Gemscentric

Written by Julian Robov


Sixty Seven


Among a group of prominent super dealers like Sheik Muhammed, Robert Hassan and Lawrence Lee, Rudy was seen in Geneva at the sales room of Marttin’s; a newcomer, observing the really nice things of the world, especially blue sapphires. His agents were bidding by telephone.

A oval-shaped blue sapphire weighing 16.40carats, mounted in platinum and gold.
A cushion-shaped blue sapphire weighing approximately 8.00carats, flanked by small single-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum.
A sugarloaf blue sapphire weighing 9.50carats, flanked by baguette diamonds, mounted in platinum.
An oval-shaped blue sapphire weighing 37.77carats, flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 4.00carats, mounted in platinum.
An attractive unmounted rectangular-cut blue sapphire weighing approximately 13.32carats with a certificate stating the sapphire is of Burmese origin.
A cushion-shaped sapphire weighing approximately 15.97carats, in a circular-cut diamond scalloped surround with a certificate stating the sapphire is of Burmese origin.
An unmounted cushion-shaped sapphire weighing approximately 6.01carats with a certificate stating the sapphire is of Burmese origin.
An important pair of sapphire and diamond ear-pendants with marquise-cut diamond cluster mount suspending a cushion-shaped sapphire weighing approximately 15.00carats, and 16.25carats, mounted in platinum, with certificates stating that the two sapphires were of Burmese origin.
An attractive cabochon sapphire and diamond necklace designed as graduated cabochon sapphire and pave-set diamond bombe clusters surrounded by marquise-cut diamonds, with circular-cut diamond cluster shoulders to the oval-cut and pave-cut diamond cluster links between, mounted in 18K yellow gold.
An attractive sapphire and diamond cocktail ring, set with a rectangular-cut sapphire weighing approximately 13.33carats, in a pave-set diamond strap-work mount surrounded by baguette and triangular-cut diamonds, with a certificate stating that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin.
A fine single-stone sapphire ring, set with a cushion-shaped sapphire weighing approximately 17.56carats, with baguette-cut diamond shoulders to the platinum hoop, with a certificate stating that the sapphire is of Burmese origin.
A sapphire and diamond ring, set with a cushion-shaped sapphire weighing approximately 4.64carats, with a baguette-cut diamond stepped shoulders to the ribbed hoop, with a certificate stating that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin.
A fine unmounted cushion-shaped sapphire weighing approximately 7.22carats, with a certificate stating that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin.
A diamond and sapphire three-stone pin, set with two square-cut diamonds weighing approximately 8.55carats, and 7.72carats, flanking a rectangular-cut sapphire weighing approximately 9.54carats, with a certificate stating that the sapphire is of Burmese origin.
A sapphire and diamond ring, set with a cushion-shaped sapphire weighing approximately 18.08carats, flanked by two tapered baguette-cut diamond shoulders to the platinum hoop, with a certificate stating that the sapphire is of Burmese origin.
A pair of sapphire and diamond ear-clips, with cushion-shaped sapphire drop weighing approximately 19.36carats, and 20.52carats suspended from a baguette-cut diamond two-row mount trimmed to the center with a circular-cut diamond band, with a certificate stating that the sapphire of 19.36carats is of Burmese origin.
A single-stone cushion-shaped sapphire ring weighing approximately 9.87carats in a diamond-set pierced mount.
A sapphire and diamond ring, set with an oval-cut sapphire weighing approximately 7.75carats, with triangular-cut diamond shoulders to the 18K yellow gold hoop, with a certificate stating that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin.
An attractive art deco sapphire and diamond clip brooch, as a circular-cut diamond openwork stylized arrowhead bound by baguette-cut diamonds and caliber-cut sapphires, centering on a rectangular-cut sapphire weighing approximately 3.92carats.
A sapphire and diamond ring, set with a rectangular sapphire-cut sapphire weighing approximately 8.18carats, with a pave-set diamond scrolled shoulders to the plain hoop, with a certificate stating that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin.
A sapphire and diamond ring, set with a cushion-shaped sapphire weighing approximately 6.39carats, with a marquise-cut diamond shoulders to the plain hoop, with a certificate stating that the sapphire is of Kashmir origin.
A sapphire and diamond necklace, with seven graduated cushion-shaped sapphires weighing approximately 6.65carats, 7.39carats, 9.45carats, 12.99carats, 9.90carats, 8.88carats, and 6.68carats, in circular-cut diamond cluster surrounds, with sapphire and diamond floral cluster back chain, mounted in platinum and 18K yellow gold, with certificates stating that the seven sapphires were of Kashmir origin.

After the selective acquisition, he left for New York.


In an unmarked building on 34th Street, a stone’s throw away from Park Avenue in New York City, Rudy unloaded sacks of rough blue sapphires from Madagascar, Nigeria, Australia, Tanzania, Kenya, Cambodia, Burma and Laos. Behind a closed door, a special gem room, had a friendly reminder.
“Admittance by Invitation Only.”
There had been a lively interest in blue sapphires lately; before that such acquisitions were the privilege of the ignorant filthy rich or speculators and investors. With a dose of foresight and stubborn conviction, Rudy had the vision to do something more. He began traveling with Potch, conversing with collectors, dealers, scientists, mine owners, jewelers, gem schools, students grasping the differing tastes and the economics, educating, and insisting on full disclosure and transparency.
His mission had been to meet and talk to the real people—the great, the near great and the just curious. The results had been astounding. People from every walk of life began taking an interest in blue sapphires for their personal enjoyment, building special cabinets, dens, and private homes—to display their collection due to one man’s influence.
Rudy Smith.
Later, he began an educational campaign to apprise the ignorant public of the beauty of nature’s gift. He concentrated on blue sapphires appearing on radio and television in ninety eight cities around the world. Thousand of dealers from the four corners of the world were after him, because their stocks were depleting under new demands. So far it has been a good experience. For solitude and confidence, he had only place to seek refuge.
At “Pailin Shelter!”. In Bangkok.
He just wanted a change for a different sort of reflection of his own life—having seen the good and bad—by working in the gem industry for so long. By observing the birefringence, the cause and effect, and the necessary tools to mend his way for a better future, he retired to his private room holding in his hand a blue sapphire rough weighing 25 kilos.