Dirty Diamonds In Panama

Samuel Logan's opinion piece in ISN about Panama's diamond connection was interesting. Diamonds are portable and so easy to smuggle, opening a virtually unregulated diamond center in Panama is a recipe for smuggling on a large scale. If nothing changes, nothing changes.

Useful links:
www.samuellogan.com
www.isn.ethz.ch
www.kimberleyprocess.com
www.wfdb.com
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.strategycenter.net

Random Thoughts

With all this visual merchandising, all of this technology, I want to just get the message across without saying anything.

- Philip Rosenzweig
www.giorgioarmani.com
http://luxurycouncil.com
www.levinedesigngroup.com
www.fzad.com

Spot on. Visual merchandising = The silent salesperson.

NurtureShock

In 'NurtureShock,' Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman survey the newest new findings about child development. A must read.

Useful link:
www.nurtureshock.com

BioBlu 27

I thought Scott Kay's Blue Cobalt collection was unique and innovative. BioBlu 27 material is an alloy of 65 percent cobalt, 29 percent chromium, and 6 percent molybdenum. I hope other manufacturers will use this new material for designs and textures.

Useful links:
www.cartech.com
www.scottkay.com
www.spectore.com
http://cherylkremkow.com

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

Nothing was more telling than this turkey story. Sign of the times, I guess.

Useful link:
www.diamondintelligence.com

Diamond Ring Designer

eBay has recently launched design-a-ring diamond tool that enables consumers an easy way to find and design their own diamond ring. Check it out.

Useful link:
http://diamonds.ebay.com

Vincent van Gogh: The Letters

Check out the amazing self-portrait of Vincent van Gogh, in words and pictures at www.vangoghletters.org

Random Thoughts

I think that once people understand the great risks that climate change poses, they will naturally want to choose products and services that cause little or no emissions of greenhouse gases, which means 'low-carbon consumption'. This will apply across the board, including electricity, heating, transport and food. A diet that relies heavily on meat production results in higher emissions than a typical vegetarian diet. Different individuals will make different choices. However, the debate about climate change should not be dumbed down to a single slogan, such as 'give up meat to save the planet'.

- Nicholas Stern
www.lse.ac.uk
www.climatefriendlyfood.org.uk

An interesting viewpoint, really.

Polymer-filled Aquamarine

It has been reported that large quantities of filled aquamarine (bead, carving, cabochon) have entered the Chinese market. The experts claim the treatments can be identified with 10x and microscope. Gem ID tips: Look out for flash effects and relief lines. Filled fractures may fluoresce chalky white under long-wave UV radiation. Many believe the treatment could easily be used in faceted aquamarines. It's just a matter of time. If doubtful always consult a reputed gem testing laboratory.

Useful link:
www.ngtc.gov.cn

Festival Of Thinkers

The third Festival of Thinkers will take place from November 1-4, 2009, in Abu Dhabi. The event will focus on themes that are key to shaping the future of the Middle East and the rest of the global community. Check it out.

Useful link:
http://festivalofthinkers.hct.ac.ae

Artefact

Artefact will be holding an online seminar at My Design Shop about what they have learned via field research. Design products what people want/need. Analyse, learn and share.

Useful link:
www.artefactgroup.com

Mobile Novel

I thought The Shuttleworth Foundation's m-novel concept was a brilliant idea. I hope it works.

Useful link:
www.shuttleworthfoundation.org

Nadav Kander

But one of the strengths of the Prix Pictet is that we are not much bothered over whether [the candidates] think of themselves as artists, or journalists, or commercial photographers. What is important is their ability to put their message across. Kander has astonishing, virtuoso skills. He is a communicator.

- Francis Hodgson

Useful links:
www.nadavkander.com
www.prixpictet.com
www.passagederetz.com
www.benoitaquin.com

I agree.

Auto-Destructive Art

Gustav Metzger is different. From September 29, 2009 through November 8, 2009, the Serpentine Gallery in London will feature the most extensive exhibition ever in the U.K. of Gustav Metzger’s work. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.serpentinegallery.org
www.tate.org.uk/liverpool

The Making Of Some Like It Hot

The Making of 'Some Like It Hot': My Memories of Marilyn Monroe and the Classic American Movie by Tony Curtis + Mark A. Vieira is a special memoir. I watched the movie yesterday and was amazed to see how fresh it still is. A must read.

Useful link:

www.tonycurtis.com

Diamond And Gemstones Of The Month Project

The Israel Diamond Institute + Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum is launching a special project titled, Diamond and Gemstones of the Month, where jewelry designers from around the world are invited to design a set of jewelry pieces that combines the gemstone of the month with diamonds. I thought it was a brilliant idea.

Useful link:
www.israelidiamond.co.il

Disney Precious Collections

Disney Precious Collections/Fine Disney Jewelry For Children, has been selected as the featured product during Dreams Come True: Art of the Classic Fairy Tales from the Walt Disney Studios, at The New Orleans Museum of Art in New Orleans from November 15, 2009 - March 14, 2010. Don't miss.

Useful links:
www.preciousjewelrycollections.com
www.noma.org/dreams

Mark Khaisman

Mark Khaisman's parcel tape art was stunningly beautiful. I have never seen anything like this before.

Useful link:
www.khaismanstudio.com

Smoke Art

Check out Mehmet Ozgur's stunningly beautiful examples of smoke art and smoke photography.

Useful link:
www.mehmet-ozgur.com

Solar Decathlon 2009

The 2009 Solar Decathlon, a contest for solar-powered houses sponsored by America’s Department of Energy, has been won by Team Germany.

Useful links:
www.solardecathlon.org
www.firstsolar.com
www.nanosolar.com

Global Business BBC

I am a regular listener of Global Business, a business programme on the BBC World Service. Lester Brown was brilliant. Check out his book Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Thanks to Peter Day. Keep up the good work.

Useful link:
www.earth-policy.org

The Power Of Word-of-Mouth

Scott Cook was spot on. Be where the customers are. Introduce customer-driven innovation. Practice commonsense.

Useful link:
http://willprice.blogspot.com
www.intuit.com

Stephen Wiltshire

Stephen Wiltshire communicates with the world via his beautiful drawings. Check it out.

Useful link:
www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk

Peres Projects Berlin

Look for something different. Check it out. www.peresprojects.com

Malcolm Gladwell Interview

John Preston's opinion piece in the Telegraph was brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact I am huge fan of Malcolm Gladwell as well. I think he is a brilliant storyteller.

Useful links:
www.malcolmgladwell-live.com
www.gladwell.com

Negotiauctions

Guhan Subramanian's viewpoints on negotiations versus auctions was interesting. In fact I liked the term negotiauction. Managing Negotiators and the Deal Process

Ammolite

Check out how lapidaries find innovative ways to use Ammolite.

Useful links:
www.korite.com
www.enchanted-designs.com

Random Thoughts

You'll always have your old skills that you can use if you need to go back to your old job. And then you can try again. I'm a big fan of LinkedIn.com. I attended some networking events in Boston from people I connected with online. In doing so, I got good business advice and some leads. Do what you love and do it well. The money will follow.

- Sean Fitzpatrick

Great advice.

Being Bradley Birkenfeld

What a story! He would do anything for the wealthy to avoid Internal Revenue Service. He even converted a U.S. client's money into diamonds, then smuggled the gems across the Atlantic in a toothpaste tube. Not so hard to believe because diamonds are portable. Meanwhile, everybody else gets set free and he goes to prison. A different ending to the story.

Bill Cunningham Viewpoint

On the Street / A Story With Legs. Interesting sight, really. The story has legs. Thanks Bill.

The World After 4C Rise

The new interactive map of the world that details the likely effects of 4C world was a stark wake-up call. Bad news for almost everyone, really.

Useful link:
www.metoffice.gov.uk/climatechange
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

A Jen Bekman Project

Art for everyone. I liked Jen's idea. www.20x200.com

Random Thoughts

If you take the couple of centuries we've had, the 19th and the 20th, we've had about 15 bad years in both centuries, and we'll have fifteen bad years in centuries to come. Capitalism overshoots, and market people do get irrationally exuberant sometimes, but that's the nature of it. You want a dynamic system, and you want a market system that's free to make mistakes to some degree.

- Warren Buffett
www.berkshirehathaway.com

Spot on.

Global Business BBC

Peter Day's interview with Paul Romer (Senior fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research) was insightful. The issue is how to build new cities to accommodate a growing world population in better conditions than we have managed up to now. Easier said than done.

Useful link:
http://stanford.edu/~promer

Natural Omphacite

Deep green to black jade has been gaining popularity these past few years in the gem market in Hong Kong and China, and now it is appearing in the Japanese market as well. This material is often called black jade or inky jadeite jade but mineralogically this is not jadeite but omphacite. The labs report on omphacite was educational.

Useful link:
www.gaaj-zenhokyo.co.jp

Radioactive Natural Stones

Dr. Jun Kawano's viewpoints on the radioactive status of natural stones + the detection methodology was educational and insightful. If you are doubtful regarding gemstone treatments have it checked by a reputed gem testing.

Useful link:
www.gaaj-zenhokyo.co.jp

A Gift To My Children

A Gift to My Children: A Father's Lessons for Life and Investing by Jim Rogers is a great book for young minds. A must read.

Useful link:

www.jimrogers.com

App Economy

It's really amazing how Apps have moved into the mainstream. The world has changed, really.

Useful links:
www.zynga.com
www.rim.com
www.apple.com
www.smule.com
www.playfish.com
www.playdom.com

Homepreneur

John Tozzi's opinion piece in the BusinessWeek was educational and insightful. I guess technology has made it easier to start and run a business from anywhere.

Useful links:
www.agency3.com
www.emergentresearch.com
www.sba.gov

The Bee Gees

The Bee Gees: 50 years on. What a story. They have left the music world forever changed, really.

Useful link:
www.beegees.com

Random Thoughts

The big profits made by some of Wall Street’s leading banks are hidden gifts from the state, and taxpayer resentment of such companies is justified. Those earnings are not the achievement of risk-takers.

- George Soros
www.soros.org
www.georgesoros.com

Truly said.

Jancis Robinson Viewpoint

Jancis's report on Russian wine production was insightful. I hope the new wine-friendly government would put order/quality/regulation to restore Russia's true wine status in the region.

Useful links:
www.jancisrobinson.com
www.fanagoria.ru
www.abraudurso.ru
www.grandvostok.ru

X-ray Microtomography For Pearl Testing

Check out the new X-ray micro tomography method for testing pearls. It's non-destructive and precise + the 3-D image is a real stunner.

Useful link:
www.ssef.ch

Bill McKibben

Check out Bill McKibben's inspiring ideas on the pros/cons of climate change and the impact.

Useful links:
www.billmckibben.com
www.350.org

Art Trade

Souren Melikian's viewpoints on Asia Week/Chinese art in the New York Times was interesting. There are more Britons in the lucrative financial professions than ever. They no longer spend money on the classics of Chinese art. Tastes have changed. That's so sadly true.

Useful links:
www.sothebys.com
www.christies.com
www.bonhams.com
www.benjanssens.com
www.knaptonandrasti.com

Art Market Update

The Economist viewpoints on the state of the art market was interesting. What a difference a year makes, really. Prices of contemporary art at auctions have dropped 50% or more. There could be more surprises in store. Let's wait and see, shall we?

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

Gary Hamel Viewpoint

Truth is, the average business book is just a Harvard Business Review article with extra examples, and the average HBR article is a good PowerPoint presentation with extra prose. So I figured I could cut to the chase and just give you the CliffsNotes version of my never-to-be-published book. There’s probably no organizational attribute that’s more important today than adaptability. In our topsy turvy world, every organization is teetering on the brink of irrelevance, and unless it can change as fast as change itself, it will soon tumble off the ledge.

- Gary Hamel
www.garyhamel.com
http://blogs.wsj.com/management

Spot on.

LAPP-PRO

These stunning images created by light artists Jan Wöllert/Jörg Miedza was superb. Check it out.

Useful link:
http://lapp-pro.de

Random Thoughts

I am convinced that as a whole society we are losing something precious in our increasingly silence-avoiding culture and that somehow, whatever this silence might be, it needs holding, nourishing and unpacking.

- Sara Maitland
www.saramaitland.com

So true!

Lester Lampert

Check out Lester Lampert's one-of-a-kind jewelry creations at The Field Museum’s Grainger Hall of Gems.

Useful links:
www.fieldmuseum.org
www.lesterlampert.com

Matthew Cook

Matthew Cook's sketches from Afghanistan was brilliant. I liked it. They looked natural.

Useful link:
www.matthewcookwarartist.com

An Education

An Education, adapted from the memoir of the British journalist Lynn Barber, a coming-of-age drama set in 1960's London, is a great movie. I thought Carey Mulligan was superb. Well worth seeing.

Useful link:
www.sonyclassics.com/aneducation

Gao Brothers

China has so many stories that they are like a dream. Every story is true, but I try to tell them in a fictional way.

- Gao Zhen

Useful link:
www.gaobrothers.net

I thought the work of Gao Zhen/Gao Qiang were brilliant. The deconstructed images of Chairman Mao were funny, confrontational and different.

G. Willow Wilson

Check out G. Willow Wilson’s comic series Air at www.gwillowwilson.com

Diamonds Are Not Forever

The Economist report on Botswana was spot on. Botswana’s diamond deposits may run out by 2030. The country has no choice but to diversify/reform its economy by retraining its incompetent/lazy civil servants/managers to attract foreign investment. Not always easy but doable with Ian Khama's five D's: democracy, dignity, development, discipline, and delivery. I wish Ian Khama, the newly re-elected president all the best.

Useful links:
www.econsult.co.bw
www.debswana.com
www.moibrahimfoundation.org

Jewelry Coral

Dave Federman's viewpoint on jewelry coral was interesting. Let's promote fair commerce.

Useful links:
www.tooprecioustowear.org
www.seaweb.com
www.cites.org
www.noaa.gov
www.artinitiatives.com

Virtual Spending

Check out these avatar-driven social networking sites. It's hard to believe how fast they have become mainstream, but I guess the virtual world represents a different value proposition.

Useful links:
www.there.com
www.imvu.com
http://secondlife.com
www.gaiaonline.com
www.weeworld.com
www.clubpenguin.com
www.moove.com

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

A beautiful tribute to Madhu Mehta of Jayam Manufacturing. May his soul rest in peace! Thank you Chaim.

Useful link:
www.diamondintelligence.com

Random Thoughts

This year's collection was keenly contested by investors, collectors and diamond experts from around the world. All diamond were sold, and we were delighted to see strong representation from the growing markets of India and China, as well as the more established markets for rare colored diamonds.

- Jean-Marc Lieberherr
www.argylepinkdiamonds.com.au
www.riotintodiamonds.com

This is good news.

Brian May's 3D Photography

I really liked A Village Lost and Found.

Useful links:
www.brianmay.com
www.londonstereo.com
www.queenonline.com

Martin Firrell

I thought Martin Firrell's use of text in art was superb. I loved it.

Useful links:
www.martinfirrell.com
www.completehero.com

The Asterix Story

Check out the latest episode at www.asterix.com

Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2009

Check out the winners of the Veolia Environnement wildlife photographer of the year 2009 at www.nhm.ac.uk

Remarkable Creatures

Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origin of Species by Dr. Sean B. Carroll is story-telling at its finest, really. Read the book with an open mind.

Useful link:

http://seanbcarroll.com

Emerald Market Report

Check out Ronald Ringsrud's latest emerald market update + beautiful specimens. He is a well-known dealer + the author of Emerald: A Passionate Guide.

Useful link:
www.emeraldmine.com

How To Make A Movie For £45

What a story! I hope the film Colin will be seen by as many people as possible. All the best Marc!

Useful link:
www.nowherefast.tv

Slash: Paper Under The Knife

It's really amazing to see the way contemporary artists use paper as a medium to express their viewpoints. Stunningly beautiful, really.

Useful link:
www.madmuseum.org

Bahia Emerald: The Movie

Coming soon! A movie based on the infamous 'Bahia Emerald. The film’s story involves finding, moving, and protecting the 180,000 carat, $372,000,000 'Bahia Emerald' from those seeking to take it away from the Florida owners. I can't wait to see this movie. Can you?

Useful link:
www.greenicemovie.com

Random Thoughts

The current trend…is that a lot of our culture is coming in shorter and smaller bits…When access is easy, we tend to favor the short, the sweet and the bitty. When access is difficult, we look for large-scale productions, extravaganzas and masterpieces.

- Tyler Cowen
www.marginalrevolution.com
www.gmu.edu/centers/publicchoice/faculty%20pages/Tyler/index.html

Spot on.

Landscape Photographer Of The Year 2009

Check out the winners of the Landscape photo of the year 2009.

Useful links:
www.take-a-view.co.uk
www.emmanuelcoupe.com

Art Factory

Peter Hessler's opinion piece in the New Yorker about artists in Lishui, in eastern China was very interesting. Who would have thought a few years ago that Lishui would become one of the important painting center for the foreign market?

Mineralientage München 2009

Check out the spectacular Munich Mineral Show 2009 for minerals, fossils, precious stones and jewelry + a special exhibit titled India’s Hidden Natural Treasures. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.mineralientage.de

3D Film Made By Children

I thought Aardman Animations/Tate Gallery's project to produce the first Tate movie – a 20-minute animated film by children a briliant idea + a great toolkit to inspire creativity.

Useful links:
www.aardman.com
www.tate.org.uk

The Red Feldspar Project

Check out the Special Issue on Red Feldspar via GIA.

Good Morning Project

Jer Thorp's Good Morning project, a visualization of 24 hours of Tweets saying Good Morning, from all across the world was brilliant.

Useful link:
http://blog.blprnt.com

Stirling Prize 2009

Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners has won the 2009 Stirling Prize, Britain's most prestigious architectural honors, for their design of a cancer center in London. Congratulations!

Useful links:
www.richardrogers.co.uk
www.architecture.com

Random Thoughts

The mutual fund industry is a $10 trillion industry that has seen no innovation for 25 years. The Internet has had no impact.

- Andy Rachleff
www.kaching.com

The concept is great — the ability to tap into not just the wisdom of the crowd, but to be able to identify and invest with the particular geniuses in the crowd that stand out.
- Marc Andreessen

So true!

Optical Data Storage

The scientists at the University of Edinburgh believe tiny crystals could hold the key to creating computers with massive storage capacity. Great news, really.

Useful link:
www.chem.ed.ac.uk/staff/academic/alexander.html

Wine Odyssey Australia

Check out Wine Odyssey's walk-through crash course in Australian wine. Brilliant concept, really.

Useful link:
http://wineodyssey.com.au

China Design Now 2009

The Portland Art Museum has a great China Design Now exhibition now. China is definitely moving from imitation to innovation in design + many sectors. Check it out.

Useful links:
http://portlandartmuseum.org
www.cdnpdx.org

Niassa (Mozambique) Ruby

Cheryl Kremkow's report on Niassa (Mozambique) rubies was edcuational and insightful. I have seen the rubies (treated/untreated) in Bangkok. The top quality ones can be easily confused with Burmese/Thai/Tanzania (Winza). I think the prices are also fair to a certain degree. I hope the mines are productive/sustainable in the long run.

Useful link:
www.diamonds.net

Art & Copy

I thought Doug Pray's documentary about the advertising industry was superb. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.artandcopyfilm.com

David Hockney

Carol Kino's opinion piece in the NYT on David Hockney, Britain’s most famous living artist was interesting.

Useful link:
www.hockneypictures.com

The Museum Of Everything

Hats off to James Brett, the brain behind The Museum of Everything. In fact I liked it because it was simply about personal creativity/expression. Period.

Useful link:
www.musevery.com

Benetton Case Study

Peter Gumbel's opinion piece in the Time magazine on Benetton's unique business management was brilliant and insightful.

Generational shifts in family businesses are notoriously tricky. A rule of thumb is that only 1 in 3 family firms survives the transition from the founding generation to the next, and only 1 in 10 makes the jump successfully from the second to the third generation. The more numerous and distant the cousins involved, the harder the task of keeping them all in line — although sometimes the biggest problems come from the closest relatives.
- Peter Gumbel

Useful link:
www.benetton.com

The Art And Design Fair

Souren Melikian's viewpoints on the art and design fair in the New York Times was interesting. The show is a must-attend event for art lovers merely interested in looking + keen collectors looking to buy.

Useful links:
www.hopkins-custot.com
www.yveskleinarchives.org
www.barryfriedmanltd.com

Bill Cunningham Viewpoint

On the Street/Animated. A marvelous surprise, really. Beautifully done. Thanks Bill.

Silvermist Diamonds

Coming soon! Rio Tinto will be introducing Silvermist, its new silvery-gray colored diamonds that can be used to create more affordable diamond jewelry piece. I loved the name. Something really different from colorless diamonds. I hope the price is sweet/consumer-friendly.

Useful links:
www.riotintodiamonds.com
www.argylediamonds.com.au
www.ncdia.com

Random Thoughts

Jewelry is not a fad product. Archeologists have solid proof that it has been around for at least 50 millennia – and some would now argue that jewelry has been around for at least 100,000 years. In its earliest days, people wore jewelry to denote their social and cultural identities: wealth, power and privilege. Early jewelry also provided identification of gender, age and social class. After thousands of years, these same factors continue to drive demand for jewelry. The 2008-09 recession will not derail consumers’ cultural affinity for jewelry.

- Ken Gassman
www.kennethgassman.com

So true!

Pantone Team

Ask the Pantone Color Institute. Its members travel the world to find out what hues will move product.

People are wanting someplace to go, somewhere to retreat to. My challenge is to come up with a color that speaks to how we can create a feeling of escape -- to get away from the problems of the everyday world. Even if it's a fantasy.
- Leatrice Eiseman

Useful links:
www.pantone.com
www.colorexpert.com

Art Market Update

The Economist art review was insightful. The work on display at London's Frieze Art Fair was intellectually intriguing as ever. A great place to connect the dots.

Useful links:
www.friezeartfair.com
www.galleriazero.it
www.gavinbrown.biz/artists/view/rirkrit-tiravanija
www.helgadealvear.com
www.marianneboeskygallery.com/artists/barnaby-furnas
www.michaelwerner.com
www.salon94.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

Holition

Check out Holition's virtual reality marketing application for use online, in-store and at live events. I thought it was great tool for education and business. I liked it.

Useful links:
www.holition.com
www.inition.co.uk
www.holtsgems.com

Art Market Update

Georgina Adam's art market recap in FT was interesting/insightful. Thanks.

Useful links:
www.fiac.com
www.phillipsdepury.com
www.garageccc.com
www.theartnewspaper.com

Martin Parr

Check out Martin Parr's brilliant photographs on consumer culture. Educational/insightful indeed.

Useful link:
www.martinparr.com

Frieze Art Fair 2009

Check out new/established artists at www.friezeartfair.com

Start-up Secrets

Check out these tips from America's Coolest Young Entrepreneurs.

IdeaPaint

IdeaPaint is simply a paint that turns any paintable surface into a dry-erase board. I liked it. Hats off to John Goscha!

Useful link:
www.ideapaint.com

Design USA: Contemporary Innovation

If you're looking for who's who in American design, this would be it. http://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/Design-USA

Gitanjali Profile

I found the Prince Mathews Thomas's article on Mehul Choksi/Gitanjali interesting. The choice methodology of the gem and jewelry sector in India is to rely more on oral contracts than written ones. I do know that Gitangili want to evangelize the gem and jewelry sector so that they could provide a new template to meet the demand and aspirations of the new India. Everything takes time in India, really. I wish him the best of luck.

Useful link:
www.gitanjaligroup.com