Rocks in the News - Feb 26 2009

Angelina Jolie's Emeralds had everyone buzzing the day after the Oscar's

TanzaniteOne and Gemfields duke it out and then TanzaniteOnes former head joins Gemfields and now UK's Gemfields brings Zambian emeralds to India and more on Gemfields in general

GIA cut's staff by 9% (It has also raised the price of it's classes.. but they didn't put out a press release about that.) and announced the 2009 Richard T. Liddicoat Scholarships

Times were slow at the 2009 Tucson Gem Show (not that anyone was suprised.)

AGTA issued an alert on dyed tourmaline (okay..not surprised by this one either.)

Fracture filled rubies entering the market ( or this one...there was an article about this in Gems and Gemology in 2006. )

JA Competition Winners Announced

I guess I shouldn't ignore the whole hoopla surrounding gemstone diffusion particularly tourmaline.. don't even know where to begin linking for that, don't want to give free advertising to any of them, so just do a google search if you are interested, but be sure to read both sides of the debate. Here: http://gemologyonline.com/Forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7556 That's the link to gemologyonline's debate on the subject. That should cover it.

Can you help? Fundraiser for Ryan

http://www.for-ryan.org/
This is close to the heart of one of our fellow rock hounds. Jon (at Gearloose) has created this page for a friend of his to help off set medical costs for their child. Please help if you can.

What's your favorite gemological tool?

Take our poll here!

http://prettyrock.com/prforum/index.php?topic=156.0

More on our Brazil Trip...

http://www.prettyrock.com/brazil-trip-2009.htm

We have added some information pages on our upcoming trip to Brazil, and a form to make requests for rough...serious or wishful thinking :)

Irradiated Blue Topaz and the NRC

There is so much false information and rumors flying around the internet that I thought it would be good to post a link to the latest and greatest info from the NRC:

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/irradiated-gemstones.html

Rocks in the News Jan 2 2009

Happy New Year Everyone! We made it through the Christmas season! Wore my poor little shipping fingers to the bone.

PrettyRock's Big news! Dev and I will be going to Brazil in March!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/01/02/comet.diamonds/index.html
Diamonds linked to Comet

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/27/giant.emerald/index.html
Big rock tug-o-war!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/23/international.gifts/index.html
kinda sad that she can't at least borrow them back to wear once in a while...

GIA Cuts Staff by 11%
http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com/njn/content_display/diamonds/grading/e3ie36ce5eb50d8af30097a8e5865d33824?imw=Y

Helping Jeweler's in troubled time
http://www.jckonline.com/article/CA6625858.html

Canadian Rubies?
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/True-North-Gems-Inc-TSX-VENTURE-TGX-928374.html

Cutbacks in the world of luxury
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/business/08luxury.html?ref=worldbusiness

Can't Make it to Tucson this Year?

This blog will help you get your Tucson fix! Dev and I won't be going this year because we are saving up for the Brazil trip. I stumbled upon this blog:

http://tucsongemshow.blogspot.com/

What a great idea for all of us stuck at home and wishing we were in Tucson :)

PrettyRock.com : Faceter's Gallery

Hello,

Just want to remind everyone that we have a Faceter's Gallery. This is a free way for all faceters to market their services or just a way to show off what you do.

This is ONLY open to faceters who do their own cutting.

http://www.prettyrock.com/faceters-gallery.htm

If you are interested in being included please email me the following:

1. Name and location (city and state is fine) and pretty picture of you (or your cat or grandkids or studio)

2. Do you accept commissions? (You don't have to to be included.)

3. Short (very short ) bio of your life as a faceter.

4. Contact info: email or address or phone Please remember this will be on the internet. Sorry, I am not going to act as a go between

5. Images of stones you have cut, about 200 x 200 dpi, .jpg format. We are limiting the gallery to 3 images of your choice of stones. However, you can post as many as you like if the rough is purchased from us These are not images of items for sale, we aren't putting up prices. They are examples of what your work looks like, you don't have to have the stone still in your possession.

We have thought about having a Jewelry Gallery, too. If you would be interested, let me know.

$108 million in Jewels Stolen from Harry Winstons in Paris

http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE4B441C20081205

*ouch*

Carving Tutorial by Hans Meevis

Hans Meevis has an excellent carving tutorial on ganoksin:

http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/freeform-gem-carving.htm

He does a great job of going step by step through the process with photos of the tools and stones along the way.

I received most of the tools I need to learn to carve for my birthday this year. This was the inspiration I needed to get going and carve something... even if it is something only a mother could love :)

Marketing Handcrafted Jewelry and Gems

Working on the catalog this week got me thinking about marketing. Marketing is a very important part of having a small business...something artists and craftsmen often don't want to admit. I don't make jewelry or gems (yet :)), but I do have an art background. When it comes to painting, it was probably 60% marketing, 40% actually painting. If you are really lucky you can talk someone else into doing the marketing for you or hire someone...other wise, it's you talking someone in to purchasing your work.

PrettyRock has a bit of a different business model, we are selling the materials artists use as opposed to art itself. But we do spend a good bit of time and energy (and money) marketing with advertisments on the net and in magazines, with the blog and links. We did shows for a long time, but although they were fun and a great way to meet people, they turned out not to be cost affective in terms of marketing.

What have you found to be affective? Participate in shows? Do you have a website? blog? do you advertise on the internet or in magazines?

If you are looking for ideas, ganoskin has great section of articles:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/directory/library/subject/11/1
If you find one you really like, please share the link.

This is a marketing audit directed at jewelry makers:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/marketing-audit.htm

Great way to get you brainstorming.

I'd love to hear your suggestions!

National Geographic - Crystal Caves

Dev and I watch this episode a few weeks ago, it was amazing! Gave me claustrophobia just watching :rocksearch

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/expedition-week/3569/cave-crystal-giants-1#tab-Overview

Carrots are devine... You get a dozen for a dime, It's maaaa-gic! - Bugs Bunny

As the saying goes...if it's too good to be true, it probably is:

A "confidence trickster" set up a sophisticated scam to dupe people into buying
fake gemstones made of concrete and glass, Northampton Crown Court heard today.

Read more here:
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Confidence-trickster-set-up-fake.4740096.jp

PrettyRock.com: New! Darkside Faceting Lap

We've Joined the Darkside! Faceting laps that is...

Developed by the inventor of the Batt™ Lap, the DARKSIDE™ is a lightweight advanced composite polymer polish lap, made of specially developed material coated onto an aluminum baseplate, then machined both sides for flatness. 8" diameter, 1/2 center hole. This lap has gotten rave reviews from professional and amature gem cutters. Click here to read a thread on our forums for more information on how to use this lap

Imperial vs Precious Topaz

Where is the dividing line between imperial and precious topaz? Got an opinion? Join in the discussion here.

Rocks in the News - November 21 2008

GIA Announces New Leaders

The fight over tanzanite control continues

Record Sapphire Sale at Christie's

Big Diamonds Not Selling at Sothby's

Flawless 2 ct Diamond found at Crater of Diamonds

Saks Sues Customer of Mispriced Jewelry

Exhibit on the History of Jewelry in Baltimore

Andesine: the Cliff Notes

(This is our one andesine, it's 1.2 ct, 8 x 6 mm, in case anyone hasn't seen one)


Pala International has published a good article that summarizes the whole andesine issue. http://www.palagems.com/gem_news_2008_v3.htm#andesine

Since there was never really any rough available to the rough dealers, Dev and I have not been personally involved in this issue. I think we bought one cut stone a year or two ago, just to see what all the hoopla was about. Since at the moment, we are a rock shop and not a lab, nor an investor in andesine, we promptly stuck it in a box marked "To be identified later" and forgot about it.

It has been very educational to see how this story has unfolded, how the different gem labs and researchers have evaluated the gems and come to conclusions (or not), and all the actions and reactions of the different sides involved. It has been a very emotional issue for some, and source of investigative detective work for others. We can only hope for those who have collected many stones, that either it turns out that there is real andesine, or that the companies they did business with will do the right thing and offer a refund.

I do think the andesine issue brought to the forefront just how influential the internet has become in gemology. On the positive side, scientists and gemologists are able to share their findings quickly, and information gets to the public more quickly. On the down side, we expect answers and we expect them now. It's hard to remember that good science takes time.

Gorgeous Faberge Egg Contest

About the contest:
Forbes.com and Instructables sponsered a contest build a Fabergé-styled egg
http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/10/29/innovation-faberge-contest-tech-personal-cx_ec_1029egg.html

The stunning winners:
http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/29/innovation-faberge-contest-tech-personal-cx_ec_1029finalist_slide_2.html?thisspeed=25000

GemWise post on Tanzanite

Richard Wise has a great blog post on grading tanzanite:


http://gemwiseblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2008/11/in-praise-of-purple.html

My Mini Mineral Collection

This is my little mineral collection...gathered from all over :)