Whiteflash-Diamond Playground

From National Jeweler Network - The American Gem Trade Association Gemological Testing Center (AGTA GTC) is now offering a one-of-a-kind, custom-built document with an elegance to match the individual jewel it describes. The AGTA GTC “JewelFolio” consists of approximately 35 full-color pages and features information on the gemstone’s history, legend and lore, further reading references and care information. It also includes the stone’s AGTA GTC Origin Report and detailed testing information (if requested), as well as color photos illustrating both rough and cut gems and inclusions, and macro- and microphotographs. The documents are offered in a cloth-bound format at $1,950 for AGTA members ($2,150 for non-members), and in a leather-bound format at $2,150 for AGTA members ($2,350 for non-members). In November 2007, JewelFolios will be available for Kashmir sapphire, Burmese sapphire, Burmese ruby and Colombian emerald. In a statement, the lab said that many other additional volumes are in preparation and that additional stones will be quoted on request. The JewelFolios are designed and written by AGTA GTC’s renowned gemologist-researcher-writer Richard Hughes. “In the gemological laboratories, we have the pleasure of working with some of the most beautiful and rare objects on the planet which are creations of wonder and awe. Yet wonder and reverence are absent from traditional lab documents,” Hughes said in a statement. “AGTA has addressed the need of fully revealing the passion and luster of nature’s beauty by the creation of the JewelFolio.” For more information, contact Lore Kiefert at (212) 752-1717 .