Global Business BBC

Peter Day's Comment. I think he was right. Innovation is the only way out of the current nasty recession. Enter Saul Klein via OpenCoffee Club. It’s a meeting place for people who love start-ups, and it is now in more than 80 different cities worldwide. Check out the link www.opencoffeeclub.org

I.D. Annual Design Review 2009

The Design Review recognizes the best in design in consumer products, graphics, packaging, environments, furniture, equipment, concepts and interactive. Check out the link www.id-mag.com/annualdesignreview

Gaston Julia Necklace

Marc Newson’s 'Julia', the one-of-a-kind necklace named after Gaston Julia, the mathematician who, in the early 1900s, discovered the formula upon which the necklace is modeled, was stunningly beautiful. Hats off to Marc, really.

Useful links:
www.boucheron.com
www.marc-newson.com

Marc Andreessen

Marc Andreessen + Ben Horowitz = Andreessen Horowitz
http://blog.pmarca.com

Andreessen believes the internet will soon take over all aspects of our lives + most applications are going to be delivered over the internet. Look out for new startups.

Shawn Blore

Blood Diamonds + Diamond Smuggling
www.shawnblore.com/Reports_Diamonds.htm

Read on. There is a lot of info.

Art News Update

The Faking of the Russian Avant-Garde
http://www.artnewsonline.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2708

Useful links:
www.incorm.eu
www.centrepompidou.fr

Brilliant report. Art business is becoming like gem business. There are more fakes than genuine pictures/gems. It's definitely affecting the market. Collectors are pertrified because some experts have not only proved to be unable to struggle with the forgers, they have become their accomplices. It's like two blind walking the streets. Scary, really.

Beirut Art Center

The Beirut Art Center has become a popular destination for Beirutis, tourists and art critics for its brilliant exhibitions. Check out a provocative exhibition of work by 20 Lebanese artists titled 'The Road to Peace: Paintings in Times of War, 1975-1991,' a collection of pieces that portray the trauma of the Lebanese civil war.

Useful link:
www.beirutartcenter.org

Damien Hoar de Galvan

Is There Room for One More? = A Damien Hoar de Galvan project. Don't miss.
http://damienhoardegalvan.com
www.farmprojectspace.com

Microsoft Hohm

Manage Carbon footprints + Energy costs via web-based energy monitoring application. Check out www.microsoft-hohm.com

Bill Thompson Viewpoint

Giving life a shape
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8132623.stm

Useful links:
www.andfinally.com
www.pilot-theatre.com
www.hoipolloi.org.uk
http://hideandseekfest.co.uk
www.thesanchoplan.com
http://envirodigital.wordpress.com

Bill, I completely agree. The cross-fertilisation of art + technology has been useful in many ways. We have become creators of digital revolution.

Living Statue

To stand on Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth as part of Antony Gormley's One and Other must be an experience of a lifetime. Check out the link www.oneandother.co.uk

Useful links:
www.london.gov.uk/fourthplinth
www.antonygormley.com

Gem Market News

The Thai government is planning to scrap its value added tax (VAT) for jewelers on imports of rough diamonds, gems and raw materials to boost the local industry’s competitiveness in the export market. I hope they implement it quickly. They have been talking about it for some time. Many gem dealers and jewelry manufacturing companies are moving to China for good reasons: cost + tax.

Useful links:
www.bangkokgemsfair.com
www.thaigemjewelry.or.th

How To Deal With Difficult Customers

The JCK Special Report on handling difficult customer types was brilliant. http://www.jckonline.com/article/CA6669174.html

Useful links:
www.ex-sell-ence.com
www.iastraining.com
www.jewelrysalestraining.com
www.zellit.com

Fulvio Maria Scavia

Meet Fulvio Maria Scavia, designer, gemologist, philosopher, teacher + explore his creations.
www.scavia.it

Random Thoughts

After losing a number of real diamonds to both women and thieves, I decided to look into synthetic diamonds as an alternative some time ago. At the risk of sounding cynical you don't blow through as many ring-requiring ceremonies & occasions as I have without incurring significant financial loss… and that's before the rings are even factored into the equation. Man made diamonds vary wildly in price & quality. Even so, the discount to comparable high quality diamonds is high enough to make something man made a no-brainer for me. As for whether anyone notices if it is real or not, I can't recall having met anyone outside of the jewelry industry who is impressed with a diamond wedding ring one way or the other, either real or synthetic.

- Kevin Humbert

An interesting perspective, really.

Martin Rapaport Viewpoint

A New World. Martin Rapaport's speech at the JCK Las Vegas show was eye-opening and thought-provoking. Great changes are taking place in the gem and jewelry sector. Do you have the money to be in this business? What are your priorities? Tough questions. No easy answers.

Peter Schjeldahl Viewpoint

Peter Schjeldahl analyzes James Ensor's work whose paintings are featured in a Museum of Modern Art retrospective. Brilliant review.

Happy Planet Index

Costa Rica is the greenest and happiest country in the world. The Happy Planet Index (HPI) measures how much of the Earth's resources nations use and how long and happy a life their citizens enjoy as a result. We have a lot to learn from the Costa Ricans.

Useful links:
www.happyplanetindex.org
www.neweconomics.org

Art Market Update

Happy days for some
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13976812

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.christies.com

Beautiful paintings that collectors want to live with rarely return to the market.

Hannah Barry

Hannah Barry is a name to watch. The exhibition called Bold Tendencies III has some terrific pieces in it. Check out the link www.hannahbarry.com