Small Diamonds In Gothic Jewels

(via Diamond Cuts in Historic Jewelry:1381-1910) Herbert Tillander writes:

During the first half of the 15th century, jewels of one particular style were very popular among collectors and for offering gifts. These were small, attractive pieces, often with mixed religious and secular ornamentation. Brooches in particular, but also clasps, pendants and rings, were cast and chased in gold with every conceivable motif, enamelled in bright colors and decorated with one, sometimes two, gems. It was in this type of jewelry that diamonds were introduced on a really large scale, though small rubies, sapphires, emeralds and pearls were also frequently used. The diamonds were small or medium-sized natural points fashioned into pyramidal cuts or fancy shapes, and in natural (but symmetrized) or imitated crystal forms.

There is one inventory, dating from 1439, which has so far been published only as part of a collection of inventories connected with Frederick IV, Duke of Austria and the Tyrol. Frederick, at one time nicknamed ‘the Hapsburg with empty pockets’, was so successful in exploiting rich silver mines in the Tyrol that he ended up being the wealthiest member of his dynasty. When he died he left over a thousand pieces of jewelry, including more than four hundred small, attractive pieces. There are over forty different motifs in the inventory, and often several examples of each motif, including twenty-two portrait medallions, ten falcons and four deer, as well as other animal jewels featuring horses, lions, camels, dogs, birds, etc. There are also a number of St Georges, Apostles, flowers, chessboards and so on. There are over five hundred diamonds mentioned in the inventory, mostly without any description other than the occasional michel or gross, which indicates that they were fairly large of pyramidal shape. Diamonds of any other shape were always described.

Two other well-known jewels are the brooch from the Treasury of the House of Burgundy (now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna) which shows a pair of fashionably dressed lovers standing in a ‘love garden’ of wreaths and branches; and the Founder’s Jewel which in 1404 William of Wykeham left to New College, Oxford, where it has remained to this day.

Gothic jewels were known for the high intrinsic value of their individual stones and were therefore often eventually broken up and their settings melted down. No illustrations of Frederick’s rich collection exist, but similar brooches were ‘dedicated in the Cathedral of Essen.’

Meme

(via Wikipedia) Richard Dawkins coined the term meme, which first came into popular use with the publication of his book The Selfish Gene in 1976. A meme, as defined within memetic theory, comprises a theoretical unit of cultural information, the building block of cultural evolution or diffusion that propagates from one mind to another analogously to the way in which a gene propagates from one organism to another as a unit of genetic information and of biological evolution. Multiple memes may propagate as cooperative groups called memeplexes (meme complexes).

A short story written in 1876 by Mark Twain, A Literary Nightmare, describes his encounter with a jingle so 'catchy' that it plays over and over in his mind until he finally sings it out loud and infects others (also known as an earworm).

Daniel Dennett on YouTube

I liked this one.

We all tend to fall for a new meme in the gem + jewelry industry one way or the other. It's amazing, it works. It could be on new treatment (s), new synthetic (s), new gem deposit (s), new design (s), new trend (s) + the never-ending news + insider tips on prices, grades, qualities, artificial scarcity engineering, the list goes on. What makes it so depressing is the memetic infection that can have upon one's psyche, which substantially increases the likelihood of additional misjudgments.

Gold

According to Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) gold trade through Dubai reached $5.23 billion in the third quarter of 2007, an increase of 55 per cent from $3.37 billion during the same period in 2006. Dubai’s top trading partners for gold include India, Switzerland, Malaysia and the GCC states. India and Switzerland were top importers from Dubai and India, Australia, Malaysia, USA and Switzerland were top exporters to Dubai. The experts believe the factors that could impact gold price (s) include fluctuations in the US economy + oil prices + social and political unrest around the world, resulting in extreme market volatility.

The Joker

Peter Schjeldahl writes about Richard Prince + the real story.

The Top Ten 2003

Milton Esterow writes about the annual list of the world’s top collectors—plus the Top Ten @ http://artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=1369 + http://artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=1370

Burt Lancaster Profile

Burt Lancaster profile on TCM @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgm47U_TVwk

I liked it.

Painting Found In Trash

Ula Ilnytzky writes about Elizabeth Gibson who spotted the brightly colored abstract work (now worth US$ 1 million +/- according to Sothebys) on her morning walk four years ago, lying in trash along a street, on Manhattan's Upper West Side + other viewpoints @ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071023/ap_on_re_us/trash_treasure

Crater Of Diamonds State Park

Here is an interesting diamond update from the Crater of Diamonds Park, Murfreesboro, Arkansas. The Crater of Diamonds park is the world's only diamond-producing site open to the public and visitors can keep the stones they dig up.

It has been reported that Eric Blake, 32, of Appleton, Wis., spotted a 3.92-carat white stone along a trail at the Crater of Diamonds State Park when he set down a 70-pound bucket of mud that he was carrying to a wash basin. Good luck!

Useful link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071023/ap_on_fe_st/odd_diamond_found

Utz Certified

According to (www.utzcertified.org) Lucas Simons, director of new programmes at Utz Certified, 'The cocoa sector is facing challenges in terms of social responsibility and the environment. Independent certification and transparency are important instruments for sustainable production, rural development and poverty reduction.' The group is currently working on a code of conduct and a traceability system for all cocoa providers in the Ivory Coast, one of the biggest suppliers of cocoa to the US and Europe. With 90 per cent of Ivorian cocoa being exported to Europe and North America, for example, food companies can hardly forget the massive role they play in helping give suppliers a decent standard of life. About 60.1 per cent of exports went to the EU in the growing season 2005-2006.

I think it's time that the gem and jewelry sector learn from the Cocoa sector. I think discussions on The Role of Diamond and Colored Stones in Developed and Developing Countries wouldn't be a bad idea. The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) supports the smallholder cocoa farmers who usually live below the United Nations (UN) poverty line.

According to the World Food Day website, a mind-boggling 854 million people live below this poverty line and go to sleep every night with an empty belly, while 25,000 people die of starvation every day.

What about the diamond and colored stones industry? What about the gemstone miners in South America, Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia? Who actually cares for them? In fact very few. I think sustainibility is important in the diamond and colored stone industry, and its in the best interests of the miners, dealers, jewelers and consumers. What do you think?

The Collector

Vince Aletti writes about Robert Mapplethorpe + Sam Wagstaff, Robert Mapplethrope's mentor + the current boom market for photography.

Rediscovering Latin America

Roger Atwood writes about the new trend in Mexican colonial portraiture to Chilean Surrealism + other viewpoints @ http://artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=1336

Henry Carstens

(via Dailyspeculations/Brett Steenbarger) Henry Carstens's latest article, Introduction To Testing Trading Ideas, is a gem. It walks traders through the process of historical testing, significance testing, and portfolio allocation.

Brilliant!

Danny DeVitto

Other People’ s Money (1991) speech by Danny DeVitto @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfL7STmWZ1c

I liked it.

About Jewelers

(via Forbes) The number of jewelers in the U.S. is expected to decline, but by less than 1% by 2014, the Department of Labor says. Nonetheless, the industry isn't growing, largely due to the influx of mass-produced jewelry in recent years. Would-be necklace and ring makers shouldn't be entirely discouraged--the government says prospects for highly skilled jewelers, particularly those who make custom or luxury jewelry--are 'excellent.' You might want to work on your entrepreneurial skills if you plan on going into this field though. About 40% of all jewelers are self-employed, according to the Labor Department.

Working conditions: Many jewelers work alone, requires vocational training, local retailers rely heavily on word-of-mouth advertising.

Median salary: About $28,000 per year.

Not very impressive, in fact depressing. How can you recommend anyone to try the jewelry industry. The fact of the matter is many have no clue as to how jewelers make their living. The perception is jewelry industry is glamorous and there is a lot of money in it. Yes and No. At least the American government have a tradition of publicising periodic reports on the state of the jewelry industry. What about other governments? Look at the developing countries in Asia, like China, India and Southeast Asian countries. Why can't they go the extramile and disclose? You have got to be an insider to know what goes on behind the scene.

Rough Diamonds

(via jckonline) According to Jewelers Vigilance Committee importers of rough diamonds must now fax a copy of the Kimberley Process Certification arriving with the imported diamonds to the U.S. Census Bureau upon making any entry with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Good luck!

I really don't know how effective the Kimberley Process Certification concept is in other parts of the world. There are rough diamonds arriving from god-knows-where, but most likely from the continent of Africa or Russian federation into Southeast Asia and South Asia. I think the couriers are aware of the risks but still they are taking chances to find a buyer, especially in Southeast Asia.

James Dean

James Dean, is an American film actor, one-of-a-kind actor who had that extra something + his iconic status appealed for the disenfranchised young of the era + his death at a young age created a legendary status. I really liked Rebel Without a Cause and Giant.

(via www.imdb.com) Useful links:
Giant (1956) Jett Rink
"Crossroads" (1955)
Broadway Trust (1955)
Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Jim Stark
"Schlitz Playhouse of Stars" (1955)
The Unlighted Road (1955)
"Lux Video Theatre"
The Life of Emile Zola (1955)
The Foggy, Foggy Dew (1952)
East of Eden (1955). Cal Trask
"The United States Steel Hour" (1955)
The Thief (1955)
"General Electric Theater" (1954)
The Dark, Dark Hours (1954)
I'm a Fool (1954)
"Danger" (1953-1954)
Padlocks (1954)
The Little Woman (1954)
Death Is My Neighbor (1953)
No Room (1953)
"The Philco Television Playhouse" (1954)
Run Like a Thief (1954)
Harvest (1953)
"Robert Montgomery Presents" (1953)
Harvest (1953)
"Armstrong Circle Theatre" (1953)
The Bells of Cockaigne (1953)
"Kraft Television Theatre" (1952-1953)
A Long Time Till Dawn (1953)
Keep Our Honor Bright (1953)
Prologue to Glory (1952)
"Campbell Playhouse" (1953)
Life Sentence (1953)
Something for an Empty Briefcase (1953)
"Omnibus" (1953)
Glory in the Flower (1953)
"The Big Story" (1953)
Rex Newman, Reporter for the Globe and News (1953)
"Studio One" (1952-1953)
Sentence of Death (1953)
Abraham Lincoln (1952)
Ten Thousand Horses Singing (1952)
"Tales of Tomorrow" (1953)
The Evil Within (1953)
"Treasury Men in Action" (1953)
The Case of the Sawed-Off Shotgun (1953)
The Case of the Watchful Dog (1953)
Trouble Along the Way (1953)
"You Are There" (1953)
The Capture of Jesse James (1953) Jesse James
"The Kate Smith Hour" (1953)
Hounds of Heaven (1953)
Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (1952)
"Hallmark Hall of Fame" (1952)
Forgotten Children (1952)
"The Web" (1952)
Sleeping Dogs (1952)
Sailor Beware (1952)
"CBS Television Workshop" (1952)
Into the Valley (1952)
"The Stu Erwin Show" (1951)
Jackie Knows All (1951)
Fixed Bayonets! (1951)
"The Bigelow Theatre" (1951)
T.K.O. (1951)
"Family Theatre"
Hill Number One (1951)

Laughing In The Face Of Adversity

The Economist writes about the boom and correction phase in the contemporary-art market + inflated expectations and panic-attack among the collectors + the credit crunch, recession, depressed housing market, the weak dollar link + other viewpoints @ http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10006840&top_story=1

When Human Beings Are The Canvas

Mark Spiegler writes about Santiago Sierra + his unique art format + his visualization of a concept in extraordinary manner (s) + other viewpoints @ http://artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=1335

Diamond Rivers

(via The Diamond World, 1981) David Koskoff writes:

In Diamond Rivers (1977), an educational film produced for television by Bill Benenson, one old-timer, one of the last one-man Brazilian diamond diggers, tells about himself and what impels him and small diggers everywhere:

'I think I was born looking for diamonds. My father was a prospector and he died without having anything. And I, as old as I am, I don’t have anything either. But I have never stopped looking. Not for long, anyway. Why do I do it? Because I like it, and it is what I know best. If I was lucky, when I went to town and got money I would buy good clothes, a good hat, good boots, a good revolver to put in my belt, and then I would go party. Beer, wine, cognac, and sing and dance and party some more, and then, when the money was gone, I would come back to the river and look for more. Where is the prospector who invests his money, buys land or a house? They do not exist, I tell you. He is a man without future, only living for the day...There were some good days...'

How true! It's sad, but that's the way it is.

Google Vanity Ring

(via Technovelgy) Google Vanity Ring is a special piece of net-ready jewelry that provides a concrete number for your ego googling.

Here's how it works. Rather than a precious gem, the ring displays something even more precious - the number of hits you get on Google when you check for reference to your name. Every night, you put it in its little cradle connected to your computer. Then, you type in your name in the application window; the application then googles you and displays the number of hits - also called 'attention carats' - on the face of the ring.

I really liked it.