By Larne Boyles

The first reader satisfaction survey conducted in Gems & Gemology’s 70-year history shows that the journal’s readers value the content presented and feel it meets their needs.

A remarkable 42 percent of current subscribers responded; overall, 87 percent were “Very Satisfied” with the publication. A total of 89 percent of subscribers have read the journal for two years or more, with nearly 60 percent having subscribed for more than five years, demonstrating strong reader loyalty.

The top areas of interest were feature articles (68 percent) and Lab Notes (32 percent). The survey also showed that 70 percent of G&G readers work in the gem and jewelry industry, with retailers the single largest category.

The journal’s readers are relatively affluent, reporting a mean annual income of $90,270.

“Gemology is a rapidly evolving field, and sophisticated techniques for manufacturing synthetic gems and enhancing the appearance of natural gems have made gem identification far more difficult,” said Editor-in-Chief Alice S. Keller. “As a result, the articles, Lab Notes and news items found in G&G have become more critical than ever before, and we’re pleased that the information being presented is meeting our readers’ needs.”