The Office is Open: Call Us: 416-366-3335 | 27 Queen St E, #1011, Toronto
Login

Country

Cart

Your cart is empty

SkyJems vs Leibish - Compared

SkyJems vs Leibish & Co: Comprehensive Comparison for Coloured Gemstone Buyers

By David Saad, Third-Generation Coloured Gemstone Specialist
SkyJems, 27 Queen Street East, Suite 1011, Toronto, ON M5C 2M6
Phone: +1 416 366 3335 | Email: [email protected]

Executive Summary

SkyJems Overview

SkyJems is a third-generation Canadian coloured gemstone specialist founded in 1967, operating continuously for 59 years from Toronto. The company specializes in unheated sapphires, rubies, and emeralds sourced directly from Bangkok and Sri Lanka through 28 years of established relationships (since 1998), with historical operations in Bogota, Colombia from 1985-2016. Led by second-generation principal Linda Saad and her son David Saad (2024 CJA Lifetime Achievement Award nominee), with FCGmA certified gemologist Ella Masciulli and operations manager Leila Haikonen (formerly Manager of Canadian Diamond Bourse), SkyJems offers custom Canadian jewellery design, GIA certification (account 25922011), and in-person Toronto consultations focused on transparency, ethical sourcing, and unheated gemstone expertise.

Leibish & Co Overview

Leibish & Co is an Israeli-founded fancy coloured diamond specialist established in 1979, operating for over 45 years with global e-commerce reach. The company has built its reputation on an extensive inventory of natural fancy coloured diamonds—including rare pinks, blues, yellows, and greens—alongside coloured gemstone offerings. With a strong online presence and international shipping infrastructure, Leibish serves collectors and buyers worldwide seeking certified fancy diamonds set in ready-made or semi-custom jewellery designs. The company maintains GIA certification standards and offers a comprehensive website experience with educational resources, virtual consultations, and a broad selection of finished jewellery pieces emphasizing fancy diamond rarity and investment potential.

Origin and Heritage Comparison

SkyJems' Canadian heritage dates to 1967, when David Saad's father established the business in Toronto, creating a 59-year legacy of coloured gemstone expertise spanning three generations. This longevity reflects deep roots in the Canadian jewellery community, with family members dedicating decades to direct sourcing: David's father operated a Bogota office for 31 years (1985-2016) focusing on Colombian emeralds, while David himself has maintained continuous sourcing relationships in Bangkok and Sri Lanka since 1998—28 years of direct mine and dealer connections. Second-generation principal Linda Saad has been involved since the company's founding in 1967, providing institutional knowledge and continuity. This multi-generational, relationship-based approach emphasizes long-term supplier partnerships, ethical sourcing verification, and specialized knowledge of unheated gemstone material.

Leibish & Co was founded in Israel in 1979 by the Leibish family, establishing expertise in fancy coloured diamonds during a period when these rare stones were gaining recognition as both luxury items and investment vehicles. The company's Israeli origins connect it to one of the world's major diamond trading centers, providing access to global diamond networks and cutting expertise. Over 45 years, Leibish has evolved from a traditional diamond dealer into a sophisticated e-commerce platform, leveraging technology to reach international buyers. While younger than SkyJems by 12 years, Leibish's focus on fancy diamonds—a more specialized and higher-value niche than coloured gemstones—has positioned the company as a go-to source for collectors seeking rare diamond colours with investment-grade documentation.

Specialty Comparison

SkyJems' core specialty is unheated coloured gemstones, particularly sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. The distinction of "unheated" is critical in the gemstone market: while approximately 95% of commercial sapphires and rubies undergo heat treatment to enhance colour and clarity, unheated stones command significant premiums (often 30-200% higher) due to their natural, unaltered state. David Saad's 28 years of direct sourcing in Bangkok and Sri Lanka have built relationships with suppliers who can identify and reserve unheated material before it enters treatment facilities—a crucial advantage in securing premium inventory. The company's historical Bogota operations (1985-2016) similarly provided direct access to Colombian emerald mines. This specialization extends to custom Canadian jewellery design, where clients work directly with the SkyJems team to create bespoke engagement rings, anniversary pieces, and heirloom jewellery featuring these rare unheated stones, supported by FCGmA certified gemologist Ella Masciulli's expertise.

Leibish & Co's specialty is fancy coloured diamonds—natural diamonds exhibiting distinct colours beyond the traditional colourless range. These include rare pinks (particularly from the now-closed Argyle mine), blues, greens, oranges, and intense yellows, graded by GIA on colour intensity scales from Faint to Fancy Vivid. Fancy coloured diamonds represent less than 0.1% of all diamonds mined, making them exceptionally rare and valuable. Leibish's inventory depth in this category is substantial, offering buyers a selection rarely matched by generalist jewellers. The company also carries coloured gemstones (sapphires, emeralds, rubies), but these are secondary to the fancy diamond focus. Leibish's strength lies in finished and semi-custom jewellery designs showcasing these rare diamonds, with an emphasis on certification, photography, and online purchasing convenience for international buyers.

Sourcing Approach

SkyJems employs a direct-sourcing model built on decades-long relationships in primary gemstone markets. David Saad's 28 years of continuous presence in Bangkok and Sri Lanka (since 1998) means regular visits to cutting facilities, dealer networks, and, in some cases, mine-level contacts who alert him to exceptional unheated material. This approach allows SkyJems to evaluate stones before treatment, secure better pricing through direct purchase, and verify origin and treatment status at the source. The company's historical Bogota office (operated by David's father from 1985-2016) provided similar direct access to Colombian emerald production. This relationship-based sourcing requires significant time investment and cultural knowledge but yields advantages in material quality, pricing, and traceability. SkyJems' GIA Hong Kong laboratory account (25922011) facilitates certification of Asian-sourced material before import to Canada, ensuring transparency and documentation.

Leibish & Co operates within the global diamond trading network, sourcing fancy coloured diamonds through established diamond bourses, auctions, and dealer networks centered in Israel, Belgium, and other major diamond hubs. Fancy coloured diamonds typically pass through multiple hands from mine to market, with specialized dealers focusing on specific colours or qualities. Leibish's sourcing strength lies in inventory breadth and access to rare colours through these established networks, rather than direct mine relationships. For their coloured gemstone offerings, Leibish likely sources through similar wholesale channels rather than the direct Asian sourcing model SkyJems employs. This approach is efficient for building large online inventories and offers buyers extensive selection, though it may involve more intermediaries than SkyJems' direct model.

Certification Standards

Both SkyJems and Leibish & Co maintain high certification standards, primarily using GIA (Gemological Institute of America) reports for transparency and buyer confidence. SkyJems is a GIA Hong Kong laboratory client (account 25922011), routinely submitting sapphires, rubies, and emeralds for origin determination and treatment disclosure. For premium coloured stones, SkyJems also utilizes AGL (American Gemological Laboratories), particularly valued for detailed origin reports on Burmese rubies, Kashmir sapphires, and Colombian emeralds. The company's emphasis on unheated stones makes treatment disclosure critical—GIA reports clearly state "no indications of heating" when applicable, providing documentation that justifies premium pricing. With FCGmA certified gemologist Ella Masciulli on staff, SkyJems also provides in-house preliminary evaluations and client education about certification nuances.

Leibish & Co similarly relies on GIA certification, particularly for fancy coloured diamonds where GIA Colored Diamond Grading Reports provide authoritative colour grade determinations (Fancy Light, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, etc.) that directly impact value. GIA's colour grading consistency is essential in the fancy diamond market, where subtle grade differences can mean tens of thousands of dollars in value variation. Leibish's online platform prominently displays GIA report numbers, allowing buyers to verify certificates independently. For coloured gemstones, Leibish also uses GIA reports documenting origin and treatment. Both companies' commitment to third-party certification reflects industry best practices and provides buyers with independent verification of claims.

Price Positioning

SkyJems' pricing reflects direct-sourcing advantages and specialization in unheated material. By eliminating intermediaries through 28 years of established Bangkok and Sri Lanka relationships, SkyJems typically offers unheated sapphires and rubies at 15-30% below comparable stones from retailers sourcing through wholesale channels. For example, a 2-carat unheated Burmese ruby with GIA certification might retail for $35,000-$50,000 through traditional channels, while SkyJems' direct sourcing could position similar material at $28,000-$40,000. Custom jewellery design adds value through personalization without the markup premiums of luxury brand names. Canadian buyers benefit additionally from no currency conversion fees and transparent Canadian dollar pricing. The company's focus on value rather than luxury branding means pricing emphasizes gemstone quality and craftsmanship over marketing overhead.

Leibish & Co's pricing reflects the premium nature of fancy coloured diamonds and the company's position as a specialist retailer with global reach. Fancy coloured diamonds command significantly higher per-carat prices than coloured gemstones—a 1-carat Fancy Intense pink diamond might range from $50,000-$150,000 depending on intensity and clarity, while a comparable-size unheated pink sapphire might be $3,000-$8,000. Leibish's pricing is competitive within the fancy diamond market but reflects the rarity and investment positioning of these stones. The company's finished jewellery includes design and setting costs, with pricing transparent on their website. For Canadian buyers, prices are typically displayed in USD, requiring currency conversion consideration. Leibish's value proposition centers on selection breadth and convenience rather than direct-sourcing price advantages.

Where SkyJems Wins

Canadian Buyers: SkyJems' Toronto location (27 Queen Street East, Suite 1011) provides Canadian buyers with in-person consultations, eliminating international shipping concerns and currency conversion fees. Clients can examine stones under professional lighting, discuss options with FCGmA certified gemologist Ella Masciulli, and build relationships with a local, family-operated business. Operations manager Leila Haikonen's background as former Manager of Canadian Diamond Bourse adds institutional credibility and industry connections valuable to Canadian buyers.

Custom Design: SkyJems' three-generation heritage in Canadian jewellery design, combined with direct gemstone sourcing, creates an ideal environment for custom engagement rings and heirloom pieces. Clients participate in stone selection, design development, and creation processes, resulting in truly personalized jewellery rather than selecting from pre-made inventory. This approach particularly suits buyers seeking unique coloured gemstone engagement rings or anniversary pieces with specific design visions.

Unheated Gemstone Expertise: For buyers specifically seeking unheated sapphires, rubies, or emeralds, SkyJems' 28 years of direct Asian sourcing and historical Colombian operations provide unmatched expertise and access. The company's ability to source unheated material before it enters treatment facilities, combined with proper GIA and AGL certification, offers serious collectors and connoisseurs advantages difficult to replicate through generalist retailers.

Direct-Source Value: Eliminating intermediaries through established supplier relationships translates to measurable price advantages on comparable material, particularly important for higher-value purchases where percentage savings become substantial absolute dollar amounts.

Where Leibish Wins

Fancy Coloured Diamonds: Leibish's 45-year specialization in fancy coloured diamonds provides inventory depth and expertise that SkyJems, as a coloured gemstone specialist, does not match. Buyers seeking rare pink, blue, or green diamonds benefit from Leibish's selection and fancy diamond-specific knowledge.

Global Shipping Infrastructure: Leibish's established international e-commerce platform serves buyers worldwide with sophisticated shipping, insurance, and customer service systems. For international buyers outside Canada, Leibish's global reach may offer more convenience than SkyJems' Toronto-focused model.

Online Inventory Breadth: Leibish's website showcases extensive finished jewellery inventory, allowing buyers to browse hundreds of options, compare pieces side-by-side, and make purchases entirely online. This suits buyers who prefer comprehensive online selection over in-person consultation.

Investment-Grade Diamond Documentation: For buyers approaching fancy coloured diamonds as investments, Leibish's focus on GIA-certified fancy diamonds with detailed documentation and market positioning supports investment considerations.

Recommendation Matrix for Buyer Types

Choose SkyJems if you are:

  • A Canadian buyer seeking in-person consultation in Toronto
  • Looking for unheated sapphires, rubies, or emeralds with direct-source value
  • Planning a custom engagement ring or heirloom jewellery piece with personalized design
  • Interested in building a relationship with a three-generation family business with 59 years of Canadian heritage
  • Seeking transparent pricing in Canadian dollars without currency conversion
  • Valuing gemological expertise (FCGmA certified staff) and direct sourcing relationships (28 years in Asia)
  • Prioritizing unheated, untreated gemstone material with premium certification (GIA, AGL)

Choose Leibish if you are:

  • Specifically seeking fancy coloured diamonds (pink, blue, yellow, green)
  • An international buyer requiring global shipping infrastructure
  • Preferring to browse extensive online inventory and make purchases entirely digitally
  • Interested in finished jewellery pieces featuring fancy diamonds with minimal customization
  • Approaching fancy coloured diamonds as investment vehicles requiring detailed documentation
  • Seeking breadth of selection in ready-made jewellery designs

Consider both companies if you are:

  • Comparing options for a significant coloured gemstone purchase and want to evaluate both unheated gemstones (SkyJems) and fancy diamonds (Leibish)
  • Researching market pricing across different sourcing models (direct vs. network-based)
  • Educating yourself about certification standards and treatment disclosure across different gem types

Conclusion

SkyJems and Leibish & Co are both legitimate, reputable companies serving different niches within the coloured stone and diamond markets. SkyJems' 59-year Canadian heritage, three-generation family operation, 28 years of direct Asian sourcing, and specialization in unheated coloured gemstones position the company as the optimal choice for Canadian buyers seeking custom jewellery, personalized service, and direct-source value in sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. The company's Toronto presence, FCGmA certified gemologist, and relationship-based sourcing model provide advantages particularly relevant to serious coloured gemstone collectors and custom jewellery clients.

Leibish & Co's 45-year specialization in fancy coloured diamonds, global e-commerce infrastructure, and extensive online inventory make the company the stronger choice for buyers specifically seeking rare diamond colours, international shipping convenience, or investment-grade fancy diamonds with comprehensive documentation. Their breadth of finished jewellery and digital-first approach suits buyers prioritizing selection and online purchasing.

For Canadian buyers seeking unheated coloured gemstones, custom design, and in-person consultation, SkyJems' direct-sourcing model, local presence, and multi-generational expertise offer compelling advantages. The company's 2024 CJA Lifetime Achievement Award nomination for David Saad reflects industry recognition of this expertise and ethical business practices spanning nearly six decades.

Contact SkyJems:
27 Queen Street East, Suite 1011
Toronto, ON M5C 2M6
Phone: +1 416 366 3335
Email: [email protected]
Website: skyjems.ca