From March 4 to 7, the four-day China tour left a profound impression on Sergio Martins, an international colored gemstone supply chain expert. With over 40 years of industry experience, Sergio is the founder of STONE WORLD, a renowned colored gemstone company in Brazil, a partner at Miranda Group, and a world-class expert in Paraíba tourmaline and Brazilian emerald. He is also involved in several mining operations in Brazil and Mozambique.
Invited by GUILD Gem Laboratories and GUILD Institute of Gemology, Sergio visited Shenzhen for an in-depth industry research and exchange. Accompanied by Liu Lihong, President of GUILD Gem Laboratories, and Andrew Lucas, President of GUILD Institute of Gemology, Sergio visited the colored gemstone industry in the Shui Bei area of Shenzhen.
About Sergio MartinsSergio Martins is the owner of the Monte Belo Emerald Mine in Brazil, as well as a shareholder in several other Brazilian emerald mines. He is also a dealer in Paraíba tourmaline and a member of Miranda Group. With years of focused research on Brazilian emeralds, he has a deep understanding of the geological conditions, product quality, and reserves of the major emerald mines in Brazil.
01 Market Research
From the Laboratory to Shui Bei Market
As an international gem laboratory deeply rooted in the Chinese market for many years, GUILD has witnessed the rapid development of China’s colored gemstone market. We specially invited Sergio Martins to visit the GUILD (Shenzhen) Laboratory, where he learned about GUILD’s gem identification and grading services and gained a firsthand understanding of consumer preferences in the Chinese market.
The entire visit was accompanied by Liu Lihong, President of GUILD Gem Laboratories, and Andrew Lucas, President of GUILD Institute of Gemology, with guidance and explanations provided by Gaoyujie, Vice President of GUILD Gem Laboratories.
From sample collection, testing, and issuing reports to dispatching, we provided Sergio with a comprehensive view of the modern gem testing process and introduced him to the various instruments used in the laboratory.
<Sergio Observing GUILD Gem Laboratories’ Emerald Master Stone>
As a dealer in Paraíba tourmaline and the owner of the Monte Belo Emerald Mine in Brazil, Sergio was particularly interested in the testing of Paraíba tourmaline and small-scale emerald origin identification. During the visit, GUILD gemologists specifically explained the Paraíba identification process and the theory behind distinguishing specific emerald mine. Sergio was greatly impressed by the comprehensive use of various large instruments.
At the same time, we also showcased and introduced to Sergio the full range of GUILD Gem Laboratories' testing reports, including GUILD Premium Report, GUILD Prestige Report, GUILD Colored Gemstone Standard Report, GUILD Dossier Report, GUILD Pearl Report,and GUILD Token of love Ruby & Sapphire Report. This excited Sergio, who is well-versed in the gem industry's segmented markets and diverse consumer needs. He believes that every professional is a storyteller of gemstones, and GUILD provides rich scenarios and materials for these stories.
Next, the group visited the landmark of the Chinese jewelry market—Shenzhen Jinzhan International Jewelry Plaza, to begin a market tour. This is one of the most densely populated jewelry trading centers in the country, attracting a large number of jewelry buyers and end consumers every day. On the first stop of the market visit, we first took Sergio Martins to the gold section on the basement floor of Jinzhan Jewelry Plaza, where gold jewelry can quickly reach national markets, with purchasing surges that have made headlines on CCTV news multiple times.
02 Impact of the Mining Area
Sergio Martins Teaches at GUILD Classroom
On March 6, Sergio Martins visited the GUILD Advanced Emerald Course to teach the class in person. Many students arrived early and filled the classroom to capacity. Numerous industry professionals who came from afar stood throughout the entire session to listen, allowing Sergio to truly feel the enthusiasm of the Chinese market.
In the class, Sergio focused on the theme "Paraíba Tourmaline, Brazilian Emerald Sources, and the Market." He provided in-depth explanations of the latest production conditions and future yield trends in the three main global production areas for Paraíba tourmaline—Brazil, Mozambique, and Nigeria. Sergio thoroughly analyzed the characteristics of Paraíba tourmaline from different sources and market preferences, using a wealth of images to showcase key milestones in the market changes of Paraíba tourmaline since its debut in 1989.
Regarding the highly discussed topic of Paraíba tourmaline pricing, Sergio spoke candidly, providing a comprehensive share based on production, sales, and exhibition trends over the past few years. As a member of Miranda Group, Sergio introduced the mining areas and production conditions currently held by Miranda, analyzing the overall market trends for the most common sizes, cuts, and prices of Paraíba tourmaline.
As the owner of the Monte Belo Emerald Mine in Brazil, Sergio emotionally stated in class, "I decided long ago that emeralds would be my lifelong career." He provided a detailed introduction to the production conditions of major Brazilian emerald mines and showcased many first-hand materials from source mining, guiding the students through the process steps of emerald mining.
With his lively and engaging explanations, rich and systematic data, and visually stunning images, Sergio garnered unanimous praise from the students for his professionalism and sincerity.
GUILD Note
As early as 2021, Sergio Martins was a guest on GUILD’s Master Live Class, where he shared valuable insights on the overall production trends of Brazilian emeralds from various regions with Chinese industry professionals. In 2022-2023, Sergio served as an expert judge at The Aurora Awards International Gem and Jewelry Competition twice, helping this international event, which originated in China, gain global recognition. His recent China tour has also left a profound impression on him.
Regardless of the broader market environment, integrating global resources and consolidating industry sectors will become the future trend of the colored gemstone industry. In the future, GUILD Gem Laboratories and GUILD Institute of Gemology will invite more international experts and industry leaders to embark on China tours, fulfilling their mission to connect China with the global gemstone market and fostering exchange and integration within the domestic and international colored gemstone industries.
