As the demand for colored gemstones experiences a surge, driven by their popularity on social media and challenges in the white-diamond market, two prominent companies, Anglo-Chinese mining firm Fuli Gemstones and Thailand-based stone supplier Navneet Gems & Minerals, are poised to capitalize on this growing trend by introducing novel twists to traditional cuts.
During the Jewellery & Gem World event in Hong Kong last September, Fuli Gemstones and Navneet Gems & Minerals unveiled their innovative lapidary creations, drawing attention to the beauty of peridots and rubies, respectively. These distinct cuts are designed to offer a fresh and captivating allure for the increasingly discerning consumer.
Fuli Gemstones introduced the proprietary “Fuli cut,” described as a modern update of a classic shape, specifically tailored for the company’s signature peridots. Peridots are renowned for their pleochroism, displaying different colors depending on the viewing angle, and birefringence, causing light to split within the stone, resulting in enhanced sparkle. According to Pia Tonna, Fuli’s executive director, the Fuli cut maximizes these effects. Tonna explains, “Taking the timeless antique cushion cut, we added seven new facets to the pavilion and cut the gemstone on the cross, revealing Fuli’s distinctive vivid green and incredible liveliness. We like to push the boundaries of innovation in everything we do, and exploring gemstone cutting to bring out the natural beauty of our peridot without being gimmicky is just one example.”
Navneet Gems & Minerals, on the other hand, introduced a collection of responsibly sourced portrait-cut rubies. This highly technical cut, historically used in ancient India on diamonds to create protective covers for miniature paintings, features a thin, flat cut with a large table and facets on the sides to enhance the gemstone’s size. Navneet Agarwal, the company’s marketing manager, notes that applying this technique to colored gemstones is a new and distinctive approach. The collection aims to broaden ruby options for buyers, particularly jewelers. Agarwal states, “The response [at Jewellery & Gem World] was phenomenal, but repeat business will only come with distribution.”
As the colored gemstone market continues to evolve, Fuli Gemstones and Navneet Gems & Minerals showcase their commitment to innovation, pushing the boundaries of traditional cuts to meet the demands of a dynamic and discerning consumer base. The success of these unique lapidary creations underscores the industry’s embrace of new perspectives and techniques in the ever-evolving world of colored gemstones.
