GemOscars Vancouver

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Carat (ct)

Unit of weight for gemstones and pearls, equal to 200 milligrams. A one-carat stone weighs 0.2 g; price per carat rises sharply with size in most coloured stones and diamonds.

2

Karat (K)

Measure of gold purity out of 24 parts. 18K is 75% gold, 14K is 58.3% and 10K is 41.7%. Canadian retail stock is commonly 10K, 14K and 18K, while 22K is typical for South Asian and Middle Eastern gold.

3

Rough

Uncut, unpolished gem material as mined or traded. Buyers at a trade show may see rough parcels alongside finished stones, especially for coloured stones and beads.

4

Faceted stone

A stone cut with flat polished planes (facets) to reflect light. Faceting style and symmetry drive brilliance and are a core quality check when comparing parcels.

5

Cabochon

A stone cut with a smooth, domed top and no facets. Common for opal, turquoise, jade, star sapphire and other materials where surface pattern matters more than brilliance.

6

Melee

Small diamonds or coloured stones, usually under about 0.20 ct, sold by parcel or sieve size. Melee is priced per carat in volume and is a staple for pavé and halo setting work.

7

Parcel

A group of matched or assorted stones sold together, often by size, colour or quality range. Ask whether the parcel price is per carat or for the lot, and whether picking (removing individual stones) is allowed.

8

Memo (consignment)

Goods released to a jeweller for inspection or sale without immediate payment, with an agreed return window and settlement date. Memo terms are usually documented in writing before stones leave the booth.

9

Loupe

A small magnifying lens, typically 10x, used to inspect clarity, inclusions, facet junctions and setting work. Standard 10x loupe is the basic tool for any trade buyer walking a gem floor.

10

Inclusion

An internal feature of a stone - crystal, feather, needle or cloud. Inclusions help identify natural versus synthetic material and influence clarity grading; some, such as silk in sapphire, are desirable.

11

Kimberley Process

International certification scheme for rough diamonds intended to screen out conflict stones. Rough diamond parcels should travel with Kimberley Process certificates; ask suppliers for documentation on larger lots.

12

Lab-grown diamond

A diamond produced in a laboratory with the same chemical and crystal structure as natural diamond. It is graded on the same 4Cs scale but is disclosed separately and typically priced well below natural stones.

13

Hallmark

An official stamp on precious metal items indicating fineness and, in some jurisdictions, maker or assay office. Canadian buyers should note that hallmarking rules differ from UK and EU practice, so rely on stated purity plus supplier documentation.

14

Findings

The functional components of jewellery - clasps, bails, jump rings, ear wires, settings, posts and chain. Findings buyers at a gem and jewellery show are usually restocking bench supply rather than finished retail lines.

15

Lost-wax casting

Production method where a wax model is invested in plaster, burned out, and filled with molten metal. Many exhibitors offering manufacturing services quote per-piece casting from CAD-printed or hand-carved waxes.

16

Rhodium plating

Electroplating with rhodium to give white gold or silver a bright, tarnish-resistant white finish. Plating thickness and preparation quality determine how long the finish lasts in retail wear.

17

Certificate / grading report

Independent document from a gemmological laboratory recording weight, measurements, colour, clarity and treatments. Buyers should match the report number to the stone and confirm which lab issued it before agreeing a price.