Shipwreck Exploration

Shipwreck exploration is a peculiar business but it's an interesting business.

Useful links:
http://shipwreck.net
http://www.shipwrecks.uk.com

Partnership Africa Canada Update

PAC has launched a new mineral certification scheme. All the best. http://www.pacweb.org

Silver Promotion Service

Attractive. Popular. http://www.silverinstitute.org

Argentium Silver

Brighter. Whiter. Take a look. http://www.argentiumsilver.com

America The Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins

The U.S Mint has released the 2010 America the Beautiful five-ounce silver bullion coins. Take a look. http://www.usmint.gov

Silver Market Update

Silver Institute Market report. http://www.silverinstitute.org

Quick Reference Guide For Gold And Silver

The Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) has published a Quick Reference Guide for manufacturers and sellers of jewelry made from combinations of gold and silver. The new publication supplements JVC’s Essential Guide to the U.S. Trade in Advertising Gold and Silver Jewelry (The Essential Guide). Check it out. www.jvclegal.org

Precious Metals Book

CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, has released the Precious Metals Book, an invaluable reference for jewelry manufacturers in all countries throughout the world. Check it out. www.cibjo.org

Antiques For Everyone

As part of the Antiques For Everyone's silver anniversary celebration in July 2010, the Birmingham Assay Office in the U.K. will be showing important pieces from its private silver collection at the NEC. Check it out. www.antiquesforeveryone.co.uk

CIBJO Precious Metals Commission Special Report

The Precious Metals Commission of CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation, has released its special report that examine issues related to the precious metals industries. A complete copy of the CIBJO Precious Metals Commission Special Report can be downloaded at: www.cibjo.org

The Most Precious Metals

Analysts believe prices could go higher in 2010. Stay tuned. Many thanks to Steve Levine.

Useful links:
www.world-bureau.com
www.matthey.com
www.gold.org

CIBJO Update

CIBJO has launched a new commission, CIBJO Association Executive Networking Commission (CAENCOM), for the purpose of developing and facilitating networking strategies within the CIBJO community. All the best.

Useful links:
www.cibjo.org
www.canadianjewellers.com

Gold Market Update

The Gold Report interview with Howard Ruff was educational/insightful. Thanks.

Invest in inflation; it's the only thing that's going up.
- Will Rogers

Useful links:
www.theaureport.com
www.rufftimes.com

Exploration Insights

The Gold Report/Brent Cook interview was a brilliant piece. Trust but verify policy is the magic mantra of every mining ventures. Raise money when you can, not when you need to.

The market is indiscriminate and mostly run by people that can't differentiate between a good and bad gold property. Minerals exploration is a very tough business to understand, because you're dealing as much with information that you don't know as you do know. It's all subjective interpretations. No one really knows the geological setting beneath a particular project or what its economics will be. So lots of money will go into worthless exploration projects, for sure. That's a real danger. Something like 1,600 junior exploration companies are listed in Canada alone. I can guarantee you that not even 1% of them will find viable deposits.
- Brent Cook

Useful links:
www.explorationinsights.com
www.theaureport.com

Corrine Hunt

I thought Canadian Aboriginal designer/artist, Corinne Hunt's artworks for the Vancouver Olympics were brilliant. I also thought the Olympic committee made a wise decision to use precious metals from old electronics for the medals, bringing awareness to the cause of recycled scrap.

Useful links:
www.corrinehunt.ca
www.vancouver2010.com

Jim Rogers Viewpoint

I own some gold and I am optimistic about the price of gold but I don’t think I would buy it either. The gold is near its all-time high, I think I would rather buy silver for instance if I had to buy a precious metal. However, I am not buying either at the moment.

- Jim Rogers
www.jimrogers.com

Maybe he is right.

Staffordshire Hoard

One-of-a-kind find, really. Check out the Anglo-Saxon treasure at the the Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery.

Useful links:
www.bmag.org.uk
www.britishmuseum.org

Ounces To Pounds

A new way to turn your unwanted jewelry into cash. I think this concept is really going to catch on. Check out the link http://ounces2pounds.com

Chris Vermeulen Viewpoint

Chris Vermeulen = A veteran trader of gold and oil running a one-man show offering investors well-developed insights into investing in gold, silver and crude oil.

Useful link:
www.thegoldandoilguy.com

Gold/Silver Jewelry Investment

Is it worth investing in gold, silver jewellery?
http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Is-it-worth-investing-in-gold-silver-jewellery-14836-3-1.html

Jewellery and diamonds attract VAT at very high levels. Before being fashioned into bracelets and necklaces, investment grade gold bullion (0.9999 or 24 carat) coins, bars and government gold certificates are stamp duty and VAT free. Jewellery is not. This is an added cost on top of an already large mark-up. Typically, 9 carat, 14 carat and 22 carat rings, bracelets and necklaces have mark ups of hundreds of percent over the real value of its component precious metals.
- Mark O’Byrne

Diamonds tend to go up and down with the value of the stock market.
- Lisa Hubbard

Useful links:
www.gold.ie
www.bundesbank.de
www.federalreserve.gov
www.sothebys.com

Mark, I completely agree with you. When it comes to selling the jewelry bought as an investment, the re-sale jewelry would not normally realise more than 30% of its original cost price. Most jewelers do not consider buying back items they have sold, forcing the owner to seek a new buyer in pawnshops.