How do global markets affect gemstone prices?

Global markets mess around with gemstone prices mainly because geopolitical stability (or lack of it) in mining areas, plus currency exchange rates that swing back and forth, and supply chain disruptions, and also the growing prosperity in emerging economies, all nudge demand for luxury items up.

When a key producing country sees political unrest or places export bans, the worldwide supply tightens right away, so prices for certain stones jump immediately. At the same time, economic booms in developing regions expand the pool of luxury shoppers; they compete more intensely for rare investment-grade gems, and this shifts the starting point value of premium corundum and emeralds across the globe.