Insights

Origins, markets and how to buy well

Plain-language articles from SOMSTONE on where fine gemstones come from, what moves their prices, and how to buy with confidence.

Why East Africa Is the Centre of the Coloured Gemstone World

Origins · East Africa · Market

Why East Africa Is the Centre of the Coloured Gemstone World

From Tanzanian tanzanite to Mozambican ruby and Kenyan tsavorite, the Mozambique Belt has reshaped where fine colour comes from — and how it is traded.

27 September 2026 · 2 min read

How to Read a Gemstone Certificate

Buying guide · Certification

How to Read a Gemstone Certificate

A laboratory report is only useful if you know what to look for. Here is how to read species, origin, treatment and the small print.

27 September 2026 · 2 min read

Tanzanite: A Single-Source Gem and What Scarcity Means for Value

Origins · Tanzanite · Market

Tanzanite: A Single-Source Gem and What Scarcity Means for Value

One deposit, a few square kilometres, and a supply that will not be replaced. Tanzanite is the clearest case of scarcity shaping a gemstone market.

27 September 2026 · 2 min read

Ruby from Mozambique: How Montepuez Rewrote the Market

Origins · Ruby · Market

Ruby from Mozambique: How Montepuez Rewrote the Market

In little over a decade Montepuez has become the world's most important ruby source. Here is what changed, and what buyers should know.

27 September 2026 · 2 min read

Coloured Gemstone Market Trends: What Buyers Are Paying For

Market · Trends

Coloured Gemstone Market Trends: What Buyers Are Paying For

Provenance, untreated material and responsible sourcing now move prices as much as colour does. A plain-language look at the trends shaping demand.

27 September 2026 · 2 min read

From Rough to Polished: How a Gemstone Is Cut

Process · Cutting

From Rough to Polished: How a Gemstone Is Cut

Cutting decides how much of a rough crystal survives and how the finished stone handles light. A look inside the stage that adds the most value.

27 September 2026 · 2 min read