Jewelry Showcase April 2015

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customer with the backstory of a stones’ origin, recent
discovery, or rarity.
Gemstone and jewelry author Renee Newman says
that the increasing interest in rare and unusual gems
prompted her to create an “Exotic Gems Series” of
books.The guides provide detailed information about
the gems and illustrate how designers are using exotics
to make distinctive jewelry that sets them apart from
the competition. For example, Exotic Gems, Vol-
ume 2, has a chapter illustrating the wide variety of
non-playof-color opal like blue opal, landscape opal,
banded opal, and cat’s-eye opal. Newman will speak
about matrix opal and common opal at the Sinkankas
Opal Symposium cosponsored by the Gemological
Society of San Diego and the GIA at the Gemologi-
cal Institute of America in Carlsbad, CA on April 18,
2015.
Interpreting the Trends
Newman shares her opinion on this trend. “Each year
I’ve noticed more designers embracing non-tradi-
tional stones in their high-end collections. I think it’s
because their customers want to expand their jewelry
wardrobe with new exotic gems.” Retailers don’t need
to abandon their current inventory to hop on the
odd-train of gemstone trending. But you may want to
expand your inventory base to provide a wider array
of goods for your style conscious customers. Also,
offering your classic goods as a natural complement to
exotic gems is another way to finesse this movement
and expand your total sales.
Arguably the most branded voice in the jewelry
trade for over a decade, graduate gemologist (GIA)
and journalist Diana Jarrett’s writing style covers
in-depth laboratory analyses in worldclass trade
journals, consumer-centric luxury life style publica-
tions, blogs, and monthly trade news.
Jarrett covers trade shows and is an often invited
speaker on current gemstone topics. She co-authored
and massively revised the classic reference guide
“Cameos Old & New 4th Edition,” by Gemstone
Press. Her articles appear in Rapaport Diamond
Report, InDesign, Jewellery Business, Texas
Jeweler, Canadian Jeweller, The Daily Jewel, New
York Mineralogical Club Bulletin, Montage Mag-
azine, Life in Naples, Southern Jewelry News and
Mid-America Jewelry News, and her popular blog
.
Contact her at:
Massive split geodes with amethyst interiors tempt buyers at Tucson.
Author Renee Newman’s popular Exotic Gems books
helps collectors and tradespeople alike.
Diana Jarrett
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