As more and more jewellery connoisseurs and consumers begin to pursue unique and personalized jewellery, more and more unknown colored gems begin to enter people's field of vision and increasingly occupy a place in the world of colored gems.
Labradorite is one of these obscured colored gemstones. Labradorite is a kind of plagioclase in the family of the feldspar family. It is generally gray, brown to black. The feldspar that can be used as a gemstone has red, blue and green halos. Labradorite is also known as Spectral Stone, because it can be named after the colorful light of the sun. Labradorite can be seen in different colors when viewed from different angles. The color of the sapphire can be seen through the gemstone surface. The large lanceite shows the best effect, which is called flashing color.
“In the past five years, Labradorite has been tepid in the colored gem world,†said Paul Dragone, head of color gemstone supplier Boston Gems. “But In fact, about three years ago, suppliers have begun to take out the stocks prepared earlier and put them into the market to increase the supply of labradorite.†He added that although there are a large number of low-quality labradorites on the market, But they are more inclined to only trade high-quality labradorite.
Eric Braunwart, founder and CEO of Columbia Gem House, a gemstone buyer in the United States, also pointed out that "for now, with a unique color, flash, pattern phenomenon Gemstones are particularly popular, and Labradorite is one of these hot gemstones. It is really a very beautiful stone. The so-called "phenomenological gemstones" refer to gemstones with distinctive optical effects. It is like a star sapphire with a star effect, a moonstone with a feldspathic halo, and a gem-grade labrador with a color-changing effect.
According to analysis, the reason why Labradorite is becoming more and more popular now is partly because its supply is decreasing and the price is rising.
Is the value rising? Still unknown
For the time being, Labradorite presents a particularly interesting trend in the market. As we all know, for colored gems, the higher the demand for rare colored gems, the higher the amount of gems, and the labradorite is the opposite. The higher the demand for rare feldspars, the lower the demand.
The growth rate of labrador demand that consumers are more affordable and lower in price is far greater than the quality of raw materials. Both Braunwater and Dragen have said that they found that the relatively low-quality labradorite materials on the market are everywhere, and more and more merchants are choosing to join the ranks.
The labradorite that most designers choose today is the raw material of this kind, especially those with purple or blue glitter. “Labradorite is really a unique and interesting gem,†Dragan said. “There is a 'natural pair' feeling between sterling silver and labradorite. Many designers choose to match them together. works".
Dragan said he is willing to pay a high price of $40/carat for high-quality labradorite, especially those with gray, black and blue as the main color and almost no fine lines. Most of the high-quality labradorites on the market today are produced in the Labrador region of Canada and then cut into Germany.
Although there is no shortage of supply of high-quality labradorite materials, it is difficult to see the same demand recovery as low-end raw materials. Labradorite is rich in resources. Although it will not encounter the problem of depletion of resources for the time being, in terms of supply, the low actual mining rate is one of the serious problems it faces.
Braunwater said that as the market continues to seek lower-priced labradorite raw materials, and then it will be that the miners’ wages will be lower and lower, they are even more reluctant to spend time and energy to mine. This kind of gems are gone.
Future direction
According to Braunwater, if the supply problem is not solved well, then there will be two major events in the Labradorite market - the first price may show an upward trend, and the second market will be a labradorite. Will disappear in a period of time.
“I don’t think we will see a very interesting market change soon,†Braunwater said. “Because Labradorite will continue to be sold and sales will rise, this does not mean In the traditional jewelry market, it is on the web platform."
He believes that Labradorite will still be the preferred gem for designers and "manufacturers" when designing, because their pursuit of unique and affordable gemstones is endless, and the market share of traditional jewelry retailers will be sold. Will decrease.
He added that if it is as described above, then traditional jewelers will lose an excellent opportunity to attract 'millennials'. As a main consumer group, they are more inclined to buy gems that are different and have lower prices. Like a labradorite.
According to the GIA related materials, the gemstones that are currently trading on the market and are called "Rainbow Moonstone" are actually one kind of Labradorite.
Taizhou fengfu import & export co.,ltd , https://www.ffinterlining.com