Erratum: Ethiopian Opal Report
In the last edition of ICA Newsletter (Oct. 2013), we made a statistic mistake regarding the geological production scales of opal. As an erratum and industry update, the following report by Mr. Elyassu Bekele, ICA ambassador to Ethiopia, discusses the characteristic, mining and statistic updates on Ethiopian opal.
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From left: 30-carat cabochon-cut Ethiopian brown opal from Wollo; 35-carat cabochon-cut Ethiopian white opal from Wollo. Photos: Francesco Mazzero.
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Report on Ethiopian Opal
By Eyassu Bekele, Eyaopal, ICA ambassador to Ethiopia
Opal was found in the provinces of Shewa (at the end of the last century), and Wollo (in 2008) in Ethiopia. This last find has proved to be plentiful, and often of excellent quality, with much of the production consisting of white opals in a full spectrum of colors including red. In addition, Ethiopian opals display numerous features rarely seen or absent in opals of other world deposits.Opals from Shewa are mostly unstable, except the white to yellow-brown opaque variety. Opals from Wollo are very stable and are often hydrophane (absorbency). The degree of absorbency of the Wollo opals is variable: it ranges from zero to near 50%. Some do not absorb water as other absorb water as high as half of the dry weight. The jewelry industry should use the low hydrophane opals only. The huge quantity of precious opal mined in Wollo supplies the market sufficiently with the ones of very good quality.
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From left: Map of Ethiopia; location of the opal regions. Photo: Francesco Mazzero
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The Wegel Tena area, in South Wollo, within a few months, became the major precious opal producer in the world, far above Australia, the previous major producer.
The opal producing area is growing as new deposits are discovered with time. In 2013, the opal-producing area is about 20 x 25 km large. Geological observations indicate that the producing area may grow even larger.
The Office of Delanta Woreda Water Resource, Energy and Mines in Wegeltena released that the production of precious opal was 15 tons two years ago and 25 tons last year. In May 2013, 20 mining cooperatives count more than 4000 registered miners.
In June 2011, the Ministry of Mines released that Ethiopia exported 14000 kg of opal over 11 months to 27 countries.
The recent gem shows displayed millions of carats cut from Ethiopian opal.
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Report on Israel- Market Adaptation and Trade Development
By Yehuda Kassif, The Harry Oppenheimer Museum, ICA ambassador to Israel
The Israeli gemstone trade and industry has concentrated on two aspects since its inception in the early 70's:
A. Production of the highest quality gemstones in wide variety;
B. Exporting almost all production to overseas markets, mainly to high-end jewellery manufacturers.
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From left: 'The Pope' pendant (for men) with lavender amethyst, emeralds, yellow sapphire, silver and gold; 'pink Optimisum' pendant (for ladies) with morganite, diamonds, platinum and white 18-karat gold; ' yellow planet' pendant (for men) with heliodor, aquamarine, rubellite and 18-karat yellow gold. All designed by Yehuda Kassif. Photos: A. Kucharenco.
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1. The production of high quality gemstones led to:
1.1 Emphasizing on expensive and very expensive gemstones (emerald, sapphire, ruby and tanzanite)
1.2 Emphasizing on mass production of calibrated gemstones in all sizes and shapes, mainly for jewelry manufacturers equipped with lines of production.
1.3 Building a friendly market place for unique and very important gemstones for one-of-a-kind jewellery pieces that are in demand in most fashionable jewelry stores in the world.
1.4 The special situation that the state of Israel is exposed to made Israeli gemstone companies adopt assertive and modern marketing methods including the most sophisticated ways of selling the Israeli gemstone production worldwide.
Israeli companies regularly keep up with the pulse of the world's markets in the last few years. The target markets have been changed due to the global economic situations.
2. The industry's adaptations to the trends and the consumer market:
2.1 The fast development of the South and East Asian countries and Far East markets: Israeli gemstone manufacturers are very active, either under their own name or by proxy, in almost all the jewellery trade shows in India, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and other countries (though sometimes Israel does not have diplomatic relations with these countries).
2.2 Health Tourism and its impact: The new wave of health tourism to Israel (tourists who take advantage of the high developed Israeli medical centers) is met by a huge market of gold jewellery set with colored gemstones and diamonds - all produced and manufactured in Israel. Tourists are buying these jewellery pieces while being treated here. The items that are mostly in demand are set with emeralds and sapphire (faceted, big stones). Rubies, aquamarine and tourmaline are also in demand. The clients prefer deep colors (green, blue) rather than light blue or red. Rings garnered the biggest popularity as they are easy to wear or being imported to one's homeland. Other items, though less in demand, are sets of necklaces, pendants and earrings adorned with the lavish Israeli cut tanzanite. These sets are not acquired frequently, since they are usually chosen according to a certain outfit or for special events (wedding, anniversary, formal function), but not something one would buy on the spot. The fact that most pieces are set with Israeli diamonds turn them to a special souvenir that people desire. (Colgem Ltd.)
2.3 A Special gemstone language makes it easy to communicate: Israeli companies have developed a special "Gemstone Language" which enables them to communicate with their customers and meet their demands without having the customer come to Israel. This unique way of marketing ensures the customer receive the exact kind of gemstone. The jewellery producers feel sure about a consistent supply of natural, untreated, high quality gemstones (mainly emeralds). This is a huge achievement business wise that made these Israeli companies stand in the front row of gemstone producer worldwide. (H. Stark & CO. Ltd)
2.4 Strength is achieved by brave decisions and fearless activities: The Israeli Company (Gemstar owned by Avraham Eshed) has participated in the last two most important auctions of rough emeralds. The company acquired (1) the 2000 carats rough emerald at the Kagen gemstone auction held in July 2013 in Lusaka, Zambia, and (2) two most important lots of rough emeralds (out of the seven offered) in the auction that took place recently in Jaipur, India in which over 100 companies participated. The purchases still echo in the gemstone business and demonstrate the strength not only of the company mentioned above but of the Israeli gemstone industry and trade as a whole. It is important to note that the important emeralds will be cut and polished by highly sophisticated machinery made by the Israeli Sarin Technologies Ltd.
Summary
Sales of gemstones and jewellery set with gemstones have increased in the last half year by almost 50-percent compared to previous years. Consumers usually look for nice emeralds that can be sold in the range of USD $2,000-$15,000 rather than other exclusive items in the range of USD $10,000-$150,000.
Israel invites important and enthusiastic gemstone dealers, jewellery producers, and other consumers to come to Israel and buy Israeli high quality gemstones. People may contact any of the Israeli companies who participate in the jewellery gemstone and diamond trade shows all around the globe - to establish fruitful and prosperous mutual business relations.
We all speak your language - the language of colors, hues, exclusivity and glamour, the language of colored gemstones.
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Industry News: Sotheby's Inaugural Sale of Fine Jewels and Jadeite in Support of Children Orphaned by AIDS
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Ring with 15.22-carat cushion-shaped Colombian emerald and diamond. (Est. US$900,000-1 million)
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Sotheby's Hong Kong will present a further sale of Fine Jewels and Jadeite at Sotheby's Hong Kong Gallery on December 6, following the October magnificent jewels and jadeite autumn sale which achieved US$95 million, the highest total for a jewelry sale in Asia.
The Charity section of the sale, featuring 17 donated lots, will benefit Chi Heng Foundation (CHF), a registered charity in Hong Kong that provides assistance to children orphaned by AIDS.
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From Left: Parrot Brooch with coral, emerald, onyx and diamond by Van Cleef & Arpels. (Est. US$60,000-80,000); ring with 2.00-carat fancy green diamond, pink diamond and diamond. (Est. US$230,000-280,000)
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ICA President Benjamin Hackman Addressed the Participants on the Arusha Show Opening Day
The 2nd Arusha International Gem Jewelry and Minerals Fair (AIGJMF) took place from Oct. 28-31 and witnessed an attendance of 241 visitors and buyers from 25 countries and regions. Hackman addressed the participants on the opening day of the show and shared his view of Arusha being the African hub. He also thanked the Government of Tanzania for their support.
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Snapshot before the Arusha show opening ceremony: Benjamin Hackman (middle), ICA president; Peter Pereira (left), ICA ambassador to Tanzania and the Chairman of the Tanzania Mineral Dealers Association; together with Ruben Bindra, AGTA president
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 Meeting on the 2015 Congress Preliminary Preparation
Meeting on Oct. 10, 2013 regarding the ICA 2015 Sri Lanka Congress preliminary preparation. From left: Dayasagara, D.G , of NGJA; Armil Samoon; Gamini Zoysa, ICA director; Jayraj, Chairman of the NGJA; Imtizam Mohamed, ICA Sri Lanka Congress organizing committee chairman; Amitha Gamage, chairman NGJA; Ziqufi Ismail,secretary of the SLGJA; Altaf Iqbal, ICA Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Ajward Deen from SLGTA. |
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Meet ICA Ambassadors Worldwide - Part I
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ICA Ambassadors serve as the direct points of contact for ICA members, the media, government and/or the trade organizations in the country. In this edition of newsletter, we introduce 16 out of our 31 ICA ambassadors worldwide. Stay tuned for the next issue for the profiles of the remaining 15 ambassadors!
Terrance Coldham - ICA ambassador to Australia
Coldham is the chair of the editorial committee of the Australian Gemmologist and an active member of the Gemmological Association of Australia. He devotes his career in the colored gemstones industry and is currently involved in gem materials carving for custom jewelry pieces. |
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Ilan Nissan - ICA ambassador to Belgium
 Nissan is the director of the company Gemeraldiam BVBA in Belgium. He is an emerald and diamond dealer.
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Francis Cui - ICA ambassador to China
Cui, G.G., A.J.P., is the co-founder and CEO of the leading colored stone B-C website in China www.colored-stone.com.cn and Managing Director of HSTC Private Jeweller, an haute jewelry brand specializing fine and rare diamonds and precious gemstones. He is also a HKFGA member.
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Maggie Yin - ICA ambassador to China
Yin has been devoted in promoting the colored gemstone industry in China. She runs a media company providing services of integrated branding, media and public relation, and marketing, etc. Yin has an extensive networking in the Chinese high-end market. She keeps good relations with high-ranking managements and jewelry designers from world-class brands like LVMH Group, Richemont Group, etc. Yin is also involved in private equity and venture fund investments and has close relations with international and local investment organizations and banks. |
George Zimatikas - ICA ambassador to Greece
Zymatikas, a geologist, is the owner of GEOART Fine Gems since 1992. Travelling throughout the world including Thailand, India, Burma, Brazil, USA and Hong Kong, buying and selling precious and semiprecious stones, Zymatikas has a remarkable inventory of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, tourmalines, aquamarines and other rare stones. He has been an ICA member since 2001 and is promoting colored gemstones throughout Greece with integrity and knowledge. |
Yehuda Kassif - ICA ambassador to Israel
Kassif is a jewelry designer, graphic designer, curator, artist and poet. He first worked for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for 17 years, and then held the position of the General Manager of the Israel Precious Stones and Diamonds Exchange (IPSDE) from 1985-2005. He is now the Art Director of The Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum in Ramat Gan and Jewelry Promotion Director in the Israeli Diamond Institute.
Kassif is a tireless delegate of ICA and an active member of WFDB and has been the driving force of a number of prestigious ICA activities and events, preferring most often to remain invisible and acting behind-the-scenes. Kassif edited and published ICA 20th Anniversary book in which all ICA activities were documented. Among his most recent ICA projects were the International Colored Gemstone Poster Competition, held during the ICA congress in Sydney in 2001, Jaipur, India, in 2003 in Bangkok Thailand in 2005, in Dubai in 2007, in China in 2009, in Rio in 2011 and in China in 2013. |
Mohamed Shajahan - ICA ambassador to Malaysia
Shajahan is the owner of Gem Mines, a fine gems and jewellery wholesaler since 1996. Shajahan has been involved in the jewellery and gem business for almost 26 years. With strong dedication and determination, he lead his company penetrate overseas market through his associates in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore. |
Irfan Muhammed - ICA ambassador to Pakistan
Muhammad is the CEO and founder of De Mairo Pvt Ltd, Pakistan and De Mairo Hong Kong Ltd., specializing in gemstones crafts and mosaic art tiles for luxury living and manufacturing gemstone pigments for artists. Muhammed has been in the gemstone business for the last 13 years. |
Sang Phil On - ICA ambassador to Korea
Phil, G.G., is the president of Gem & Human.,Co. Ltd and director of Korean Gemstone Trade Association (KGTA). |
Peter Cajetan Pereira - ICA ambassador to Tanzania
Pereira was born and bred in Africa. He started off in the gem business under the influence of his father, one of the top gem cutters in East Africa, and started cutting gems as a hobby at the age of 12. He has been seriously active in the business since his early 20s and moved to Arusha in the early 90's. Pereira is a GIA graduate. Dealing most with East and central African stones and running the company Isle of gems Ltd., he started out as a wholesaler but is also involved in the retail business. |
Asraf Sultan - ICA ambassador to Thailand
Sultan started his career in gem stone industry, first in Hong Kong for 8 years, then in Singapore for 6 Years and finally establishing his company Right Gems Supplier Ltd in Bangkok in 1999. He became an ICA member in 2001 and actively attends ICA events and congresses worldwide. Sultan joined the ICA board of director in year 2007: first as ICA director from Thailand and Chairman of the mining committee for 2 years; then as an executive board member and chairman of the membership committee for 4 years. Sultan also served as a director in Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association for 4 years.
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Atishaya Mutha - ICA ambassador to U.A.E.
Mutha, G.G., is the Managing Director of Gem Mart. He is a Post Graduate in Business Management (finance and marketing) and has been working in UAE for almost a decade. Created a name in the gemstone industry of UAE with deep passion for colored stones, Mutha is trusted by most of the jewellers in Dubai as an appraiser for Gem Stones. Mutha deals in all kinds of gemstones specializing in emeralds. |
James Riley - ICA ambassador to UK
Riley, FGA, FGAHK, is the Chief Executive of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A). A sixth generation jeweler, he has worked in high-end retail, manufacturing and wholesale. Riley is a member of several CIBJO commissions as well as the UK ethics committee. |
Bill Larson - ICA ambassador to USA
Larson is the president of Pala International, Inc. In 1968, Larson and partner Ed Swoboda formed Pala Properties International, Inc., and purchased three gem mines: The Tourmaline Queen, Stewart Lithia, and Pala Chief. In 1972, Pala Properties International was established as one of the prime sources of tourmaline in the world, and the only firm actively mining pink tourmaline in all of North America. In 1980, Larson bought out his partner, sold three properties, and leased the Himalaya Mine.
Larson travels extensively throughout Europe, South America, Africa, and the Orient and deals directly with miners, gem collectors, and museum curators. Larson is often called upon to be a media spokesperson and is consulted frequently as an authority to help with the colored stone pricing index and reports on international trends in gemstone pricing for periodicals such as Jewelers' Circular-Keystone, National Jeweler, and Modern Jeweler. |
Niveet Nagpal - ICA ambassador to USA
Nagpal has a deep history in the gem and jewelry industry dating back five generations. Attending his first gem show at six years old, Niveet discovered a great passion for the loose gemstone business from his father, Omi, who established Los Angeles-based Omi Gems in 1985. After earning a business degree from the University of Southern California and a G.G. from GIA in 1997, Niveet joined his father at Omi Gems. Today as President and head designer for Omi Priv� fine jewelry, Niveet carries his family's deep appreciation for the inherent beauty of gemstones and reputation for sourcing the world's most valuable jewels. He takes pride in creating one-of-a-kind creations. He is also deeply committed to the education and integrity of the industry and has contributed his knowledge of the business to many trade publications and events. Niveet is a member of several trade organizations and is currently serving on the boards of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) and the 24K Club of Southern California. |
Lesley Faye Marsh - ICA ambassador to Zimbabwe
Marsh, F.G.A. is a qualified Gemologist and passionate jeweler with a wealth of accumulated practical experience including owning and running prestigious retail outlets, an education center, a manufacturing company and recently Zimbabwe's first Diamond Cutting Factory. Faye gained international recognition through her dedication to the science of gemology. She contributed to the writing of the international textbook Gem Identification Made Easy and assisted GIA and ICA with gemological up-dates. Faye started her journey in the gem world in 1978 with the opening of her elite store featuring individual design set with top quality colored gemstones of Zimbabwe. Faye Marsh Jewelers is well known for its expertise, professionalism and trust. |
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Warmest Welcome to New ICA Members!
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Company
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Country
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Contact Person
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Business Type
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The Opal Corporation
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Australia
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Niko Athanasiadis
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Miner, Cutter, Wholesaler, Retailer, Exporter
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Mathieu Tharin Sarl
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France
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Mathieu Tharin
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Wholesaler
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Paul Des Roches
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France
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Pascale Savigny
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Wholesaler
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Singhania & Sohn GMBH
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Germany
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Tarun Singhania
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Manufacturer, Wholesaler
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Rich. Hans Becker GmbH+Co.KG
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Germany
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Marie Luise Becker
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Manufacturer
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Gebrueder Meelis OHG
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Germany
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Christopher Meelis
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Cutter
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Latinlink Gems
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Kenya
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Raul Shah
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Wholesaler, Retailer
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Milenyum Mining Limited
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Turkey
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Murat Akgun
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Miner
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Avalon MYR Enterprise Inc
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USA
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Robert Babayev
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Manufacturer
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Upcoming ICA Events - Save the Date!
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DATE
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EVENT
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CITY, COUNTRY
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Nov 26, 2013
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ICA Thailand Reception
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Bangkok, Thailand
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February 2
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Board of Directors meeting
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Tucson, USA
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February 3
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GILC meeting
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Tucson, USA
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February 5
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ICA Reception
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Tucson, USA
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February 4 - 9
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ICA Pavilion at GJX Show
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Tucson, USA
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About ICA
The International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), a non-profit organization, is the only worldwide body specifically created to benefit the global colored gemstone industry. ICA was founded in 1984 and is now comprised of almost 700 gemstone dealers, cutters, miners and retailors from 47 countries who are devoted to advancing and promoting the knowledge and appreciation of colored gemstones and jewelry.
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