Emeralds, Rubies and Sapphires-oh My!A Canadian supply

摘要

The world market for the "big three" colouredgem-stones - rubies, sapphires and emeralds - is conservatively estimated at about 5 billion US dollars per year of wholesale trade in polished stones. By value, rubies place highest and sapphires lowest. By volume however, sapphires top the list and rubies are at the bottom.Geographically, northern Europe represents about a third of the market for colored gemstones. The United States and Canada collectively hold another third of the market and Japan and the wealthier enclaves of Asia make up the remaining third.