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The Brazilian Gems & Jewellery Trade Association (IBGM) reported that the country exported $24.8 million worth of polished stones in January, with exports of rubies, sapphires and emeralds accounting for $6.3 million.

Brazil has a treasure trove of gemstones, serving up exquisite varieties of extremely sought-after goods, from the wide family of quartzes to highly prized tourmalines and emeralds. According to the Brazilian Gems & Jewellery Trade Association (IBGM), the country exported $24.8 million worth of polished stones in January 2015. Of these, exports of rubies, sapphires and emeralds accounted for $6.3 million.

JNA talked to some Brazilian gemstone dealers regarding their business strategies and their thoughts on the market. Morganite has been the top seller of late for Duarte & Bastos. The company’s Lilian Dayrell Duarte reported strong interest from all markets for the summer-hued stone at the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.

“Everyone has been buying morganite. It is a very popular stone nowadays. I carry a large inventory of unheated morganite, so Chinese buyers, who usually shun treated material, went for those. Buyers from Europe and the US though bought all kinds of morganite, whether heated or not,” said Duarte.

The gemstone dealer prices its heated morganites at $20 to $50 per carat, while its unheated material goes for $30 to $30 per carat.

Established in 1989, Duarte & Bastos specialises in tourmaline, aquamarine, rubellite, morganite and chrysoberyl – all mined and cut in Brazil. It supplies these to gemstone dealers and jewellery manufacturers in better-quality cabochons all the way up to big stones. Its goods, largely of high quality, are sold to buyers from all over the world, including China, the US and Russia, according to Duarte. And while morganite may be experiencing a surge in popularity, the rest of the stones in the company’s portfolio are moving well too, she added. Courtesy (www.gemstone.org)