Trends come and go as quickly as the seasons. Much like American culture, tastes in music, fashion and color are constantly evolving. And when they evolve, it pays to be on the current trend.
In the case of the jewelry industry, we are right in the middle of a morganite sensation. A stone mostly disregarded in the past cannot be ignored any longer thanks to internet trends and online retailers. Affordable and ranging in size, it is the perfect stone for new age consumers looking to be fashion forward and unique while remaining budget conscious.
The history of morganite is as young as its popularity. It was first discovered in the early 1900s by George Kunz. After finding this stone, which ranges in color from pink to peach, Kunz named it after banking giant J. P. Morgan, one of his largest clients. Kunz’s discovery introduced a new hue to the beryl family.
Even though morganite appears this way naturally, heating and irradiation are commonly used to intensify and stabilize the color. Registering at 7.5 – 8 on the Mohs Hardness scale it is acceptable for everyday wear, but customers will occasionally need to repolish their stones. As with any other beryl, warm soapy water is the recommended form of cleaning. Maintenance will be important as the popularity intensifies.
While the back story and science of morganite interests the rock-hounds, consumers are driven by affordability and color. Internet activity has dramatically increased sales so much that it’s become mainstream, with most customers looking for the ubiquitous morganite set in rose gold. This explosion in exposure is a result of the new-age, Millennial customer.
Consumer reports suggest that as Americans buy more, they are doing so with their wallet in mind. No longer do they want to make frivolous purchases when they can buy something more affordable. This is certainly demonstrated by the younger consumer. Because of this, stones that are unique but affordable have seen a surge – stones like morganite. Customers are flocking to this stone because it provides them with a rare and expensive look, while remaining affordable.
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After years of being the unknown commodity in the beryl family, morganite is flourishing, even rivaling the sales of the more popular ruby and sapphire. In this new economy, people want a high-end look without breaking the bank and morganite is the face of that trend in jewelry. The rise of morganite has been steadily growing like a top Billboard hit and it’s now shining on the big stage.
Konrad Darling is the sales and marketing director for Darling Imports, a color gemstone wholesaler offering genuine and synthetics as well as lapidary services and stone identification. For more information contact Darling Imports at 800-282-8436 or www.darlingimports.com.
