Learning: UltraTec's Faceting 101 Tutorials!

If you have ever wanted to learn to facet, check out this new series on faceting:

Part 1, Introduction, Parts of the Faceting Machine -http://youtu.be/oD6ZlNmtwmM

Part 2 Dops - http://youtu.be/xli8iqW5ciU

Part 3 Laps - http://youtu.be/zdhgT0B6jT4

I will keep you posted when the next ones come out.

Planned for the future:

Part 4 Choosing Rough - Size, shape, color 

Part 5 Preforming 

6. Dopping

7. Faceting the Pavillion 

8. Faceting the Girdle 

9. Prepolishing 

10. Polishing 

11. Transferring 

12. Cutting The Crown 

13. Cutting The Table 

14. Undopping The Stone 

15. Closing

Football players are even competitve about their rings!

Football players are even competitve about their rings!

GIA - Photo courtesy Tiffany & Co.

Great article about their design and some of the interesting facts and stories about the rings.

Read  here:   http://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research-super-bowl-rings

Monday Funny (not rock related)

This is Chief, one of our cats.  He found full bag of catnip.  Enough said.

Big Blue Diamond Found!

Philip Mostert / Petra Diamonds Limited via AFP - Getty Images


From worldnews.nbcnews.com article: A 29.6-carat blue diamond, one of the rarest and most coveted in the world with a possible price tag of tens of millions of dollars, has been discovered at a South African mine by Petra Diamonds. 

(Thank you to Clara for pointing out this article!)

GIA on :The Smithsonian Gem and Mineral Collection

GIA posted an excellent article on the The Smithsonian Gem and Mineral Collection including great behind the scenes photos and interview with the curator-in-charge Jeffery Post.  Read more here!

This raspberry-and mint-colored tourmaline—nicknamed the “Steamboat”—is one of the world’s finest and most valuable mineral specimens. Photo by Duncan Pay © GIA, courtesy The Smithsonian Institution http://geogallery.si.edu

$20 off $100! January Coupon

Baby it's cold outside!  So here's a little something to warm your heart:

$20 off any order over $100!   

Just put : SnowDay2014

in the discount coupon box at check out.

Valid from Jan 15 2014 to Jan 31 2014

 Discounts can not be combined.  

No cash value. Can not be used on Ultra Tec Machines

Okay..so maybe it's not so cold in Charlotte NC as it is where you are.  But I did have to put a sweater on this morning ;)   Stay warm and don't let your opals crack!

New Rough Posted - Jan 12 2014

We have posted a bunch of new rough!  Check it out here!

Jus a few highlights:

8.8ct Paraiba Tourmaline

45.71ct Watermelon Tourmaline

 28.4ct Indicolite Tourmaline

3.35ct Bastnaesite

Great Blog Post on Quartzsite!

image from: http://www.quartzsitebusinesschamber.com/town.html

Wish you were in Quartzsite?  Check out the great blog posts over at Snob Appeal Jewelry:

http://www.snobappealjewelry.com/blog/2014/01/quartzsite-rocks-and-redneck-guitars/

We will be in Tucson at the end of the month..can't wait.  Looking forward to all the gorgeous stones and more importantly, catching up with  many old friends!

On My Desk Today: Emerald Preforms

Sorting a bag of emerald preforms...

sort of sorted!

  now to bag and label and weight and measure and photo and describe and post...