raman scans to get even better and more accurate results.



We are going to bring you the rest of this story next week. But for this first part I wanted to lay the foundation of this issue regarding the Oregon Sunstone Labradorite so you could understand the background to the issues. Next week we will finish the saga of this curious copper color in feldspar gemstones.

Robert James FGA, GG
President, International School of Gemology

Introduction to Diamonds

The mined stones are classified into different varieties

1. Diamonds, well crystallized, transparent and gem quality

2. Bort, boart or bortz, poorly crystallized, grey to brown in color, translucent to opaque and used mostly in industry as an abrasive. The large and black stones of granular crystalline structure found almost exclusively in the state of Bahia in Brazil are also known as carbonado or carbonate.

3. Ballas – spherical masses of minute diamond crystals more or less concentrically arranged. The mass in very hard and rough and has important industrial applications.

Rough diamond crystals are mostly of diameter lass than a millimeter in diameter. Bog crystals are extremely rare and so valuable that they acquire the status of an antique and are known by special and distinctive names. History and legend play a bigger part than the actual inherent value of these stones. They are mostly found as part of the crown jewels of various nations.

A natural diamond mines from the earth always has inclusions of graphatite or other minerals that are visible as dark sports in the rough stone. Voids often filled with as are visible as white or shiny spots within the stone. Stones that do not have any inclusions even under 50x magnification are extremely rare and are collectors items.

Carbons atoms arranged in inter-penetrating face-centered cubic lattices form the crystal structure of diamonds. An infinitely large crystal would be totally colorless and transparent except to ultraviolet light of wavelengths shorter than 230nm. However, all natural diamonds contain defects in the crystal lattice as well as impurity elements and these defects cause color in the stone. Again, the growth patterns may abruptly change, with further layers becoming mirror images of the earlier growth. The twining that often occurs within the crystal makes the crystals very hard to cut and they are called macles.

Diamonds have been found all over the world, the most ancient and famous being old Indian deposits that were worked from earliest times. Till about the late 1700s, all the diamonds in the world were found in fields and on river beds, mostly near Hyrdabad in the Deccan plateau. Large stones like the Kohinoor were found there around 1300AD. The town of Golconda so became the center of the diamond trade of the world. In spite of the output from India, Borneo, and to some extent Brazil, diamonds were very rare. Valuable diamond fields in the gold mining area of Minas Geraiswere discovered in Brazil about 1725. Portuguese merchants took Brazillian diamonds to Goa, India, to pass them off as Indian stones. Mining was carried out so intensively in Brazil that the main areas were almost exhausted within twenty years.

At about the time that the Brazilian fields were being depleted, the first diamond field of South Africa was discovered in 1886Ad, when children of a Boer farmer found “a pretty pebble” in the dandy bed of the Vaal River. Four years later, diamonds were found in the earth far from a river source, and the practice of dry-digging for diamonds was born. More sophisticated mining techniques allowed deeper subterranean digging, as well as more efficient river marine mining than ever before. By 1871 world annual production, mostly from South Africa, exceeded a million carats. Soon South Africa had the monopoly for diamond production, until major deposits ere found in Siberian permafrost in 1954. Currently Western Canada is the site of the world’s newest diamond rush. Diamonds have also been found in Urals and in Australia and these sources compete with South Africa.

Diamonds are extensively used in industry, but are better known for their use as gemstones. The value of a diamond depends in size, quality and shape. In the seventeenth century, Tavernier recorded that the value of a diamond was proportional to the squire of the weight, and this is still true. The most popular cut as a gemstone is the brilliant, a round cut with 58 facets that was developed to obtain the maximum brilliance and fire from the stone. There are also other fancy cuts like the kite, triangle, and baguette. The term melee refers to stones cut from small fragments of larger rough stones, obtained after cutting. Approximately 8-16 such stones together weight one carat, and many of these small stones are cut with 58 facets. Similar melee stones are cut with only 18 facets and maybe as small as 0.01 carat each.

Merchants found that the dried brown fruit of the locust tree, which looked like a horn, had seeds of an extraordinary uniform weight. In course of time, the seed, the keration or carat became the standard for weighing diamonds and gold. Now the standard weight for diamonds is the carat (200mg), rather than the more picturesque seed.

When heated in oxygen above 650C, a coating of graphite forms on the diamond. In an inert atmosphere, the transition to graphite occurs above 1570C. Diamond is extremely inert to acids and chemicals until heated to 1020K, but sodium nitrate attacks it at 430C and metals react to form carbides. At pressures of 70,000 atmospheres and 2500C, graphite may crystallize into diamond. The specific gravity of diamond is 3.5 and its refractive index is 2.4 as against 1.5 for glass and 1.33 for water. Diamond also has high dispersion and this gives fire to the crystal. Diamond conducts heat but is a good electrical insulator; this is a sure way to detect a real stone from fakes.

Almost all diamonds contain impurity atoms, mainly nitrogen and boron, but these cannot be seen even at the highest magnification. The effect of these impurities is to change the properties of the stone, mostly by giving it a light color. For instance, the nitrogen tends to collect into small clusters of two to three atoms and the interactions between the carbon and nitrogen atoms create new energy levels in the crystal. An optical center is formed that absorbs light of wavelengths longer than 230nm. Natural diamonds may have several such optical centers of different configurations. When a single nitrogen atom substitutes for a carbon atom, an N3 optical center is formed and the ultraviolet absorption edge comes close to the visible region. The “A” optical center produced when nitrogen atoms replace 2 adjacent carbon atoms gives substantial infrared absorption in the region 10,000 to 7000nm. An arrangement of 4 nitrogen atoms around a missing carbon atom gives a B center with the result that the ultraviolet absorption is lowered through the infrared spectra of A and B centers as similar. The addiction of a nearby vacancy in the carbon lattice results in the so-called H3 and H4 centers.

Natural diamonds contain these optical centers in randomly variable concentration and gemologists label the type of diamond according to the absorption spectrum. Most diamonds have N3, A and B centers and these are the Type I sort. Type Ia diamonds contain primarily A and B centers, but if N3 centers are predominant, it becomes Type Ib. the Type Ia is further divided into Type IaA and Type IaB according to whether there are greater A or B centers. Type II diamonds have little or no nitrogen in them but may contain boron that makes them electrically conducting; these are the somewhat rare type IIb semi-conducting stones. In nature, it is possible to find stones which are of more than one type. Synthetic diamonds are usually Type Ib and may have up to ten percent of iron and nickel as contamination from the process. Ultraviolet, X-rays and electrons excite luminescence in diamond that is usually blue though often yellow and green colors are seen.

In general though, the color of diamond is not directly related to the impurities and their concentrations but us due to defects produced in the lattice by the impurity atoms. Bombardment of the crystal by atomic particles can knock out carbon atoms from their positions in the crystal lattice, produce defects and so induce color. Gamma rays and X-rays do not have any mass and so cannot displace the carbon atoms and thus do not produce defects.

Exposed to a stream of high energy electrons, the diamonds attain a blue shade, the depth depending on the penetration of the electron into the stone. Electron-hole pairs are trapped at the defects that absorb red light and so color the stone blue, but this color fades with gentle heating. A high energy electron colliding with a carbon atom could give it enough energy for it to knock other carbon atoms out of their places. For example electrons of 13 MeV from a big accelerator can give a carbon atom a maximum energy of 35 KeV; this atom is capable of displacing about a hundred other atoms. This cascade of collisions tends to make the diamond greenish in color. Neutrons and alpha particles are far more effective in transferring energy to the carbon atoms and the cascade of collisions turn the diamonds into a definite green color. Even the diamond only a small distance and the color is a surface effect that may disappear when the stone is polished.

Diamonds in India - Part II

Kurnool District: A conglomerate bed about ten meters thick is found here. Diamonds occurred and still appear in the layers of this bed as small blue, green or yellow grains. The old kingdoms of Bijapur and Golconda had 38 diamond mines close to the Krishna river and other mines have also been reported by travelers. In general the mines were located in alluvium or river gravel, sedimentary rocks or archean crystalline rocks. The other areas where stones were found after rain were near the Banganapalle conglomerates. The layers were mines by sinking shafts of about 3-5 meters depth with galleries going along the seam. However, these diamonds were of poor quality being colored small and highly flowed.

Mines at Komarulu and Dhone have produced diamonds of medium quality but on the other hand the Lanjapolur stones were of a better grade. However the mines generated no revenue since 1813. These mines at Ramallakota and Varakaru produced stones of excellent quality, though of very small size. According to Tavernier, these stones were extracted from sand or the surrounding earth that occupied narrow veins in the rock. Near Virayapalle the diamonds yield was incredibly large, one carat of flawless and well formed gemstones from seven tones of ore. But since 1910 there has apparently been no output or even mining operations in this area.

Guntur District: the largest mining operations were at Kollur and the location of this mine was referred to by Tavernier as “color” and sometimes as Quolore. In 1645 it employed nearly sixty-thousand persons in very productive mining operations. Three decade later, the tract appeared to have been exhausted and it is now deserted. Legend has it that the Kohinoor or the great Mogul was found here.

Krishna District: The mines at Partiala, north-west of Vijayawada, yielded mainly yellowish or reddish colored diamonds in gravel some ten meters below the surface. The description by Scott Tallies with the procedures described by Tavernier at Kollur except for the curious fact that at Partiala, women were not allowed near the mines. Contemporary accounts state that the famous pit diamond came from one of these mines. The Kodavatakallu mines between the Muniair and the Krishna rivers produced several bullock cart loads of diamonds according to local lore.

Bengal: The Ain-i-Akbari refers to a diamond mines near Hirpah in Burdwasdistrict but this is now discounted for lack of confirmation.

Bihar: The ancient work, Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri mentions a diamond field near the source of the Sunk river, south of the watershed of the Koel river in Ranchi district. However, no stones of any value have been found here in recent times. Tavernier refers to the Soumelapur mines close to the village of Simh in Palamau district, where the sands of the Koel river were prospected for diamonds and where large stones were occasionally found.

Madhya Pradesh: Abdul Fazal mentions the mines at Wairagarh. By 1827 these very productive mines were exhausted and by 1843 the abandoned workings were barely visible. Lying between the Panna shale and the upper kaimur sandstone, the diamond containing layer in Panna district is a conglomerate of about 2m thickness. Diamonds occur in the joints and bedding plains of the kaimur sandstones rocks or in the alluvial cover. North-East of Itwa the bed is localized, where reports have it that diamonds are found in the Majhgawan area occur in a volcanic neck filled with agglomerate tuff. The soft and very friable volcanic rock in which diamonds occur is yellow to yellowish green and is a 100km long and about 20km wide. This volcanic pipe is opined to be the main source of diamonds and other such volcanic pipes are thought to exist in the area. Mining in the Panna fields is done by agriculturists between February and June, with claims of 10sqm each. The prospects for diamond mining were reported to be good in 1954, but nothing further was done. The Panna mines are now the only visible Indian source of diamonds for industrial and gem varieties. The production was about 5% lower in 1971 than in the previous year. The total reserves of diamonds are estimated to be 410000 carats in these regions.

Baraunda: Diamonds were once plentiful in this area on the north bank of the Chahala river, but mining ceased after a find of 12-24 stones of which one weight about 118 carats.

Orissa: The gravel bed of the Ib, a tributary of the Mahanadi river a few miles from Sambalpur as well as other tributaries of the Mahanadi as far up as the Mand river have been dredged successfully for diamonds. Between 1804 and 1818 twenty stones were found of which the largest rough found in 1809, weighed 218 carats. The sands from the streams near Bpndesor in Kalahandi have yielded minute diamonds, but a systematic search for larger stones had not been made.

Since 1926, the Panna diamond mining syndicate, the Mahalakshmi diamond mine works and Charkari mining works were the main companies involved in diamond mining. No serious and systematic surveys were made by these companies to look for diamonds. In 1954 Russian assistance was sought for a plan for modernization that would cost 6 million rupees and handle six thousand to seven thousand tones of ore a day, but this effort seems to have failed. At present, any diamonds that may be found must be handed over to the government of India. The diamond officer in Panna records the weight and characteristics of the stones before they are auctioned. The person who found the stones then gets a reward of one quarter of the sale price. Panna production is presently very small in comparison with world output, but the diamonds are on the average priced higher than those from South Africa.

Another very beautiful jewelry website "Orna & Rinat"

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Diamond Tools

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25th MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show (October 8-12, 2008)

The 25th edition of MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show is set to be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from 8th to 12th October 2008. We are pleased to invite you to participate at the event. The show, a favourite among the leading jewellers in the industry for launching new designs is considered to be the most successful watch and jewellery event in the region.

UAE is one of the top gold-consuming countries in the world and also a major hub of the physical gold trade in the Middle East and Asia. Diamond sale is also on the upswing with the Gulf being the fourth largest market in the world. Industry sources say demand for diamond jewellery has been increasing by more than 40% for the past two years. Rough diamond trade in Dubai itself totaled to US$ 4.8 billion in 2007. In 2007, gold demand rose eight percent to 99.8 tonnes in the UAE according to the World Gold Council figures.

Visitors, both trade and direct buyers, from across the Middle East flock to every edition of the show in search of the most fascinating and wide ranging choices in gold, diamond, pearl, silver, gems, precious stones, loose pearls, watches and other jewellery displays. The strong and extensive visitor campaigns carried out well in advance ensures the turnout of substantial and quality visitors. The MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show is aimed at attracting jewellery trade buyers, importers, traders and retailers and private collectors from across the Middle East region. The event has set an achievement in high sales figures by record gold sales in the country last year.

The show has over the decades gained reputation and acclaim as the Middle East’s longest running watch & jewellery event. It is therefore not surprising that the event boasts of an exhibitor retention rate of over 90%, one of the highest in the region.

The last show in April this year featured more than 350 exhibitors from 25 countries with a 30 per cent increase in exhibition space sold and number of exhibitors over the previous edition. It attracted a record 46,908 trade and direct buyers.

To be a part of this successful show, just complete the enclosed reply form and return to us immediately. On receipt of the form, we will get in touch with you with all the necessary information.

Please visit our website: www.mideastjewellery.com for more information about the show.

Thank you and we look forward to your response.

Sincerely yours,

Abid Maqsood
Cell: +971 50 4742249
Dir: +971 6 5991 201
Main: +971 6 5770 000
Fax: +971 6 5770 111
Email: abid@expo-centre.ae
Web: www.expo-centre.ae

Diamonds in India - Part I

Diamonds were found only in India before the discovery of the Brazilian deposits. The mining operations in Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh dateback to the sixth century AD. The mines of Vindhya Pradesh now in the state of Madhya Pradesh, were said to have produced diamonds worth ten thousand dollars during the reign of Akbar the great. The kings of Golconda and Vijayanagar leased out the shallow mines in the seventeenth century on a royalty system and on condition that rough stones weighting over 25 carats be surrendered to the kings for their personal adornments. In 1662AD,
Mthold, Andreas Sorcery and Adolph Thomson reported that the king received $120000 from the mine operators and stones larger than 10 carats were given to the king. According to Tavernier, between 1632 and 1662 AD, Ramallakota and Kollur were the mining centers, the latter being the most productive in 1645. The quality of the stones was so good and the size so large that the east India Company even considered sending remittances to England in the form of diamonds. The Golapalli and Malavalli mines were most productive in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries but by the nineteenth century production had declined. Though mining operations in Panna in Madhya Pradesh was interrupted for some time, in continues to this day.

The Wairagarh mines of Madhya Pradesh become uneconomical in 1829 and were abandoned in 1840 AD. In the seventeenth century, some diamonds were extracted in Bihar and Orissa, though production increased in the eighteenth century; but by the middle of the nineteenth century there was a decline in mining activity here too. In these regions the mining operations were primitive and consisted mainly of sporadic searches in shallow excavations.

The excavated material was soaked in water for a couple of days, sun dried and powdered in wooden pestles and mortars. The resultant grit was then scanned for gemstones.

Geologists have observed pipe rocks in Wajrakarur, once a flourishing mining area fourteen kilometers south of Guntakal as well as in Panna in Madhya
Pradesh, but they have not located the actual neck of the pipe. Close studies of the geological formations of central India indicate clearly the presence of diamonds in three distinct regions of India. The first is close to the rocks of the Kurnool series in Andhra Pradesh and the Vindhyas in the north. In Ananthapur, Bellary, Cuddapah, Kurnool, Krishna and Godavari districs of Andhra Pradesh, the rocks have weathered and farmers have chanced on diamonds when plugging their fields. The source of these alluvial stones has yet not been traced. The second source of alluvial diamonds extends westwards from the Mahanadi valley in the Sambalpur district of Orissa into Madhya Pradesh, with an extension to the north. Diamonds have
also been discovered in an outcrop of conglomerate that extends over an area of one hundred kilometers by 20km in Panna, Charkari, Bijwar, Ajaigarh, Kothi, Pathar Kacchar, Baraunda and Chobapur.

Geologists have reported that diamonds have been found in various locations in India listed below.

Ananthapur District: Diamonds have been extracted from the crystalline rocks near Bodasanipalle, Ganjikuta, Konganapalle, Lattawaram, Mulakalapenta, Pedda Hoturu and in Wajrakarur in the past. About a century ago, a volcanic neck very similar to the diamond bearing matrix of Kimberley in South Africa was discovered. Miners of that time crushed the ore and washed it on small platforms. In 1885, a small mining company tried unsuccessfully to mine the area but it was only in 1941 that the new Wajrakarur Diamond Company Ltd
found two large stones of around 1.8 carats each. Even today diamonds are occasionally found on the surface east of Wajrakarur after a rain storm, though never close to the neck of the pipe rock. Valuable stones are still found occasionally between Guntakal and Gooty in the village of Kanganapalle. In 1935, a cultivator reportedly picked up a diamond weighing about 36 carats and a few months earlier, a diamond weighing 67.4 carats was found and cut to an exceptionally brilliant stone of 24.6 carats.

Bellary District: While there was evidence of lining near the village of Huvinahadagalli, there are no record of actual finds if large stones.

Cuddapah District: There were attempts to mine the alluvium near hennur. It is reputed that large stones were found there but systematic and organized mining proved unprofitable. The stones were obtained from a gravel bed lying about two meters below the surface but the mines were soon abandoned.

SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING OF THE GEM & JEWELLERY SECTOR - SRI LANKA

SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING OF THE GEM & JEWELLERY SECTOR PROPOSED TO BE HELD ON 30/04/2008 AT 3.00P.M. AT THE NCE

We are pleased to inform you, that the Council of the NCE has decided to set up subcommittees covering all the products/services sectors of members of the NCE.

The purpose of these subcommittees is to discuss policy and operational issues of the different sectors with a view to prepare strategic plans and to make representations to the relevant state authorities and institutions to resolve issues, based on the strategic developmental plans of the sector.

In this regard the NCE has set up a subcommittee for the Gems & Jewellery sector comprising of the following members.

01. Mr. Anura Eliyapura - Chairman / Managing Director, Raja Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd - (Council Member of NCE and Chairman of Subcommittee)

02. Mr. Srinarth Fernando - Director, Ceylinco Worldwide Trading (Pvt.) Ltd

03. Mr. A.P. Jayarajah - CEO, Wellawatta Nithiyakalyani Jewellery

The subcommittee meeting of the Gems & Jewellery sector is proposed to be held on 30/04/2008 at 3.00p.m. at the Auditorium of the NCE (160/2, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo-04).

We would also appreciate if you could send us your proposals and suggestions regarding the current issues of the sector which needs attention, by 25th April 2008 the latest.

Your cooperation in this regard will be greatly appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

RASA WEERASINGHAM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY FAIR 2008

INTERNATIONAL BEAUTY EXPO 2008 AND MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY FAIR 2008

We have received information on the following trade fairs to be held in Malaysia through the Second Secretary (Commercial), Sri Lanka High Commission in Malaysia.

International Beauty Expo 2008 - 11th-14th July 2008 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia and Malaysia International Jewellery Fair - 17th-20th July 2008 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia

The brochures and CD-Roms of these events are available at the library of the NCE for reference. For further details please visit www.elite.com.my

If you are interested to participate at these programmes please contact the Second Secretary (Commercial) of the Sri Lanka High Commission in Malaysia with a copy to the NCE. Contact details of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Malaysia are as follows;

Mr. G.L. Gnanatheva, Second Secretary (Commercial)
Sri Lanka High Commission, Malaysia / Kuala Lumpur
No. 12, Jalan Keranji Dua, Off Jalan Kedongdong,Jalan Ampang Hilir
55000 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA

Tel: + 603-4256 8987 / 4257 1394
Fax: + 603-4253 2497
Email: slhicom@streamyx.com

Turkey-Asia Pacific Foreign Trade Bridge

PROPOSED VISIT OF HON. MINISTER OF EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE TO TURKEY, 17-18TH JUNE 2008

Hon. Prof. G. L. Peiris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade is scheduled to undertake an official visit to Turkey from 17-18th June 2008 in order to participate at the Turkey-Asia Pacific Foreign Trade Bridge organized by the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey. (Copy of the self-explanatory flyer about this event is attached for your convenience).

It has been decided that a business delegation should accompany the Hon. Minister during this visit. The organizers will be arranging one to one business meetings with appropriate counterparts in Turkey as per the requests by delegates. This programme is coordinated by the Department of Commerce (DoC) in Sri Lanka.

This programme will be attended by 22 countries in the Asian Region and is the second programme organized by the Turkey-Asia Pacific Foreign Trade Bridge-II event under the coordination of the Prime Minister's Undersecretary for Foreign Trade of the Republic of Turkey. The programme held in 2007 had been very successful and business deals and orders to a value of 250mn dollars had been confirmed.

Therefore we would advise you to make use of this opportunity to establish business contacts with buyers in Turkey and promote your products in Turkey's export market.

If you are interested please respond to the Chamber latest by 07th April 2008 in order to follow up with the DoC.

Also please send your company and product profiles, promotional materials such as CD's and brochures, 10 copies of each to the NCE, to forward to the DoC to facilitate arranging business meetings with the buyers in Turkey.

Yours sincerely,

Rasa Weerasingham
Executive Director

L. S. G. Tillekeratne
Director - Member Services & New Projects

INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY LONDON (IJL) 2008

31ST AUGUST – 3RD SEPTEMBER 2008

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka High Commission in UK proposes to organize Sri Lanka’s participation at the International Jewellery London (IJL) with the objective of further expanding Sri Lanka’s share in the UK market and for promoting new designs/manufacturing capabilities. This is Sri Lanka’s first ever participation at IJL.

IJL, launched in 1956 is held for the 52nd year and is considered to be the only UK Trade Show totally dedicated to jewellery. For details please visit www.jewellerylondon.com.

It is proposed to organize a group of 5 – 7 jewellery companies/calibrated and free size gemstone exporters to exhibit at the National Pavilion.

EDB ASSISTANCE
The EDB may consider assistance towards part cost of stall space, cost of construction & display facilities, fixtures & fittings.

MODE OF SELECTIONS
Applicants will be interviewed by a Selection Committee where they will be required ro present their samples and prove their manufacturing capabilities.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Application should be made on the prescribed forms available at the Product Management Division, 8th Floor, EDB & on the Website: www.srilankabusiness.com

The forms could also be obtained from the EDB Provincial Offices - Central Province, 22 B, Kotugodella Veediya, Kandy. Tel: 081-2233592, North-Western Province, 22/1, Mihindu Mawatha, Kurunegala, Tel: 037-2221972, Southern Province, 41, Sri Devamitta Mawatha, Galle, Tel: 091-2223595

Duly completed application forms should reach the Director/Product Management, Sri Lanka Export Development Board, No. 42, Navam Mawatha, Colombo 2 on or before 31st March 2008.
For further details, please contact Tel: 2300705-11, Fax: 2305212.

Chairman
SRI LANKA EXPORT DEVELOPMENT BOARD
DHPL Building , No. 42, Navam Mawatha, Colombo 2.
Tel: 2300705-11 Fax: 2300715
Web Site : http//www.srilankabusiness.com

Incredibly Ignored Iolite

“That’s not real tanzanite…..its just iolite!” Ever hear that from one of your customers? Or perhaps be out in someone else’s store and hear someone make that remark? Ever since tanzanite came on the market a few years ago, iolite has been given a back seat on the gemstone marketing bus. Why? Because iolite offers the same beautiful blue color of tanzanite, but has a second color of…well, colorless…instead of the purple of tanzanite. So tanzanite has been getting all the attention, because iolite is blue/colorless rather than blue/purple. You can see the two colors in the images below. And for many years iolite has been regarded as a tanzanite wannabe. A cheap substitution. Well, that is no longer the case. Its time to start paying some attention to this Incredibly Ignored Iolite.

Let’s face it, the jewelry industry needs some cost effective tanzanite alternatives in today’s market, both for themselves and for their customers. Tanzanite continues to be in full production, in spite of the word given that the tanzanite mine would play completely out within two years. That word was given in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996….well I think you get the point. No one knows just how much tanzanite there is. And that “buy it now before it’s all gone” marketing technique by tanzanite sellers has become tedious at best. But in spite of the big marketing machine for tanzanite, do we have to continue to think about iolite as a tanzanite substitute?

In reality, iolite is just as pretty as tanzanite. Look at the stones in the banner of this week’s edition! It is far more durable than tanzanite. Iolite wears far better than the much more brittle tanzanite. And it’s just plain cheaper. Take a look at left at the pile of iolite rough I just got into the ISG office from a dealer in Thailand . This is 100 pieces of very nice rough weighing a total of 1,567.89 carats. And what did I pay for this rough? US$39.25 on eBay®. Yes, on eBay®. From one of the good eBay® sellers I was telling you about last week. That is only 2 ½ cents PER CARAT as rough! (I told you there were some good sellers on eBay, just have to know where to look).

And what kind of finished product can you expect? Well again, look at the iolites in the banner above, and a finished iolite at right. Iolite gemstones come in a variety of beautiful blue colors that can range from light violet blue, to a dark blue that can rival a fine sapphire. Due to the optical properties it has to be cut correctly to show the best blue color through the face of the stone. But properly cut and set, iolite makes beautiful gemstone jewelry items at a low cost for your customers and at high profits for you. This in today’s market is a win win for everyone.

If your diamond profits have gone the way of BlueNile, and you are looking to get into colored gemstones that are plentiful, long wearing, cost effective and come with high profits, you might want to start thinking outside the traditional tanzanite box, and start thinking about the incredibly ignored iolite!

TRADE FAIRS IN MALAYSIA 2008

We are pleased to inform you that the following trade fairs are being held during the year 2008. The information in relation to the undernoted fairs were received by the NCE from the Sri Lanka High Commission in Malaysia.

Name of Trade Fair and Dates
01. 05th Malaysia International Halal Showcase - 07-11 May 2008
02. Interiors Malaysia 2008 - 29 May - 01 June 2008
03. 09th Malaysia International Food & Beverage Trade Fair - 10-12 July 2008
04. International Healthcare Conference & Exhibition 2008 - 14-16 July 2008
05. Print Technology 2008 - 1-4 August 2008

The fair catalogues and other details are made at the Secretariat of the NCE for reference. Interested companies are requested to contact the undersigned for further details.

U. W. Karunaratne
Asst. Director - Export Promotion & Development
National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka
Email - itcnce@eureka.lk

International Jewelry Vietnam (IJV)

This is the first international level jewelry event in Vietnam to be held from 02 to 04 May 2008 in the Ho Chi Minh City International and Convention Centre (HIECC). The International Jewelry Vietnam will soon become the prime event for all aspects of diamonds, gemstones, pearls and fine finished jewelry and related products in this fast growing country.

Mark your calendar now for a trip to Ho Chi Minh City where the jewelry world will meet to launch the year right at this new, hassle-free business environment show staged in the fastest growing market in the world.

According to IMF, Vietnam is emerging as the worlds third most attractive marketplace for consumer goods.

IJV will be the key showcase for the jewelry sector in this fast growth market and offers extensive coverage of products and services in the gemstones and jewelry field, highlighting business networking for both trade and end users.



Official Carrier: Cathay Pacific Airways

Official Hotels: Omni Saigon Hotel & ParkRoyal Hotel

With support from the Ministry of Trade of the government, market key players in the sector will be joined at IJV by numerous international companies from all over the world.

If you would like to be sure you are on our mailing list to receive all information about this show, please fill out the below and submit to us. If you would like to speak with someone about the show, you may call (+852 -68382688) or fax to (+852 - 68386168)

ejewels - Sri Lankan Jeweler

The journey of ejewels formally known as "Enterprise Jewellers" began in 1950, when the first show room was opened in Colombo's premium city center 67, York Street, has grown and expanded over the years, from a company with a humble beginings into a high quality jewellery store. The key to its success has been a visionary creativity, an inspirational leardership, a dedicated workforce and a lot of sincere hard work.

The founder of Enterprise Jewellers Mr. Gunasena De Silva had helmed the company since 1950, and his experience and vision have provided tremendous inspiration over the years. In 2003 his sons and doughters joined the company with a new branding as ejewels with the vision of making ejewels an exclusive jewellery lable locally and internationaly.

Diamond Products from SDP Impex - Russia

Our company has got a good experience of manufacturing Synthetic Diamond
Products, which are widely used in processing Gems Stones, Cubic Zirkonia,
composites and ceramics. Special regimes of synthesis allow us to make
diamond powder with high abrasive abilities in cutting and polishing
applications of the mentioned above materials. For automatic and hand
cutting we recommend the grain size 0-2 and 0-4, which is widely used by our
customers in Wuzhou and Bangkok.

The most outstanding features of our Diamond Powder are: the increased
portion of monocrystals (up to 60 %), shape coefficient 1.3 (actual sizes),
portion of the main fraction up to 85 %. Such features allow to increase the
abrasive ability of the diamond powder up to 30-40 % comparing to the other
similar products currently available on the market. The increased abrasive
ability of this diamond does not cause any essential increase in the surface
roughness after processing.

If you are interested in our products, please don`t hesitate to contact me.

Looking forward for your reply.

Ms. Julia Alexeeva
Export Manager
SDP Impex
59 -2 , Lunacharskogo str., Tutaev, Yaroslavl region
152300 RUSSIA
Phone/Fax : (+7-48533) 21246
mob. +7 903 638 49 02
E-mail: yulia.sdp@mail.ru
sdp_russia@hotmail.com

IIJS SIGNATURE 2008, GOA - INDIA

IIJS Signature 2008 organized by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council is scheduled to be held at Kala Academy in Panaji, Goa located at the confluence of the Mandovi River and the Arabian Sea. IIJS Signature will represent only the best India has to offer - in design, craftsmanship and quality... an exclusive feast of high-end jewellery which blends effortlessly with affluent lifestyle trends the world over.

As hosts of an invitation-only jewellery event, IIJS Signature is inviting select exhibitors, comprising the most reputed jewellery companies in the industry. Each is chosen on a strict set of criteria to match the requirements of the invited clientele. Trade visitors too will represent the crème de la crème of the world jewellery industry. Delegations to IIJS Signature are coming from the countries like Uzbekistan, Italy, Hungary, UAE, Poland, Russia, Iran, Japan, Israel, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc.

Buyers will come away with a new show experience - in ambience, hospitality and style, while finding just the merchandise they need. More than 150 individual buyers have confirmed from various countries such as Hong Kong, Nigeria, Saudia Arabia, Norway, Turkey, Australia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, USA, UK, Thailand, etc.

It is small enough to be effective, and yet will feature diverse jewellery collections. The venue - Goa - is India's paradise by the sea on its west coast, and one of its most popular tourist destinations. The main focus of IIJS Signature is to combine business with pleasure thus GJEPC has organized array of soirée to start with welcome dinner on the 28th of February, Gala Dinner with Indian theme on the 29th and Barefoot in Temptation Island on the 1st of March, 2008. It's more than a jewellery show, it's going to be a complete experience.

Enhancement of gemstones – Part I

Luster or fire, color or lack of color, iridescence, opalescence, asterism and chatoyance (cat’s-eye or star effect) are some of the unique properties that increase the beauty and value of a gemstone. Since the beginning of civilization jewelers have increased their profits by using various means of making gemstones appear more attractive and valuable. In Harappa and Lothal, sites of the Indus valley civilization, archaeologists have uncovered pieces of agate and carnelian that were cooked in charcoal furnaces to change their color and enhance their appeal. Even in the ancient cities of Egypt, Ur, and Babylon, gem traders commonly practiced some kind of gemstone enhancements. Egyptian payrii describe some of their techniques, as for instance, how pearls were bleached by passing them through the intestines of a live cock or by soaking them in slaked lime. Verdigris and vinegar, oil and calves bile formed part of a process to make Emeralds. Various gemstones of Indian origin found in the tomb of Tutankhamen indicate that Indian traders of that time were experts at improving gems. Practitioners of the art of treating gem kept their treatment recipes, even those based on deception, as very closely guarded secrets then, as they do even today.

Colored stones, as all stones other than diamonds are termed, account for about a fifth of the huge gemstone trade. The supply as well as the price in the colored stone market is dictated by demand, availability and ethnic considerations, all driven by greed, fashion and illusion. Large clear specimens of good colors are exceedingly rare and cannot be valued by any formula; their price is determined entirely by negotiation. It is therefore only natural that even today, improved, simulated or imitation gems continue to defraud customers. The gems that stud jewelry are sometimes backed with metal foil, cloth, butterfly wings, and peacock feathers to increase their luster. Doublets and triplets where a genuine but thin stone is glued to cheaper material to increase the weight and luster are common, especially in Opals. Synthetic emeralds are grown over natural quartz to simulate a large and much more valuable emerald. To uncover such fakes, a recognized laboratory should carry out tests to detect such other fraudulent methods.

Hong Kong Airport International Jewellery Show

A brand new Hong Kong and China Jewellery Sourcing show will be held at the Asia-World Expo from 28th February to 3rd March 2008 in Hong Kong. This brand new show is jointly organized by six industry forces: Hong Kong Gemstone Manufacturers' Association (HKGMA) with "Hong Kong Pearl Association", "Hong Kong Jadeware Traders Industry & Commerce Association", " Hong Kong Gold & Silver Ornament Workers & Merchants General Union", "Taiwan Jewelry Industry Association" and "Neway International Trade Fairs Ltd.".

This Show, which aims at sourcing China's gems and pearls, is a professional jewellery show in Hong Kong. It creates an ideal trading platform to gather gemstone and pearl manufacturers in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Its features include:

• Spectacular showcase of precious stone, semi precious stone and pearl with concentration of manufacturers in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
  


• Spacious area to display a wide range of diversified gemstone material which convenient for buyers to browse and to source here.
  


• The Airport Show and the Wan Chai HKTDC show (4-8 Mar) create a 10 days Gem & Jewellery Purchasing hub in the spring season. Buyers can arrange their itinerary in a more flexible way.

For enquiries, please feel free to contact Ms. Phyllis Wong or Ms. Rae Lam at +852.2362.0093 or by email: info@hkgma.org

Padparadscha regains status in the Japanese market

Natural-colour orange-pink sapphires, or padparadscha that originate from Sri Lanka are enjoying very strong demand among consumers in Japan, dealers said, showing that the rare gemstone has regained its popularity in that market.

The Largest Jewellery Trade Fair of South India

GJIIE Feb 15-17 in Chennai

The curtain rises on February 15th to unveil the 4th edition of the Gem and Jewellery India International Exhibition ("GJIIE"), the most-awaited jewellery show in South India organized by Madras Jewellers & Diamond Merchants' Association (MJDMA). GJIIE 2008 is the largest Jewellery Business-to-Business (B2B) Trade Show in South India.

India is the largest consumer of the gold in the world and South India accounts for more than 45% of this Gold Consumption. Chennai and Tamilnadu is the Epicenter of the demand for Gold Jewellery in South India. Since time immemorial, the Gold Jewellery Trade in South India is conducted through Chennai. This is the reason, why the Madras Jewellers & Diamond Merchants' Association took the initiative of organizing First Ever Trade Fair on Gold Jewellery in Chennai in 2005. The objective was to bring the best of Gold and Jewellery Manufacturers from across India under a Single Roof to cater to the demands of the South Indian Jewellery Industry.

The Show has grown in stature over years. This year the Exhibition which will be held at Chennai Trade Centre, from February 15-17, 2008 will feature over 150 Top Manufacturers from India and Abroad. Over 12,000 Jewellery Retailers from all over South India are expected to visit this Trade Show.

GJIIE is timed strategically before the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya which witnesses a huge gold-buying frenzy in South India. This timing ensures that Jewellery Retailers have the advantage of stocking up in order to meet the increased demand.

Some of the Special Features of the Exhibition is a separate Kerala Pavilion showcasing Light Weight Gold Jewellery and Participants from Bangkok showcasing Silver Jewellery. In the Last Edition of GJIIE in the year 2007, the Exhibitors reported substantial orders as retailers from in and around Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala & Karnataka visited the show to view the latest offerings and add up to their stocks. Most exhibitors reported good to excellent business with serious trade queries from small towns of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The 20 Exhibitors from the Kerala Pavilion were extremely happy with queries from Madurai, Salem & Chennai. Lightweight gold jewellery ranging from handcrafted chains, necklaces, jhumkas, ear studs, cummerbunds, armbands and pendants were much sought after. Exhibitors from Kolkatta, Ahmedabad & Jaipur received many queries from Chennai, Hyderabad and Coimbatore for necklaces and bangles. Mumbai chain manufacturers also achieved good business deals.

GJIIE 2008 is organized by Madras Jewellers & Diamond Merchants' Association which is one of the oldest Jewellery Associations in the Country. Madras Jewellers & Diamond Merchants' Association (MJDMA) is organizing this exhibition for the betterment of the Jewellery Trade. The exhibition is supported by World Gold Council and the Platinum Guild International and it is Event Managed by Professional Jewellery Exhibition Organizers, Expoworld, Bangalore.

GJIIE 2008 is a must visit Jewellery Trade Fair for all the Jewellery Retailers of South India. The Entry Fee is low to attract more visitors. The exhibition is on from February 15-17, 2008 at Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai and the visitors can do on the Spot Registration also.

South India Jewellery Show 2008

Dear reader,

Please be our guest at South India Jewellery Show, taking place in "silicon city" of India, Bangalore. Polygon, The Jewellery Industry's Largest Internet Market Place is for the second time official Online Media Partner for this promising Business-To-Business Jewellery Show, in order to promote India jewellery industry in India as well as internationally.

The new venue, Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, perfect timing and support of the industry assure you a great business experience!

Sincerely,

Polygon.net

Karachi International Trade Show KITS-2008

Dear Reader,

Pegasus Consultancy, the leading event management firm in Pakistan, is proud to announce the launch of the first ever international trade fair of Pakistan. Karachi International Trade Show - KITS, is an initiative if Karachi Council on Foreign Relations, Econimic Affairs & Law (KCFR) and is aimed at promoting economic relations between Pakistan and SAARC, ASEAN, Middle Eastern and other asian countires such as Sri Lanka.

Karachi International Trade Show will be held from May 3-6, 2008 at Karachi Expo Centre with the support of City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and Government of Sind.

This exhibition will create an opertunity for business entities from the region to interact and explore business prospects in Pakistan opening doors to the rapidly growing market of Pakistan backed by a strong economy and increasing purchasing power. The event will also provide a platform to build cultural and bi-lateral relationships between participating countries besides promoting trade and cultural awareness.

KITS will take its visitors and exhibitors on a four day global tour providing them a unique opportunity to meet people of different nationalities, and experience their special cuisine, music, fashion and products.

In order to further promote the trade between our nations, we would like to invite you to support KITS 2008 with a pavilion of exhibitors from your country. The exhibition will prove to be an excellent opportunity for the manufacturers from your country to enter the market of Pakistan and promote their products directly to their potential consumers. Key features of the event beside the trade show are the food festival, cultural events and gala night.

You may visit our web site http://www.kitspakistan.com/ or contact us for further information regarding the show and what special features it has to offer for companies from your country and their products.

Look forward to your support and guidance in promoting the show in Sri Lanka and forming the Sri Lankan pavilion at KITS 2008.

Best Regards,

Aasim A. Siddiqui
Chairman & Managing Director
Pegasus Consultancy (Pvt) Ltd.

India International Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Show

(14 - 17 February 2008, World Trade Center, Mumbai, India)

It gives us immense pleasure to announce that radiaant events and all india association of industries (AIAI) are jointly organizing "India International Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Show" (IIFJAS-08) & have introduced a new section for fashion accessories in this edition. IIFJAS-08 is a trailblazing with the first 3 days for B2B & last day for general public.

The exhibitors' profile includes manufacturers, wholesalers & retailers of gold and silver plated base metal jewelry, silver jewelry and accessories, costume and fashion jewellery, crystal, cubic zirconia, rhinestone jewellery, enamel, bead, shell and pewter jewellery, bangles plated with base metal. The fashion accessories section include fashion watches, belts and buckles, hair ornaments, handbags, wallers and purses, fashion apparels, footwear, etc.

Our last event, IIFJS-07, the brainchild of radiaant events had attracted around 10,000 visitors in a span of 5 days and with over INR 6 crores (US$60 million) worth of business transactions among 115 exhibitors, has made the event much - awaited among the industry. (Show report of IIFJS-07: http://www.radiantevents.in/eventsnapshot.exe)

In India, fashion jewellery & accessories sector is the rising industry. The focus of this exhibition is to highlight the potential of this rising sector in India & be recognized as the ideal platform for fashion jewellery and accessories traders around the world.

Hence, we request your support in promoting this event in your country to encourage participation and visitors to this happening event. To discuss the mentioned possibilities, the undersigned would be interested in meeting your kind self personally. For any further assistance, the undersigned can be reached on +91 9819115850 / +91 22 65135243 or by email sampy@radiantevents.in

Envisage the dream of IIFJAS-08!!!

Best Regards,

Sampada Chamankar
CEO

Latest jewelry news updates around the world

1. Gold reaches US$879.40
   Gold hit a new record high of US$879.40 an ounce in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange Tuesday morning, January 8, beating the previous record of US$875 set in 1980.
   
2. Israel's diamond industry ends 2007 on a high note
   Amidst the changes and challenges faced by the world's diamond industry, including weakness in the US market, Israel's diamond trade figures for 2007 showed a substantial rise in all areas, making 2007 its best year ever.
   
3. India delays gold jewellery hallmarking law
   India has postponed implementation of a new law on hallmarking of gold jewellery to certify their purity due largely to trade concerns that it would disrupt the world's largest gold market.
   
4. Hong Kong jewellery sales up 15 percent
   A vibrant Hong Kong economy and robust tourism industry pushed the city's sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts to rise by almost 15 percent by volume in November compared to November 2006. By value, the growth was almost 29 percent.
   
5. First diamond training institute established in Ghana
   In Ghana's bid to further grow its diamond industry, it recently opened its first ever diamond- training institute in Accra. The Diamond Technology Training Institute will provide courses to locals on cutting and polishing diamonds, as well as on separating, assorting and grading the stones.

Malaysia Jewelry Festival incorporates 14th Malaysia International Jewelex 2008

'The Biggest International Jewelry Event in Malaysia' Awarded by The
Malaysia books of Records since Year 1994
14th Malaysia International Jewelex 2008 incorporates Malaysia Jewelry
Festival, 21-24 November 2008, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia

Warmest regards from Fox Asia Exposition Sdn Bhd !

We would like to extend our invitation to your good company to exhibit in
the forthcoming '14th Malaysia Jewelry Festival (MJF) incorporate Malaysia
International Jewelex 2008' which is organized by Fox Asia Exposition Sdn
Bhd and Hong-Kong Asia Exhibition (Holdings) Ltd.

MJF has been officially recognized as the 'Biggest International Jewelry
Event in Malaysia by 'The Malaysia books of Records' since the year 1994.

Themed at 'Booming Your Business in The Best Asean Jewellery Market', MJF
has gained rapid growth of numbers and visitors. Marching into the 14th
year, MJF has succeed in gathering 250 over exhibitors from more than 15
countries and regions with trade & public visitorship of 12,000 prosperous
record at this sparkling jewellery event.

Being the biggest jewellery event in Malaysia, MJF will continuously provide
the best business platform for interacting with the industry players,
establishing infinite lucrative business opportunities. The 4-day fair will
showcase the gorgeous jewellery collections and seasonal hottest jewellery
products, attracting the domestic and international buyers and visitors with
high purchasing power, helping exhibitors to boost the year-end sales.

We are pleased to attach herewith the related show information for your kind
perusal. Should you require any further information, please feel free to
contact Ms Kelly Liau at +603-2166 2833 or email to kelly@foxasia.com.my
anytime.

Thank you and looking forward to your favorable reply soonest.

Yours faithfully,
Fox Asia Exposition Sdn Bhd
Kelly Liau
Mobile : 017-878 4942
Tel : +603- 2166 2833
Fax : +603- 2166 1811
Email : kelly@foxasia.com.my

Welcome to 2008!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

It is great pleasure to be with you all in 2007 and hope you to give
more valuable information on 2008 as well. Keep-in-touch with my blog
to get most updated information in gem and jewelry industry in Sri
Lanka and world-wide.

There are many news updates to be published during january 2008. If
you have any suggesions please comments.

Have a nice day!!!