Greenland Ruby Update 2023
A Responsible Source of Rubies and Pink Sapphires
2023
Greenland Ruby announces a new CEO, Arnt-Eirik Rørnes
Michele Billam recently joined the Greenland Ruby team as Chief Merchandising Officer and Sales Director in the USA. Greenland Ruby intends to develop their own collection of jewelry, as well as continuing to sell loose gems.
IHEARTYOU Awards – In tune with Pantone’s new Color of the Year, Greenland Ruby is celebrating all things PINK, especially with the pink sapphire cabochon hearts, which were the focus of the Awards. Dedicated to up-and-coming designers and jewelry design students, the contest challenged applicants to design a jewelry collection with love in mind that speaks to a new generation of jewelry lovers whose commitment to sustainability aligns with Greenland Ruby’s. Congratulations goes to Antonio Ascolillo, Michela Magnani, Giogiana Bressaglia for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places respectively, and a special mention to Emma Calce.
‘Pink is the New White’ – Greenland Ruby’s focus in 2023 is on our extensive inventory of pink sapphires. Please contact us directly for images, prices and availability
Upcoming Shows:
Thailand Gems and Jewelry Fair • February 20th – 24th • Bangkok, Thailand • Booth #AA25
INHORGENTA • February 24th – 27th • Munich, Germany • Booth #Cl 247
Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show • March 1st – 5th • Hong Kong, Hong Kong • Booth #5E-G39
JCK (AGTA) Las Vegas • June 2nd – June 5th • The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV • Booth TBD
2022
Greenland Ruby is the first RJC Colored Gemstone Mining Operation member. Greenland Ruby adheres to strict human-rights, labor, environmental, mining and product disclosures and best business practices, which reference the highest of Northern European standards.
As a part of the company’s 5th year anniversary celebration, Greenland Ruby collaborated with jewelry designer and artist Reena Ahluwalia. Reena’s original ‘Fire Under Ice’ oil on canvas, which was won by Japanese Jewelry Wholesaler Nobuyuki Horiuchi of Ambrose & Company Ltd. Each entry received a few NFT version to their crypto wallets!
IED Roma – In close partnership with, and sponsored by Greenland Ruby, IED Roma jewelry design 3rd year students submitted their thesis projects showcasing the rubies and pink sapphires from Greenland. The thesis project was coordinated and managed by Barbara Brocchi, IED Jewelry Design Coordinator and Icaro Carlos, Creative Director of Greenland Ruby and jewelry designer. The projects were completed in Fall 2022 and showcased each student’s extensive knowledge of the Greenlandic gems, their interest in responsible and sustainable resources, as well as their incredible design abilities. Special thanks to Anna Tessarin, Antonia Ascolillo, Giorgia Rossi and Igor Quagliata for their dedication and commitment that fulfilled their jewelry design thesis.
Attended Trade Shows: AGTA GemFair Tucson, INHIRGENTA Munich, VicenzaORO, JCK Las Vegas
Learn More About Us!
Greenland Ruby gems are unearthed at a pristine mine site in Aappaluttoq, Greenland [“Ah-puh-lu-tok” means “red”], in corundum bearing rock that geologists believe is in the oldest rock formation on earth. The mine, which opened in May 2017, is in southwest Greenland, about 155 miles south of Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. Its output is processed at an ultra-modern, state-of-the-art cleaning and sorting operation adjacent to the mine.
Greenland Ruby is owned by the LNS Group, a Norwegian, family-owned company that handles mining contracts, road projects, bridges, and tunnels in arctic regions. LNS was awarded the Greenland Ruby mining and exploration license by the Greenlandic government in 2016. The license allows Greenland Ruby to mine, process, cut and polish, market and sell the rubies and pink sapphires from Greenland.
Greenland Ruby’s corporate offices are in Nuuk, cutting and processing is done in Thailand and India, while the sales and marketing offices are in Paris and New York respectively. The Greenlandic operations aim to work with local people in a well-diversified team.
Greenlandic rubies and pink sapphires have been described as similar to the quality of those found in parts of Burma and in Mozambique, two other important sources of ruby. Leading industry laboratories have guaranteed that Greenlandic gems differ slightly and are identifiable by their unique trace element chemistry. Inclusions tell the story of their journey through time and temperature.
Gems range in color from the deep and vibrant red ruby known traditionally in the trade as “Pigeon’s Blood” to the lighter shades of pink (which are pink sapphires). Gems are transparent, translucent, and opaque and are cut in an assortment of calibrated cabochons, faceted free-sizes, calibrated diamond-cuts, and opaque balls/beads. Sizes range from milli up to 50cts.
Despite being one of the newest and most sophisticated mining operations in the colored gemstone industry, these icy rubies and pink sapphires are believed to be amongst the oldest on the planet, at nearly 3 billion years old.
Each gem is tracked and traced from the mine-site in Greenland. This strict inventory control program assures a transparent provenance chain unique to the colored gemstone industry and comes with a full endorsement from the Government of Greenland. Each gem comes with a Certificate of Origin or Card of Authenticity, proving their Greenlandic provenance and guaranteeing that the gems are mined in a country that has an excellent human rights record, is environmentally responsible, and boasts a stable government and economy.
Greenland Ruby’s unique customized inventory system provides each parcel of rough material and all the gems produced from that parcel with their own individual computerized identity linked to it. The identity numbers originate at the time of export from Greenland, and stay with each gem through processing, up until invoice, and beyond.
Greenland Ruby pricing aligns with market values for rubies and pink sapphires of similar quality.
Greenland Ruby gems are heat-treated with borax. This is an industry standard and is stable and irreversible.
Greenland Ruby’s goal in is to introduce our responsibly sourced gems to the wider Asian, Australian, European, and American markets. The growing consumer interest in responsible sourcing of gems has driven interest globally.
Greenland Ruby gems are available online through our virtual showroom. RubyCloud™ is strictly B-to-B and gives gem and jewelry industry professionals the ability to browse and buy our gemstones from the comfort of their office and studio.
Greenland Ruby established the PinkPolarBear Foundation. A percentage of sales revenue from each gem sold contributes to the foundation. We encourage our customers and partners to do the same. The PinkPolarBear Foundation supports International Polar Research in all disciples, especially protecting the inhabitants (animal and human) of Greenland, who are affected by climate change and accompanying cultural changes. To date, the foundation has sponsored two Ph. D. students from the University of Greenland, as well as a sewing workshop in the village close to the mine-site. We will continue to support and attend conferences that focus on these issues.
Greenland Ruby’s intention is to ensure that 10 percent of the mine’s material remains in Greenland for the tourist and local market. Eventually the company hopes to begin cutting and polishing operations in Greenland, to increase the benefits of the resource for the Greenlandic people.
GREENLAND RUBY, an LNS Group Company
Arnt-Eirik Rørnes – CEO
arnt.eirik.rornes@greenlandruby.gl
Hayley Henning – CCO
hayley.henning@greenlandruby.gl
Aricie de Sainte Preuve – Director of Sales
aricie.preuve@greenlandruby.gl
Carl Leenaerts – Managing Director Thailand
carl.leenaerts@greenlandruby.gl
Michele Billam – CMO