We all know that inclusions in diamonds can be a bad thing. Nearly invisible specks inside a diamond can have a tremendous effect on value. However, inclusions play a major role in the world of coloured gemstones. Inclusions are a very important part of…
If you really want to make your coloured stone business stand out from the rest, look for gems cut by master craftsmen and artists. For very high quality material; especially Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, you want classic shapes and cuts that are…
One of the most important considerations in dealing in coloured stones is cut. In fact, a good cut is more important for coloured stones than it is for diamonds, and often more difficult to achieve. Each species of coloured stones has different…
The most interesting category of coloured stones is gems that display optical phenomena. This week we will examine some of the more common phenomena that can add interest and profit to the coloured stone department of a retail store. Phenomenal stones…
Coloured gemstones are the hottest thing in the jewellery world right now and will only get stronger. There are wonderful opportunities for profits at all price points. Over the next few weeks, I will dig into several different aspects of stocking and…
Television shopping has been around for more than 30 years. There are several shopping channels dedicated just to Jewellery and gems, which are one of the more popular product categories. This is a huge market segment where sales are calculated in the…
Two companies have made the news recently by charging a fee for shoppers that are “just looking”. This in reaction to the problem of “show-rooming” where customers visit store to see products and ask questions then go online to find it cheaper.…
Women love shopping for jewellery. For many it is not only a hobby but often it becomes an obsession. Give a woman a decent amount of money to spend on whatever she desires and the chances are pretty good that one…
Tucked away in a small village on the outskirts of the city of Chiang Rai in northern Thailand, Lee Little creates hand crafted jewellery in silver and gold. However, thanks to the internet he sells to a global market; with enough…
This is one of my favourite shows. This year, however, seemed much slower and quieter than usual. Several vendors mentioned that business was down from previous years. There just wasn’t the same level of excitement that I’ve seen before.
