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Saturday, February 16, 2019

Random Thoughts

I think art is something you purchase without an exit strategy. My idea of liquidity is in other investments. Having those other buckets to draw from is important — otherwise, you could be forced to sell a prized work for less than you would want to when the economy sours.

Data Trove

The volume of digital information produced in China is vastly outstripping that of the U.S., according to new research from Seagate and technology research group IDC. Take note.

Discount Diva

Over to you.

Useful link:
https://buffalonews.com/2019/02/10/discount-divaputting-a-ring-on-it-go-ahead-and-skip-the-diamond

Valentine's Day Is Ruining The Environment

Probably yes.

Useful link:
https://www.allure.com/story/valentines-day-environmental-impact-flower-diamond-industry

Diamonds Could Be Starting To Lose Their Sparkle For Millennials

Not really,

Useful link:
http://www.wfmz.com/business/diamonds-could-be-starting-to-lose-their-sparkle-for-millennials/1019328866

Are People Falling Out Of Love With Diamonds?

Not really.

Useful link:
https://www.arabianbusiness.com/retail/412834-are-people-falling-out-of-love-with-diamonds

Engagement Ring Stories

Happy finding.

Useful link:
https://www.thisisinsider.com/picking-out-own-engagement-ring-2019-2

Light Heart

Helzberg Diamonds has launched its own collection of lab-grown jewelry, Light Heart, citing increased consumer demand for synthetics. 

The jeweler — owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway — first introduced the line late last year in a limited number of its stores. Prices of Light Heart items on Helzberg’s retail site ranged from $400 to $9,000 at press time. Many thanks to Rapaport.

100 Best Companies To Work For

Take a look at all the 100 Best Companies To Work For here; click here for the methodology used to generate the list.

Jassil Villanueva Quintana

Jassil Villanueva Quintana, a fifth-generation Brugal family member is the first woman to become a maestra ronera for Brugal rum. She is currently the youngest Master of Rum in the industry.

Tin Trunk Safari

Get to know Nencini-Hutchings, founder of Tin Trunk Safari.

Another Engagement Ring Story

Americans pay about two weeks’ salary for an engagement ring.

Friday, February 15, 2019

GPT2 Report

OpenAI, an nonprofit research company backed by Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman, Sam Altman, and others, says its new AI model, called GPT2 is so good and the risk of malicious use so high that it is breaking from its normal practice of releasing the full research to the public in order to allow more time to discuss the ramifications of the technological breakthrough.

The Cut London

Get to know Kate Baxter, a jeweler designer and consultant, and the founder of The Cut London, a jewelry store. 

Alrosa Displays Rare Pink Diamond

Alrosa has launched an exhibition of rare polished colored diamonds, including a 14.83-carat pink that is the largest of its color in Russian history. 

The oval-shaped stone was cut from a 27.85-carat rough that the company recovered in 2017 from its Ebelyakh mine in Yakutia. The miner’s largest pink diamond prior to the discovery weighed 3.86 carats. 

The collection also includes an Asscher-cut, 20.69-carat, deep-yellow diamond, cut from a 34.17-carat rough. A cushion-cut, pink-purple diamond weighing 11.06 carats will also be on display. It is recognized by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) as the largest of its color in the world, the miner added. 

Due to the size and fancy hues of the stones Alrosa has recovered, the company believes it can gain a strong position in the colored-diamond market. Many thanks to Rapaport Diamond Report.

Random Thoughts

It's getting harder to tell where the trade war stops and the tech war begins.

Digital Mining Report Australia

Fairness + Accountability + Transparency

The annual ACM Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency conference on the ethical issues related to A/B tests was insightful.

Digital Minimalism

In his new book, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, Cal Newport outlines his approach to living a life where he spends his online time “on a small number of carefully selected activities that strongly support things you value, and then happily miss out on everything else.”

Thursday, February 14, 2019

A Cell-killing Strategy To Slow Aging Passed Its First Test This Year

Time will tell.

Useful link:
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612943/a-cell-killing-strategy-to-slow-aging-passed-its-first-test-this-year

Bodega Numanthia

A must visit.

Useful link:
https://robbreport.com/food-drink/wine/wine-from-bodega-numanthia-will-take-eight-years-to-release-2841277

White Company

Get to know Elizabeth White.

Useful link:
https://robbreport.com/muse/investing-finance/cryptocurrency-broker-elizabeth-white-is-taking-virtual-money-mainstream-2841614

Crypto Startups Go After Wealthy Buyers

Only for the thick-skinned.

Useful link:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-13/icos-alive-and-well-as-crypto-startups-go-after-wealthy-buyers?srnd=premium-asia

How The Place Of Origin Can Seriously Ramp Up A Gemstone’s Value

Quality is what matters, not locality.

Useful link:
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/2182522/how-place-origin-can-seriously-ramp-gemstones

Jeff Koons At The Ashmolean Museum In Oxford

WG was spot on. Art is a game of context.

Useful link:
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-47152778

Sacred Time

Take a look.

Useful link:
https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/louis-vuittons-high-watchmaking-new-minute-repeater-with-cathedral-gongs-2840939

Maui Is About To Become A Legit Wine Destination

Take note.

Useful link:
https://robbreport.com/food-drink/wine/mauiwineandfoodclassic-2841054

Milk Gallery

A must visit. A new line of clothing.

Useful link:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90303543/this-new-clothing-line-is-designed-for-life-after-apocalyptic-climate-change

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

In Memory Yet Green

Dieter Rams’s 10 Principles Of Design, Illustrated By His Ingenious Products

Take a look.

Useful link:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90303267/dieter-ramss-10-principles-of-design-illustrated-by-his-ingenious-products

The Real Reason America Is Scared Of Huawei

Internet-connected everything. Find a logical solution.

Useful link:
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612874/the-real-reason-america-is-scared-of-huawei-internet-connected-everything

Preparing For A Good End Of Life

Death should be good as your life has been.

Useful link:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/preparing-for-a-good-end-of-life-11549643346

Forget The 4 C’s. Meet The 3 S’s.

AD was spot on.

Useful link:
https://www.nationaljeweler.com/blog/7417-forget-the-4-c-s-meet-the-3-s-s

Mouawad Just Cut This 54-Carat Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond

Take a look.

Useful link:
https://www.nationaljeweler.com/diamonds-gems/grading/7416-mouawad-just-cut-this-54-carat-fancy-vivid-yellow-diamond

Mountain Hazelnuts

Get to know Mountain Hazelnuts, a social enterprise focused on improving lives in Bhutan through the cultivation of hazelnuts.

Flower Confidential

Amy Stewart's 2007 book Flower Confidential is a must read.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Envy: A Theory Of Social Behavior

Worse than jealousy is envy. Helmut Schoeck's book: Envy: A Theory of Social Behaviour is a must read.

How Are Diamonds Made And Formed

A brilliant write up by Paul Gian. Take a look.

Useful link:
https://beyond4cs.com/how-are-diamonds-made-and-formed

Ocean Shipping Rates Plunge: Just A Blip Or The End Of Globalization?

Time will tell.

Useful link:
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-02-09/ocean-shipping-rates-plunge-just-blip-or-end-globalization

Chinese New Year – Cultural Snapshots Of Society

A must read.

Useful link:
https://metallicman.com/laoban4site/chinese-new-year-2019-cultural-snapshots-of-society

Bougainville Island

Buried treasure.

Useful link:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-11/-58-billion-pacific-mine-claim-seen-at-risk-as-referendum-nears

Zilingo

Get to know Ankiti Bose.

Useful link:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-12/this-near-1-billion-startup-is-led-by-a-27-year-old-female-ceo

Gee Rings

Get to know Debra Navarro.

Useful link:
https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/gee-rings-debra-navarro

Buy Engagement Rings In Tax-free Delaware

Good advice.

Useful link:
https://dailycaller.com/2019/02/07/butler-engagement-delaware

Yellow Gold Engagement Rings

Yellow gold is back.

Useful link:
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/2/7/18214504/yellow-gold-engagement-rings-meghan-markle

Practical Tips To Start A Jewelry-Making Business

Take note.

Useful link:
https://girltalkhq.com/practical-tips-to-start-a-jewelry-making-business

The Chocolate Diamonds Story.

Get to know Eddie LeVian.

Useful link:
https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/jcks-150th-eddie-levian-on-jck

Good Diamonds Are Hard To Find At World's Richest Gem Mine

Nature has no rules.

Useful link:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-07/good-diamonds-are-hard-to-find-at-world-s-richest-gem-mine

Vacheron Constantin

For the first time ever, Vacheron Constantin is taking its one-of-a-kind Les Cabinotiers timepieces on the road. The watchmaker’s unique watches reserved for its top collectors are created by hundreds of hours of craftsmanship by special watchmakers who have trained for at least 10 years in their respective craft. They represent the best-of-the-best of Vacheron Constantin’s enameling, engraving, and wood marquetry, as well as its technical complications from perpetual calendars to armillary tourbillons.

Monday, February 11, 2019

New Evidence For The Strange Geometry Of Thought

AR's interpretation was very interesting.

Useful link:
http://nautil.us/blog/new-evidence-for-the-geometry-of-thought

Chopard’s Magical Jewelry Collections

Take a look.

Useful link:
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2184950/chopards-magical-setting-collection-jewellery-shines

How India's Biggest Diamond Traders Accidentally Leaked Customer Data Online

Why did it take so long?

Useful link:
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/diamond-data-breach-at-bharat-diamond-bourse_in_5c5c5a34e4b00d27efeb3d9a?utm_hp_ref=in-homepage

Mejuri

Get to know Noura Sakkijha.

Useful link:
https://fashionista.com/2019/02/mejuri-fine-jewlery-brand

Richie Rich’s Name Is The Most Subtle Thing About Him

Spot on.

Useful link:
https://www.thecut.com/2019/02/richie-rich-instagram-jeweler.html

Our 10 Radicals Are Breaking Barriers

The new retail landscape.

Useful link:
https://www.therobinreport.com/our-10-radicals-are-breaking-barriers

4 Global Luxury Trends Creating Turmoil For Brands

Sign of the times.

Useful link:
https://unitymarketingonline.com/4-global-luxury-trends-creating-turmoil-for-brands

Why Your Brand Needs A College Peer Influencer Marketing Program

A new trend.

Useful link:
https://accessoriescouncil.org/news/why-your-brand-needs-a-college-peer-influencer-marketing-program

Sunday, February 10, 2019

The Cuckoo's Egg

Clifford Stoll's 1989 book, "The Cuckoo's Egg" is a must read.

Failure Aversion Change In Europe

2016 study by Failure Aversion Change in Europe (FACE) Entrepreneurship is a European project designed to help would-be tech entrepreneurs break the barriers generated by fear of failure.

Diamonds Grown In A Laboratory Can Still Say, ‘I Love You’

Over to you.

Useful link:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/diamonds-grown-in-a-laboratory-can-still-say-i-love-you

Project D

Take a look at the first wearable CVD lab-grown diamond.

Useful link:
https://hrdantwerp.com/en/news/worlds-first-wearable-cvd-lab-grown-all-diamond-ring-graded-hrd-antwerp

Now, Synthetic Diamonds Are Surat’s Best Friend

Sign of the times.

Useful link:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/now-synthetic-diamonds-are-surats-best-friend/articleshow/67841266.cms

Made-in-China Diamonds Poised To Shape Global Market

It will be just a matter of time.

Useful link:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-02/06/c_137802928.htm

LGD Prices – Not What You Might Expect

A new trend in the consumer market.

Useful link:
http://edahngolan.com/lgd-prices-not-what-you-might-expect

Gems And Gemology Winter Issue 2018

The G&G Winter 2018 issue is available for free on the GIA website, along with every issue of the publication since 1934.

Maison Numen

Get to know Jessica Macias, the founder of Maison Numen.

Wine Advocate

Robert Parker is the most influential wine critic in the world. His newsletter, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Saturday, February 09, 2019

Random Thoughts

Tigers leave only their skins when they die, but through his achievements a man's name lives on.

Friday, February 08, 2019

Chinese Consumer Is The 'Single Most Important Thing' In The World Economy

JON was spot on.

Useful link:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/07/chinese-consumer-the-single-most-important-thing-in-world-economy-jim-oneill.html

The Estonia Story

Truly inspiring and amazing given the geography and political instability in the region.

Useful link:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/08/how-estonia-became-a-digital-society.html

Gem Diamonds Update

Finding diamond worth mining is becoming a problem throughout the industry.

Useful link:
http://www.mining.com/gem-diamonds-finds-from-iconic-lesotho-mine-drop-shares-slump

Asian Photographers Shortlisted For 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

Take note.

Useful link:
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/2185398/three-hongkongers-make-shortlist-2019-sony-world-photography

Singapore Is Asia’s World City

MC was spot on.

Useful link:
https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/hong-kong/article/2185149/face-it-hong-kong-our-worsening-quality-life-and

Maria Popova: By The Book

A must read.

Useful link:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/07/books/review/maria-popova-by-the-book.html?action=click&module=Features&pgtype=Homepage

Varieties Of Green Business: Industries, Nations And Time

Get to know Geoffrey Jones, the Isidor Straus Professor of Business History at Harvard Business School, who wrote the recently released book Varieties of Green Business: Industries, Nations and Time. A must read.

Thursday, February 07, 2019

New Astrology-Inspired Watches

Take a look.

Useful link:
https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/van-cleef-arpels-new-zodiac-lumineux-timepieces-2823575

How The Grand Canyon Transformed From A ‘Valueless’ Place To A National Park

Nature has no rules.

Useful link:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-grand-canyon-transformed-from-valueless-place-to-national-park-180971426

A Rare Ruby From Montana

Take a look.

Useful link:
https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/winter-2018-labnotes-rare-ruby-from-montana

Diamonds From The Deep: How Do Diamonds Form In The Deep Earth?

Meet the experts and read their interpretations.

Useful link:
https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/winter-2018-how-do-diamonds-form-in-the-deep-earth

Billionaire David Harding Donates $130 Million To Cambridge University

A good role model.

Useful link:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/06/david-and-claudia-harding-foundation-donation-to-cambridge-university.html

SoftBank's Masayoshi Son

Simply lucky with money and technology.

Useful link:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/07/softbanks-masayoshi-son-may-have-become-billions-richer-in-one-day.html

Forget Standing Desks: To Stay Healthy, You've Got To Move All Day

Practice.

Useful link:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/06/exercise-health-move-all-day-standing-desk

At Auction, Few Assets Fare Better Than Designer Jewels – Here’s Why

I agree.

Useful link:
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/2182518/auction-few-assets-fare-better-designer-jewels

Abolish Billionaires

FM was spot on. What's the logical solution?

Useful link:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/06/opinion/abolish-billionaires-tax.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

‘Lab-Grown’ Diamond Turns Out To Be Natural

Synthetic or lab-created diamond identification will always remain a challenge.

Useful link:
https://www.diamonds.net/News/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=63342&ArticleTitle=%25e2%2580%2598Lab-Grown%25e2%2580%2599%2bDiamond%2bTurns%2bOut%2bto%2bBe%2bNatural


South Korea Lowers Diamond Tax

Why it took so long?

Useful link:
https://www.diamonds.net/News/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=63344&ArticleTitle=South%2bKorea%2bLowers%2bDiamond%2bTax

VicenzaOro January 2019

Unlimited creativity.

Useful link:
https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/5-jewels-vicenzaoro-jan-2019

GIA Says Two Lightbox Diamonds Are G VS1s

Like it or not, slowly we will be seeing quality grading of lab-created diamonds in the diamond market.

Useful link:
https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/gia-grades-lightbox-diamonds

Tuesday, February 05, 2019

Random Thoughts

Automation will split the labor force into two worlds. There will be a small island of highly educated professionals making good wages at big corporations, which reap hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit per employee. That island sits in the middle of a sea of less educated workers who are stuck at businesses like hotels, restaurants and nursing homes that generate much smaller profits per employee and stay viable primarily by keeping wages low. Take note.

Why Doing Good Makes It Easier To Be Bad

So true.

Useful link:
http://nautil.us/blog/-why-doing-good-makes-it-easier-to-be-bad

The Miracle Mineral

Take a look.

Useful link:
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20190114-compost-or-phosphorus-fertiliser-in-africa-agriculture