Gemscentric

Written by Julian Robov


Thirty Nine


The palatial room looked wholesome as Potch and her business partners, Busaban and Khanita sifted through the final details of Blue Color City. They were awaiting Rudy and James before giving the final nod to their staff, who were meticulously working on a content-filled marketing idea. Rudy arrived at Potch’s Pathumthani residence with James. James was driving the Volvo.
“Okay boys, what would you like to drink? It’s now ten thirty,” Potch reminded, as she welcomed Rudy and James with a warm hug.
James glanced at his watch and said, ”I’ll go for Darjeeling tea.” Rudy nodded.
“I have also invited a representative from the Rigorous Independent Center for Gemstone Testing (RICGT). They have been in the business of gem testing in Bangkok for more than two decades—with an exclusive experience in blue sapphires and origin certification. I am told they have the best identification tools in the world. He should be here in thirty minutes,” Potch said.
“Good,” James added. “At least it’s looking professional with no guess work.”
“We want to build trust and transparency among foreigners,” Busaban continued. “That way people from abroad will visit us again and again. Through word of mouth and product presentation, our reputation will spread all around the world. They will tell their friends only one thing. If they want natural blue sapphires, there is only one place on earth to visit—Blue Color City!”
Rudy listened attentively. There was a lot of synergy and creativity going on as they spoke. No one had ever ventured with blue sapphires on such a large scale. They were dead serious. They wanted Bangkok to be the place for anyone in the world shopping around for blue sapphires.
The next big surprise was from Khanita. She had already made a deal, with a few venture capitalists, to open a blue sapphire trading floor using the Internet—with the intention of adding more colored gems at a later stage, after the blue sapphire experimentation.
“There was a lot of soul-searching, before I got into the Internet idea. First, anyone should be able to look for blue sapphires, anytime using our facility with our widest selection, because we have the stone, the people and, of course, the mines. We need to use information technology for global attention so that they get instant news regarding a certain quality, size or even origin. We have also hired the best experts in the field of gemology and treatments—to answer any of the technical details, if anyone does wish to put forward such questions. We are going to be the first in the region to introduce such a facility,” she explained proudly.
“Now who is this gem expert who claims to be knowledgeable in blue sapphire origin determination?” Rudy asked eagerly.
“His name is Frederick Lee Stones,” Khanita said. “He is half-Asian, half-American. Let’s call him an assembled gem, shall we? In fact, we had lunch a couple of days ago. He is in Antarctica now doing some research. He should be in Bangkok in a week.”
“How come we didn’t know that there were scientists specializing in blue sapphires?” James asked.
“Well, that’s why we are very special,” Potch added. “We go the extra mile to fetch people, brains and, of course, blue sapphires even though we aren’t in the business on a daily basis. But we like to do business with Rudy, because it’s not only good for the country but also for friendship.”
Rudy was flattered by Potch’s comment. He believed she was speaking from her heart, and wondered what other surprises were in store in the coming days.

Peter Flawrescian—a Canadian, joined the discussion. He was the resident gem testing laboratory director for the Rigorous Independent Center for Gemstone Testing (RICGT). He was warmly welcomed by Potch with her trademark bear hug. Later he was introduced to Rudy and James, while others had known Peter for sometime.
“Do you think your laboratory can determine the origin of blue sapphires? I mean, we’re talking serious business,” Rudy asked.
“Sure,” Peter continued. “We have everything at least for now to scientifically prove the origin of blue sapphires. We specialize in rubies, diamonds and emeralds as well. I’m talking about origin certification, because of the interest generated by the trade. For some reason, we don’t see the same enthusiasm with diamonds. I assume it has to do with De Beers, and their specialty in mixing diamonds from all over the world, and virtually making it difficult for the sight holders (the key buyers who are invited to view boxes of diamonds that have been sorted in accordance with their needs, every two months) to track the original source. They have been extremely successful in habitualizing the diamond rough buyers, cutters, dealers and consumers for so long no one can compete with them. The colored gemstone industry needs soul-searching and catch up expertise. Now to get back to the scientific tools we use, we have an impressive track record. Some of the tools, in addition to standard gemological instrumentation includes, Electron Microprobe, Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry, Neutron Activation Analysis, Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) Analysis, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Electron Magnetic Resonance, Optical Emission Spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence(EDXRF), Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectrometer (FTIR), Raman Spectroscopy, Cathodoluminiscence, and Laser Tomography. We also do a lot of collaboration work with other research gem laboratories, research faculties of universities in the United States, Europe and Asia updating our data base and other info. So to make it short, we’re pretty well prepared to meet the global challenges.”
“Do these tools identify treatments and synthetics?” James asked.
“Definitely. That’s why we need analytical tools to help us in case we couldn’t identify the gem using our standard gemological kits,” Peter added.
“Which means all the blue sapphires available at the Blue Color City will have a certification indicating its status—including origin. And finally the price will be determined by the market forces, but we always like people from around the world to return to Bangkok. That means our prices will be fair, firm, and friendly—as they say,” Khanita said.
“We wouldn’t be involved with prices. That’s against the policy of the laboratory,” Peter said firmly. “But we can help educate the buyers, sellers, and finally the consumers. That way Blue Color City will build up a reputation as the only place in the world where one could expect transparent, efficient, professional image, and a fair price, as you just said. To my knowledge, there isn’t such place in the world where one could expect such a magic blend of information. The only exception I can think of will be the Internet. But they don’t have the opportunity to touch the gems. Seeing and touching is different.”
“I think I understand the logic,” Rudy interrupted.
“I have access to almost all the blue sapphire mines in the world,” Busaban said. “My trusted team works closely with those miners, but still we could go wrong, because we are human. That’s why science, people, and social contacts, should help us to finally put a new standard in the blue sapphire business so that there is no guess work. That way Bangkok will remain the place for blue sapphires, because of our meticulous work to keep it that way.”
“Let’s take a break,” Potch said. “The chef from the Sheraton Grande has been reminding me for some time.” Everyone glanced at the wall clock. It was twelve ten.

After a lavish lunch, the discussions centered around origin certification and its potential risk, because so much premium was placed if blue sapphires originated from certain exotic localities, such as Kashmir (India), Mogok (Burma) and Pailin (Cambodia). Sometimes the gems looked pretty much the same when viewing under sky light.
“Now I am really impressed by the information you have supplied with the kind of sophisticated tools you have in your gem laboratory,” Rudy said. “But how can you state with qualified certainty the precise origin of a single blue sapphire—say for example, Pailin, Mogok or Kashmir?”
“We have collected samples over the years from the source—I mean, the mines, of course, quite successfully with the help of genuine contacts. And we have also visited personally all the potential mines in the world where blue sapphires are extracted, collecting rough gem samples and the embedded rocks, including the famous Kashmir mines. I must say, the experience has been invaluable. That’s what we have achieved over the years. In addition to that, we have had access to all the best museums around the world where some of the famous blue sapphires are kept safely—reference books, collectors, geological maps, chemical analysis, gem inclusions, knowledgeable colleagues, reliable contacts and much more, have all contributed one way or other to the thoroughness of our opinion. I think today the trade, gem science community, and public who have had the culture and experience appreciating blue sapphires have recognized our opinion without any second thought,” Peter explained.
“Can surface-diffused blue sapphires be distinguished from untreated blue sapphires and synthetic blue sapphires?” James asked.
“Definitely,” Peter said. “We always apply non-destructive tests. The data we have collected over time is impeccable. It doesn’t mean we have stopped collecting blue sapphires from new sources. We are constantly in touch with the trade and mines, and because of the kind of trust the trade has placed in us, we keep helping the trade either through education and disclosure requirements so that the uninformed public doesn’t feel alienated today in the fast changing world. You may want to hear this too. All the known synthetic blue sapphire manufactures in the world supply us with samples first, whether it be manufactured by the flame-fusion, flux or hydrothermal process, before being released to the gem market for commercial reasons. Lastly, Mr Stones has been our Chief Consultant for more than fifteen years. He is an authority on origin determination, and it has always been a pleasure working with him, despite his tight work schedule for various research establishments.”
“Wow! What else do we need? I didn’t know that Bangkok had such sophisticated facilities. I’ll need another tea,” James commented. The chef was ready. Others too joined James.

Rudy was watching Potch from a distance. Despite her busy work schedule, she looked much younger and youthful. She was exhibiting so much energy and team spirit, as the marketing team was clubbed together in the corner of the room discussing the details and a time frame, he couldn’t match her skills. She was very special, but determined and friendly. He could hardly believe that there was this something called destiny or accumulated luck. It was like love at first sight, when he was introduced to her by the Ambassador of New Zealand, during a conference at the famed Oriental hotel some eight years ago. Now they have become inseparable pals. Sometimes he hadn’t a clue as to why she was doing such favors for him. He would have married her if he was rich like her. It was just a thought. He knew she wouldn’t be thinking like that. Still the wicked thought flashed through his mind while in bed with her. He didn’t know how long he was staring at her from his seat. Instead, she just smiled at him persuading with her beautiful green sapphire eyes to carry on the discussion. He nodded happily.

As Rudy was about to raise a pertinent question regarding the wordings chosen by the laboratory indicating treatments or otherwise, his cell-phone rang.
Seri asked. “Are you busy? We need to talk.”
“I am in the middle of a meeting. Is it really urgent?” Rudy quipped.
“What the fuck are you talking about? The American is in town. He is staying at the Oriental. So you know now that I need you. It’s our fucking business, okay?” Seri said.
Rudy wasn’t amused by the way Seri described the situation.
He glanced at his watch. It was four forty.
“Okay. I’m on my way,” Rudy said reluctantly after conversing with James and Potch.