New Year, New Origin Reports for Coloured Gemstones

What does this mean for Collectors and Values?

As of 1st January 2026, the Gemmological Institute of America has updated its reports on coloured gemstones. The new reports feature an elevated design for “enhanced storytelling” – enabling consumers to grasp the unique characteristics of each gemstone. “Our expanded services are based on GIA’s extensive research and collection of 32,000 samples collected by GIA field gemmologists,” said Shane McClure, GIA’s global director of coloured stone services. 

Crucially, the GIA will be expanding origin determination services to include peridot, jade, opal and demantoid garnet. These origin determinations will join the existing services for sapphire, emerald, alexandrite, Paraiba tourmaline, untreated jadeite jade and omphacite jade. So which gemstones and origins will benefit the most from the new GIA certification? Where will these certificates add real value?

Image Credit – GIA. 2026 Coloured Gemstone Report.

Peridot

Zabargad Island

Historically Significant Origin, Not in Production. Value Add.

Image Credit – Mindat, Olav Revheim

Peridot was found in the Red Sea from 1500BCE, on Zabargad Island (St Johns’s Island) just off the coast of Egypt. This island covers only 4.5 square kilometers and was the main source of the gem until the 20^th century. The Greeks called the island Topazios, which was also their name for peridot, and it has been rumoured that Cleopatra’s emeralds were actually peridots from this source. After thousands of years, this origin is no longer commercially producing, meaning that gemstones coming from this source may command a premium. Zabargad peridots typically have fluid inclusions and are of a different trace element profile.

Myanmar (Burma)

Large, Fine Stones, Lily Pad and Chromite Inclusions. Value Add.

Image Credit – GIA. Faceted peridot samples from the Pyaung-Gaung mine in Mogok, Myanmar.

Myanmar peridot is renowned for its large crystals of a fine colour and clarity. Sourced particularly from Pyaung-Guang in Mogok, these stones represent fine quality and will undoubtedly benefit from origin determination.

Pakistan

Clean Large Stones, Fine Hues. Value Add.

Image Credit – Harold & Erica Van Pelt

Fine, large gem peridot entered the market from Pakistan in the mid 1990s. Possessing a uniformity in colour and excellent clarity, these stones have been suitable for fine jewellery, see above the suite by Van Cleef & Arpels with 228.22cts of Pakistani peridots.

China

Large Quantities, Modern Source, Mine-to-Market.

Image Credit – Stephen Webster. Stephen Webster Magnipheasant Collar with Fuli Peridots

Fuli Gemstones are responsible for the majority of mined peridot from China. Established in 2015, the company owns a mining license for the peridot deposit at the foothills of the Changbai mountains. The company works on a mine-to-market model and has collaborated with Stephen Webster and Annoushka.

Other origins of peridot likely to appear in GIA certificates include Arizona, USA and Söndmöre, Norway.

Opal

Play of colour, pattern and condition the most important factors in the perceived value of an opal.

Australia

Finest, Largest and Historic Source. Value Add for Favourable Varieties.

Margot McKinney Nebula Australian Opal Ring, POA.

Australian mines began to commercially produce opals in the 1890s. The world’s primary source for the gemstone, black opals from Lightening Ridge are particularly prized, although white opals, boulder opals, and matrix opals are also found.

Ethiopia

Modern Source, Transparency, ‘Digit’ Pattern

Fernando Jorge Ethiopian opal, sapphire and diamond ring.

Ethopian opals are a more modern addition to the market, first discovered in 1994, and are distinctly transparent to semi-transparent. Ethiopian opals are the result of volcanic activity, forming in nodules of volcani ash. As a hydrophane opal, Ethiopian opals possess a transparent body colour and digit pattern, although black opal with an incredibly dark body colour has been found in Mezezo.

Mexico

Fine Fire Opals, Transparent.

Boodles, Africa Maasai Mara Long Yellow Gold Necklace. £40,000

Mexico is a world-famous and primary source of the fire opal. Differing to its counterparts, fire opals may or may not display a play of colour. Instead, these stones are praised for warm yellow, orange or red hues and transparency.

Demantoid Garnet

Demantoid Garnet is the green andradite variety of garnet, famed for its ‘horsetail’ inclusions and high dispersion.

Demantoid Garnet . Image Credit – GIA

Russia

Historic Source, Stones Less than 1ct. Value Add for Larger Examples.

A French Demantoid Garnet Laurel Leaf Brooch, c. 1910. Wartski, POA.

Demantoid Garnet was found in the Ural Mountains of Russia in the mid 19^th century. Dubbed as the ‘Czar of the Garnet Family,’ the gemstone quickly became a favourite of the Russian Court and their jewellers, Fabergé. Mining of demantoid garnet was suspended after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1970s, and has resumed and renewed in the 1970s and 1990s, albeit in much-reduced yield.

Iran

Modern Source, Excellent Transparency, Angular Growth Zones.

Image Credit – Irocks. Iranian Demantoid Garnet Rough

Iranian Demantoid Garnets were discovered and first mined around 2000. Gem-quality stones and a healthy, modern mine ensure that Iran is an important global source of Demantoid Garnets.

Italy

Medium to Dark Green Material, Well Formed Crystals

Image Credit – R. Bocchio. A group of demantoid crystals associated with asbestos on a serpentine matrix.

Mined from Val Malenco in Northern Italy, Demantoid Garnets were first discovered in 1880 in asbestos mines. These garnets were found in well-formed crystals and faceted stones were all below 2ct. The mines were closed in the 1970s, and therefore limited quantities remain.

Other origins include Namibia and Madagascar – notably, there are no horsetail inclusions in Demantoid Garnets from Namibia or Madagascar (Gem-A).

GIA Origin Determination

The transparency and laboratory accreditation of these coloured gemstones will undoubtedly see a transformative effect on value, particularly for consumers who will be able to buy gemstones from desirable origins with confidence, instead of speculation and assertion from retailers as has previously been the case. This increase in consumer confidence will lead to increased demand, and we would expect the value of peridots, opals of favourable origin and demantoid garnets to rise over the coming year.

We would advise those with these gemstones in their collections to re-visit their valuations. Our team of jewellery specialists are happy to advise clients on the advantages of certification where applicable, and the revised value of their pieces. If a jewellery valuation is something that you have been putting off over the festive season, we would urge you to get in touch.