education

Maynard Ferguson had a different blues in mind when composing his jazz masterpiece for the 1993 album “It’s My Time,” but blue diamonds have a special appeal and character all their own. Like the call and response motifs which characterize blues jazz, blue diamonds seem to call out to each other in their individual but harmonious combinations of hue, tone and saturation.

Stacey Marcus recently offered a number of Trends and Tips on the Modern Way to find your Dream Diamond for World Bride Magazine. One of the experts approached for advice was Scott Friedman, Master Gemologist Appraiser with IGI North America.

The July Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels auction did not disappoint, in items offered or bids commanded. I thought I would share a few of my favorite jewelry items sold – and sprinkle in another genre or two, just for fun.

Treatments have been used to enhance the appearance of gemstones since ancient times.  The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used dyes, coatings, oils and other methods to improve the color, durability and luster of their gemstones and pearls. But the most fascinating and fanciful tool used for enhancements may very well be the humble chicken.

Gemstones and fancy-colored-diamonds appear in all the colors of the rainbow, at different shades, with different intensities. Since the human eye can distinguish around 13 million shades and nuances of color, gemologists have developed a consistent method of mapping a gemstone’s proper position in the broad ‘Color Universe.’

Have you ever heard of “trapiche” gemstones? Those elegant six- pointed stars, so unique, so rare, so peculiar, such as emerald-beryl, ruby-corundum and sapphire-corundum, garnet, tourmaline and chiastolite? What about Carmel Sapphire, never found before on the whole terraqueous globe

Right now there are delicious hot-dog, hamburger, steak and brisket barbecues occurring across the USA. There are potato salads, crisps and coleslaw. There’s corn on the cob and baked beans. I am inspired to mark America’s birthday with the sparkle of three American gemstones, all local to the USA, in her three patriotic colors.

An extremely rare variety of beryl which gets its red color from trace amounts of manganese, the Utah Geological Survey estimated that one crystal of red beryl is found for every 150,000 gem-quality diamonds. In 2006 the Jewelers Association designated red beryl as the world’s rarest colored gemstone.

Whether it’s imagination, disagreement or politics over rare and expensive objects, or planets aligning poorly – there are a number of gemstones rumored to curse those who own them. Of course, in at least one famous case below, the rumors may have been exaggerated to appeal to a buyer. But whatever the case there’s entertainment value in what I’m bringing below.

Just imagine – a humble mapmaker’s son travels the ancient world, discovers fantastic treasures, rescues a damsel and rises to the highest levels of French aristocracy. If you don’t know the story, “The French Blue” is a terrific read for true-lovers of diamonds, gemstones, travel, excitement and romance. 

Four of the most magnificent diamonds in recent years have come from the same Lucara-owned Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana in recent years. I thought to assemble a visual feast of delicious rough and how they polished. My sparkling smorgasbord even includes both light and dark meat.

The “disappearing diamond” is a 16.87 carat natural Fancy Vivid Yellow SI1 Radiant shape, coated by carbon nanotube technology which absorbs more than 99.96% of light and is the blackest material in existence.

Rough sellers are partnering with technology providers to facilitate digital-scans, videos and potential polishing plans for rough diamonds to their customers. Originally intended to facilitate pre-selection of choices ahead of traditional tenders, remote-purchasing has now become an option.

Not everyone understands the importance of a transparent, accurate report of the gemological materials included in jewelry. And yet, such reporting not only advances your competitive position. It also serves to protect against legal disputes and demonstrates corporate social responsibility.

Did you know whatever device you’re using to read this post – mobile, tablet or desktop – wouldn’t exist without lab-grown diamonds? Did you know diamonds are being used for medical imaging, quantum entanglement and (you read it right) teleportation? Read on.

Courtesy of The New Yorker earlier this year, “The Woman Shaking Up The Diamond Industry” is a thoroughly composed, thoughtful and uplifting story of history, intrigue, discovery and achievement – definitely worth an hour of your time.

What’s on your watch-list? Bookmark this post and get some popcorn ready. There are nearly 24 sparkling hours of well-known jewelry themed movies listed below. These 10 cinematic classics span more than 80 years. I’m not going to play favorites (even though I have one), so here they are in alphabetical order.

Nature never stops providing the extraordinary, unexpected and unique. This adamantine oddity was unearthed at an open-pit mine 200 miles north of Nyurba, Russia last October. Specialists immediately passed it to ALROSA’s Research and Development Geological Enterprise.

On this USA holiday, when we honor and remember those who serve our country, I thought it would be appropriate to visit symbolic tokens along the same lines. Patriotic jewelry has traditionally connected sweethearts, wives, mothers and families at home to loved ones fighting overseas.

Did you know that the sparkle of candlelight is actually created by millions of tiny, brightly burning nano-diamonds? In fact, around 1.5 million microscopic diamonds are created per second in the flame of a candle as it burns.

An exciting discovery was made by Gemologists examining a beautiful red ruby under the microscope. The arrows and needles they found don’t just give hints as to the country of origin, they can also indicate when the gemstone has undergone treatment.

Van Cleef & Arpels’ iconic ballerina clips danced onto the American stage in the early 1940s and were immediately embraced by the public, who saw them as refreshing symbols of joy and hope during the uncertain days of World War II. We could all use a bit of joy and hope right now, so let’s revisit some of these beautiful jewels.

When someone says “Cat’s-Eye” reference to a colored gemstone they are referencing a specific variety of chrysoberyl. Cat’s-Eye chrysoberyl and its cousin Alexandrite, also known as Color-Change chrysoberyl are gemstones which can display the following phenomenal optical properties.

Are close-ups of gemological inclusions actually works of art, painted by Mother Nature in anticipation of our creative human inspirations? When exploring the mysterious spaces of crystals we must sometimes ask ourselves whether we’ve stepped into another area, the field of real art.