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A number of trade bodies, such as the International Coloured Gemstone Association (ICGA) <STRONG>links of london jewelry</STRONG> , are intent on raising the profile of gemstones from both the retail and investment angles. Unfortunately, none of these bodies has comparable influence, or are co-ordinated to the same degree, as De Beers or The World Gold Council, the information resource for gold <STRONG>Links of London Bracelet</STRONG> , investment, jewellery, science and technology, historical and culture" target="_blank World Gold Council. The former effectively created today’s retail market for diamonds from scratch, but it could be argued that its long-held dominance of the industry might well have damaged its investment status. If organisations such as the ICGA aspire to replicate the success of the De Beers marketing campaign, they might be better advised to look at a different model. Throughout much of the 20th century, De Beers accounted for between 70 to 85 per cent of world trade in uncut diamonds. And when a single body controls the supply side of any market, it is in an ideal position to bolster or regulate prices and production as it sees fit. Even if significant inroads were to be made in the retail market for coloured gemstones, the fact that there are so many disparate producers within the industry has made it difficult to apply uniform standards for production and processing, which are needed to underpin an equitable investment market <STRONG>links of london Teddy Charm</STRONG> . However, there are signs that this might be changing.
Purity versus enhancements
The point concerning uniform production standards is crucial to the wider acceptance of coloured gemstones as an alternative investment. Gemstones have historically been enhanced in order to improve their lustre and appearance. The methods employed range from the use of dyes and pigments to heat treatments and irradiation. While they invariably lead to improvements from an aesthetic viewpoint, the techniques have become so refined that even seasoned experts can often find it difficult to spot them. These ‘improvements’ are problematic for investors as it is the pure, untreated stones that command premium prices. Indeed, in order to confirm it had not been subjected to enhancements <STRONG>links of london The Man On The Moon Charm</STRONG> , the Graff Ruby had to be certified by the laboratory of the Swiss Foundation for the Research of Gemstones. And while legislation is in place to compel sellers to disclose the provenance of their gemstones, the widespread abuse of these techniques has undermined investor confidence.