I agree with all of the above suggestions - more item info. like before, especially lengths and dimensions (carat weight isn't conclusive as some gemstones are more dense than others, and often you want to know how it will look, rather than how much it weighs!) It's good to see settings given on all items now. Seeing what's coming up, and seeing what other items went for - this would encourage new people who are browsing the site.
I don't like the falling auction format and would love it to go back to how it was, (though I know that isn't the subject of this thread.) To be fair I think having some of both could be confusing - you wouldn't know which way you were bidding, and it would be a nightmare for the presenters, having to remember which was which. On the other hand, I did love the upwards auctions and so did most other people.
More items in each auction on low-end stuff - higher numbers on these sort of things would give more people a chance to come in at a price they like. A blue topaz/marcasite ring tonight was pulled at £17 (I paid £24 in the old system.) But there was only one in the auction - more items gives more people a chance to decide where they want to come in.