Lab Notes

Jennifer Heeber

PGS had the pleasure of welcoming jewelry journalist Jennifer Heebner to Chicago this past week, following her trip to the Tucson Gem Show. Jewelers and enthusiasts alike gathered for her talk at the Maller's Building to learn about upcoming trends for 2026. Heebner has been covering the jewelry industry for over 25 years, tracking and predicting trends in the industry. She served as senior editor for JCK magazine for 19 years and now serves as editor in chief of AGTA's Prism

Maia Brunel

3 min read

Hoppers

This ring was submitted to the laboratory and upon examination we noticed a natural ‘part of the skin’ of the diamond. On the pavilion, you can see what is sometimes referred to as a ‘hopper’.

Maia Brunel

2 min read

A Photographic Study of HPHT Diamonds

PGS Laboratory recently completed a study of lab-grown fancy yellow and orange diamonds produced by Gemesis Corporation. The research offered a deeper look into the HPHT growth process, revealing a range of distinctive features unique to these stones. The following photomicrographs highlight several of the study’s key findings.

Lab Notes

Eitan Tashey

2 min read

Russian Demantoids

The laboratory recently photographed an outstanding collection of Demantoid garnets from Russia’s famed Ural Mountains, known for producing some of the gem’s finest colors. Though new production is minimal, stones from this historic source still appear on the market through second-hand channels. We had the pleasure to do a photographic study on a fine collection of Demantoid garnets from the classic deposit in the Ural Mountains of Russia. This deposit has long been lauded fo

Myriam Tashey

1 min read

Eco-Concious Jewelery

The jewelry market is witnessing a renewed appreciation for traditional wedding pieces, especially simple gold wedding bands. Younger, eco-conscious brides are choosing responsibly sourced “virgin” gold, prioritizing conflict-free origins as part of their commitment to meaningful, ethical unions. In diamond bridal sets, white metals continue to dominate, but pink tones are steadily gaining traction as modern couples seek softer, more expressive alternatives. Vintage Coral e

Trend Reports

Myriam Tashey

2 min read

Jeweler Spotlight

featuring Christopher Duquet Fine Jewelry Design C hristopher Duquet is a jewelry designer in the city of Evanston. His shop produces one-of-a-kind and limited-edition works of fine jewelry. Christopher has won several national awards for design and is currently working on a new series scheduled to debut this fall called Facing East. This collection is inspired by ancient Edo (modern-day Tokyo) which became renowned for its artistic achievements in painting, printma

Myriam Tashey

1 min read