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Monday, October 03, 2016

Practice Doesn’t Make Perfect

Maria Konnikova was spot on.

Useful link:
http://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/practice-doesnt-make-perfect

Patagonia Update

A food brand focused on sustainable sourcing.

Useful link:
http://www.patagoniaprovisions.com

Brilliance And Fire

Get to know Rachelle Bergstein. https://rachellebergstein.com

To’ak Chocolate

The world's most expensive chocolate. https://toakchocolate.com

Priceless Pork Belly

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://www.asianart.org/regular/priceless-pork-belly

Secrets Of The Gem Trade Update

Second Edition. A must read. http://secretsofthegemtrade.com

Maw Sit Sit Masquerade

One of a kind gemstone.

Useful link:
http://www.palagems.com/gem-news-2016-09#maw-sit-sit

Gold Toilet

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/gold-toilet

Illuminations - Earth To Jewel

A must visit.

Useful link:
http://www.musee.mines-paristech.fr/Events/TempExhibit/Illuminations

Saturday, October 01, 2016

Would A Legal Ivory Trade Save Elephants Or Speed Up The Massacre?

Over to you. Is the ban working? Yes and No.

Useful link:

The Future Of Advertising: Mobile, Mobile, Mobile

Sheryl Sandberg was spot on.

Useful link:
https://www.fastcompany.com/3064264/sheryl-sandberg-on-the-future-of-advertising-mobile-mobile-mobile

Coursera Update

A must read on coding.

Useful link:
https://www.fastcompany.com/3064213/coursera-brings-everything-you-need-to-code-into-its-virtual-classrooms

Jewelry Inspired By Customers

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://www.jckonline.com/blogs/style-360/2016/09/30/style-spotlight-jewelry-inspired-customers

Fifty Shades Of Jade

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/26/luxury/jade-supply-influencing-style/index.html

Identifying Lab-Grown Diamonds

Not an easy task. Read on.

Useful link:
http://www.gia.edu/identifying-lab-grown-diamonds

Landmark Architect

Get to know Thierry Despont.

Useful link:
http://video.newyorker.com/watch/notes-from-all-over-landmark-architect

Petra Boss Johan Dippenaar On mining diamonds

It's a very transparent industry.

Useful link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/09/25/petra-diamonds-boss-johan-dippenaar-on-how-the-miner-was-created

Food And Jewelry

A perfect match.

Useful link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/29/t-magazine/fashion/sophie-bille-brahe-frederik-jewelry-food-paris-fashion-week.html?_r=0

London Museum To Put 9,381-Carat Blue Topaz On Display

A must visit.

Useful link:
http://www.nationaljeweler.com/diamonds-gems/supply/4711-london-museum-to-put-9-381-carat-blue-topaz-on-display

Welcome To The Office-Less Future?

It has already come.

Useful link:
http://www.idexonline.com/Memo?Id=42496

Secret Alpine Gold Vaults Are The New Swiss Bank Accounts

Over to you.

Useful link:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-30/secret-swiss-gold-vaults-are-the-new-swiss-bank-accounts

At 50, Botswana Discovers Diamonds Are Not Forever

Spot on.

Useful link:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-botswana-diamonds-idUSKCN11W16S?feedType=RSS&feedName=lifestyleMolt

The Belgian Carat Tax

Chaim Even Zohar was spot on.

Useful link:
http://www.thediamondloupe.com/articles/2016-09-28/belgian-carat-tax-can-new-fiscal-regime-trigger-industry-climb-prosperity-%E2%80%93-or

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Numeral Jewelry

Get to know Lashbrook Designs.

Useful link:
https://www.lashbrookdesigns.com

Monday, September 26, 2016

Rock Creek Montana Sapphires: A New Age Of Mining Begins

The GIA Gems & Gemology field report was insightful. A must read.

Useful link:
http://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research/rock-creek-montana-sapphires-new-age-mining-begins

Pantone Unveils Spring 2017 Fashion Color Report

Take a look at the 10 new colors.

Useful link:
http://www.jckonline.com/2016/09/23/pantone-unveils-spring-2017-fashion-color-report

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Synthetic Diamond Identification Solutions

Thierry Silber (CEO I Founder, Diamaz International and Madestones) was spot on. Why not remove the mixing issue by selling both types of smaller diamonds at the same price up to a certain size? The problem is remedied because the price of each type of diamond is the same, so the consumer will receive equal value because the cost of each is nearly identical in reality. Selling at the same price and mixing both products at the smaller size level will reduce high detection expenses, the time involved in detection, speed up the payment schedule and maintain consumer confidence.


Read on

How to Kill Four Birds with One Stone
September 22, 16 by Thierry Silber

The following is a Guest Memo from Thierry Silber, the CEO and founder of Diamaz International and Madestones.

I'm a third generation diamond trader, working in the industry since 1978 and selling laboratory grown diamonds since 2009 with full disclosure. The mixing of small laboratory grown diamonds into natural melee parcels is a reality and it looks to me to be an issue that is very difficult to tackle. 

In tackling this issue it would be best to start at the very beginning of the supply chain with the polisher in India who is not making enough money to feed his family. Each polishing factory needs a screening device but most do not have one. A lot of Indian offices are short of space. I have personally seen a parcel of natural melee being sieved on one side of the table while on the other side of the same table a parcel of lab-grown melee is being sieved. Stones can jump and end up in the wrong parcel. Responsible behavior begins with the practices of each office and factory. Every company needs to implement a system that keeps natural and laboratory grown diamonds separate. 

What is most irritating is that I constantly hear and read about natural diamonds being mixed with laboratory grown but to my knowledge not one official complaint has been registered with any industry authorities. I wonder why?

If I bought a parcel of natural diamonds and discovered that there were laboratory grown diamonds in the mix, I would go to my supplier and explain to him that I have no choice but to file an official complaint. I would explain that it is the responsibility of the supplier to investigate his sources and that he needs to file a complaint against his suppliers. I believe that each company must act in a responsible manner. There will always be some companies that are unethical but I believe that 99% of diamond companies work in good faith and are ethical.

I think the solution to avoiding diamond mixing might be actually a very simple one.

Smaller factories don't have screening devices because they are too expensive. Companies selling to big brands need very expensive detection machines or bring their diamonds to diamond laboratories for detection. The screening procedures delay the delivery of diamonds and that impacts payment timing. Time loss is very costly especially with the tight margins in the diamond business. 

Are these added major costs really necessary? When considering the cost of production of small diamonds, everyone agrees that the majority of cost lies not in the material but in the labor. The cost of these diamonds is all in the cutting process.

Why not remove the mixing issue by selling both types of smaller diamonds at the same price up to a certain size? The problem is remedied because the price of each type of diamond is the same, so the consumer will receive equal value because the cost of each is nearly identical in reality. Selling at the same price and mixing both products at the smaller size level will reduce high detection expenses, the time involved in detection, speed up the payment schedule and maintain consumer confidence.

In French we say: on fait d'une pierre deux coups; in English: to kill two birds with one stone. In this case we can kill four birds with one stone.

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Tests For Identifying Fake Or Real Diamond

1. Observe the diamond through a loupe.
2. Use a sandpaper against the gem.
3. Do the fog test.
4. Check the sparkle test and refractivity.
5. Read-through test.

Remember to only use the test methods that are non-destructive.

Friday, September 23, 2016

The Most Creative People In Business

A must read.

Useful link:
https://www.fastcompany.com/most-creative-people/2016?utm_source=MCP2016homepage&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=mcp2016

Creativity Secrets

Get to know Drew Ackerman.

Useful link:
https://www.fastcompany.com/3063337/work-smart/creativity-secrets-from-the-man-behind-the-sleep-with-me-podcast

Through The Looking Glass

Get to know Manu Prakash.

Useful link:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/12/21/through-the-looking-glass-annals-of-science-carolyn-kormann

Friday, September 02, 2016

De Beers To Launch Synthetics Checker

Stay tuned. https://www.iidgr.com

Six Cents In The Pocket

A must see.

Useful link:
http://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/a-filmmaker-trying-to-break-free-from-instagram-modernity?intcid=mod-latest

Parures

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://www.thejewelleryeditor.com/vintage/parures-the-original-interchangeable-jewelry-vintage

Lauren K

Get to know Lauren.K. http://laurenk.com

Kurtulan

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://www.kurtulan.com

This AI-Powered Memoir Wants To Chat With You

Take a look.

Useful link:
https://www.fastcompany.com/3062982/mind-and-machine/ditch-your-book-club-this-ai-powered-memoir-wants-to-chat-with-you

Is Artificial Intelligence Permanently Inscrutable?

Over to you.

Useful link:
http://nautil.us/issue/40/learning/is-artificial-intelligence-permanently-inscrutable

The Short, Online Course In Gratitude That Can Make You A Better Boss

Spot on.

Useful link:
https://www.fastcompany.com/3062535/work-smart/a-short-online-course-in-gratitude-that-can-make-you-a-better-boss

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Should Botswana Break Its Reliance On Diamonds?

A must watch.

Useful link:
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-37195401

Diamonds May Be Sparkling, But Would You Invest?

Over to you.

Useful link:
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/23/diamonds-may-be-sparkling-but-would-you-invest.html

TV Diary Quiz: Movies About Diamonds

Give it a try.

Useful link:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/entertainment/TV-Diary-quiz--Movies-about-diamonds

Tarot-Inspired Jewelry

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://www.vogue.com/13469238/brie-larson-melinda-lee-holm-jewelry-tarot

What Divorced People Do With Their Wedding Rings

A must read.

Useful link:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/aug/22/divorced-men-women-wedding-rings

Gold And Gemstones Pile Up In Singapore Vault On Quest For Haven

A must watch.

Useful link:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-22/gold-and-gemstones-pile-up-in-singapore-vault-on-quest-for-haven

Benguela Diamond Safari

A must visit.

Useful links:
http://bengueladiamonds.com
http://www.aphroditediamonds.co.za

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

The Most Exclusive Restaurant In America

A must visit.

Useful links:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/08/29/damon-baehrel-the-most-exclusive-restaurant-in-america
http://www.damonbaehrel.com

The Surprising Scientific Link Between Happiness And Decision Making

Over to you.

Useful link:
http://www.fastcompany.com/3063066/the-science-backed-way-to-be-happier-by-making-better-choices

How Do People Get Interested In Science?

A must read. http://spark.nautil.us

Precious Amulets With Hidden Treasures

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://www.thejewelleryeditor.com/jewellery/trending-amulets-pendants-hidden-treasures

Zoë Chicco

A designer's latest offerings. http://zoechicco.com

Stone + Alloy

Take a look. https://www.stoneplusalloy.com

Ayva Jewelry

A must see. https://ayvajewelry.com

Is This The World’s Largest Pearl?

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3753300/Fisherman-giant-34kg-pearl-worth-100million-kept-bed-TEN-YEARS-good-luck-charm.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Monday, August 22, 2016

Rio Tinto Abandons Indian Diamond Mining Project

Sad, really.

Useful link:
http://www.diamonds.net/News/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=57779&ArticleTitle=Rio%2bTinto%2bAbandons%2bIndian%2bDiamond%2bMining%2bProject

5 Tips From The Southeast’s ‘Jeweler Of The Year’

Spot on.

Useful link:
http://www.nationaljeweler.com/blog/4553-5-tips-from-the-southeast-s-jeweler-of-the-year

Fine Jewelry Couture, Contemporary Heirlooms

A must read.

Useful link:
http://olivierdupon.pressfolios.com

Half Of The United States Lives In These Counties

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://www.businessinsider.in/Half-Of-The-United-States-Lives-In-These-Counties/articleshow/22305034.cms

Corner In Wheat 1909

A must watch.

Useful link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AdtplJeGJI

Science Exchange

Get to know Elizabeth Iorns. https://www.scienceexchange.com

Bikanta

Get to know Ambika Bumb. http://bikanta.com

Earliest South East Asians Wore Bling

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3746908/Earliest-South-East-Asians-wore-bling-Sea-shells-used-necklaces-bracelets-42-000-years-ago.html

The World's Oldest Gold Artifact

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-worlds-oldest-gold-artifact-may-have-just-been-discovered_us_57ab178ae4b0db3be07c53e9

De Beers Stakes Its Reputation On Spotting The Difference

A must read.

Useful link:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-diamonds-debeers-idUSKCN10S14N?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FbusinessNews+%28Business+News%29

The Most Expensive Hole In The World

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3741956/The-expensive-hole-world-Russian-diamond-valued-13-BILLION-vast-helicopters-banned-flying-case-SUCKED-it.html