Rocks in the News - October 29, 2008

Rare Gemstones Hitting Record Sales

Pariba Lawsuit Dismissed

JTV Reaches Settlement Over Andesine

Burma Ruby Ban Goes into Affect Oct 26

Martian Opal?

PrettyRock.com: New Rocks Posted 10/26

http://www.prettyrock.com/php/facet-rough-all-recent.php

Gemstones Still Hitting Record Prices

According to the WallStreet Journal, the value of rare investment grade gemstones has been climbing steadily for the last few years. Even with the down turn of the economy, people are still investing in gemstones because they see them as more stable than other types of investments. The value of stones continues to rise as other investments dwindle. Read the full story here.

PrettyRock.com: Italdo Diamond Spray

We now carry a full line of Italdo Diamond Sprays for your faceting pleasure:
http://www.prettyrock.com/php/faceting-polish-powders.php

PrettyRock.com: Free Gem Id Database

Devin has created this nifty gem id database:

http://www.prettyrock.com/php/gem-id-database-BETA.htm

This is the beta version (for non-geeks that means we are still testing it) We would love for you all to try it out, see if you can break it, see what is missing, what's confusing, what you would like that isn't there, and so forth and so on.

If you break it, you do need to tell us [b]exactly[/b] how you broke it, or we won't be able to fix it. (We being Dev.)

Right now it has about 150 types of stones in the database. If you have one you think we should add, let us know.

This will be available free to use by anyone.

Dev has some weird addiction to making databases...can't get enough at work, so comes home and makes them here, too. He thinks it's fun \:D/ Not sure how he will entertain himself now that this one is done...

Tourmaline Heart!

This is a stone Dev recently gave me. Its a watermelon tourmaline, but the red center is shaped like a heart! This picture doesn't really do it justice, it's much cuter in person!

PrettyRock.com: New Rough Added 10/05/08

Dev put up new rough today..some gorgeous rough!

You can see the latest rough here: http://www.prettyrock.com/php/facet-rough-all-recent.php

Prettyrock.com: Joe's Special Polish, and Joe's Opal Cure

We are happy add two new products to our store: Joe's Special Polish and Joe's Opal Cure. Created by Joe Depietrio of Bead n' More.

Joe's Special Polish is a secret blend of 3 different powders. It should be used on stones no harder than Topaz (8 on Mohs). It gives a beautiful final polish to cabochon, or faceted stones - especially opal.

The Opal Cure is a kit for curing opals that maybe be fragile or crazed. It contains Resin, Hot Stuff glue, and no stick plastic sheet, and directions use. It requires a heating unit, but Joe has included breif directions for creating your own in expensive heating unit using recycled items and items easily found at hardware stores.

Dev and I first used Joe's Special Polish ad Opal Cure in the opal class Joe was teaching at William Holland. We loved the results! He was kind enough to let us share his secret polish with our customers. Thank you, Joe!