NRC issues distribution licenses for neutron-irradiated gems
Jewelers of America (JA) has learned that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued distribution licenses for neutron-irradiated gemstones to Ideal Source Quality Assurance in Columbia, Mo., and to HBM Virginia in Warrenton, Va.  The NRC has also informed JA that several other applications are being reviewed and that it is still working to resolve regulatory questions about existing inventories of irradiated gemstones currently on the market..

Metals - Gold down over 2 pct as dollar recovers but downside limited
Gold lost more than 2 pct, having rallied to a series of 28-year highs last week as the dollar recovered from record lows. Buying slowed as a stronger greenback made dollar-denominated gold more expensive for those trading in other currencies..

Gold's hot streak brings back bad '80s memories
BULL markets are supposed to make investors feel good. But the latest surge in the price of gold has an aura of dread about it. It is nearing a lofty $US850 ($949) an ounce, a height not seen for 28 years. That has triggered some primal fears on Wall Street. If investors are turning back to one of the most ancient forms of money, one implication is that they are losing faith in modern finance..

Translating feelings into jewelry
They are beautiful pieces meant to be worn -- smoothly polished cut opal; softly colored sea glass connected with sterling silver; magnificent jade petals in pinks and oranges; amazing lasso necklaces of crocheted sterling silver perfect for twisting, tucking and tying..

Randolph jewelry sale benefits sick orphans
The multi-colored, beaded necklaces and bracelets on display at Paul Michael Creative Designs might not seem too out of the ordinary upon first glance, but the jewelry has a history. The hands that pieced them together are those of HIV-stricken orphans from Ethiopia, and sales of these items will go directly to helping them..

Jewelry designer refashions heirlooms
Imagine the contents of your grandmother's jewelry box spilled out, restrung in playful combinations -- and resurfacing in runway shows and exclusive boutiques, and on the necks and arms of Cate Blanchett and Ashley Judd, environmentalist Majora Carter, even the Seattle punk band Blood Brothers..

Green Weddings: The Scoop on Conflict-free Diamonds
Leonardo DiCaprio's movie Blood Diamond has brought attention to a question some couples never consider: Could a beautiful diamond have a grim history? The movie takes place in the 1990s, when diamond mining financed rebel fighting in places like Sierra Leone..