Chinese Jade Throughout The Ages

By Stanley Charles Nott
Charles E Tuttle Company
1962 ISBN 0-8048-0100-2

Charles E Tuttle Company writes:

Centuries before the Christian era Jade was valued in China as the purest and most divine of natural treasures, and it evoked a reverence accorded to no other material. It was chosen by the Chinese as the vehicle for communication with the unseen powers of the universe, as the emblem of imperial authority, and as a charm against evil influence. From the earliest times it appears to have been credited with medicinal properties. In its ritual character it was believed to have qualities of solar light and so to have relationship with the powers of heaven. Naturally it was thus appropriate as an attribute of the emperor. To the artist craftsman it appealed not only in its range of exquisite colors but also in his hardness, which to him was a symbol of eternity. He had the artistic impulse to master this hardness in such a way as to give the effect of natural fluency. The resulting creations have provided the inspiration for this book.

First published in 1936 and since then a collector’s item of increasing rarity, Chinese Jade Throughout The Ages comprises a review of the characteristics, decoration, folklore, and symbolism of this esteemed mineral that has always held a proud place among the gems of the world. The book presents a full descriptive account of the significance and meaning of the carvings produced in this prized stone by Chinese craftsmen from the earliest times, through the Chou and succeeding dynasties, down to the twentieth century. In the achievement of his task, the author has endeavored to embody the results of study that occupied his leisure moments over number of years: the study of an intriguing and beautiful art that for many centuries has been interwoven into the very life of the Chinese.

The text is illustrated with a magnificent series of more than 350 reproductions in color (39 plats), black and white (110 plates), and line (73 drawings) of choice pieces selected from the chief Asiatic, European, and American collections. Many of these pieces are displayed here for the first time. In addition, the book explains not only the wealth of symbolic designs used in the decoration of jade but also a large number of the marks and devices by which collectors identify the origin and the date of valued pieces.

Gitanjali Partners With Tri-Star Worldwide

(via) National Jeweler Network writes:

Gitanjali USA Inc., a subsidiary of Gitanjali Gems Ltd., announced the purchase of a majority interest in Tri-Star Worldwide LLC, a BHP sightholder, CanadaMark licensee, manufacturer and global distributor of Canadia-brand diamonds and diamond jewelry.

"We are excited to have partnered with Gitanjali, the most vertically integrated diamond house in the world," Tri-Star Chief Executive Officer Oren Sofer said in a statement.

"Gitanjali has extensive global distribution channels. This will help Tri-Star to propel Canadia to new levels not only in our existing markets of North America and the United Kingdom, but also in the Indian and Middle Eastern markets where they have well-established retail networks."

More info @ http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com/njn/content_display/diamonds/e3ica3d2cfe98b3521902f113461f115762

Diamonds May Have A Future As A Commodity

Here is an interesting article about diamond being perceived as a commodity. It will be interesting to see what De Beers and the industry as a whole is going to do. In my view they don't like diamond being perceived as a commodity. The industry believes diamond is different from other precious stones and metals. But you will never know. Good luck to Martin Rapaport!

(via Market Watch) Myra P. Saefong writes:

What's at stake could be the first-ever futures market for diamond trading. It's impossible, say some industry experts. Others just say it's nearly impossible.

But after more than 20-years, Martin Rapaport, publisher of the Rapaport Diamond Report -- a primary source of diamond prices for the trade, plans to make his second attempt at creating one.

"Not only is it possible to create a futures market, but we are going to do it," he said.

Back in 1982, Rapaport submitted a contract proposal to the New York Commodities Exchange for the
creation of a futures market for diamonds.

It was rejected, he said, because the "diamond industry didn't want price transparency."

Now he's writing up a new proposal, one that he expects will be ready in another year or two, though he won't specify where he'll submit it.

Rapaport's biggest setback, however, may be that he has to first convince the diamond industry that diamonds are, in fact, a commodity.

Diamonds are "definitely a commodity. You buy and sell them for cash," he said. "They're a natural resource with limited supply; they're well defined; they're certified; they're analyzed, graded, tradable around the world."

More info @ http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/diamonds-may-have-future-commodity/story.aspx?guid=%7b9376AEDE-CB8D-4101-AC8C-CF0015191A65

Two For The Money Movie

Memorable quote (s) from the movie:

Walter Abrams (Al Pacino): You're a lemon. Like a bad car. There is something... there is something inherently defective in you, and you, and you, and me, and all of us. We're all lemons. We look like everyone else, but what makes us different is our defect. See, most gamblers, when they go to gamble, they go to win. When we go to gamble, we go to lose. Subconsciously. Me, I never feel better than when they're raking the chips away; not bringing them in. And everyone here knows what I'm talking about. Hell, even when we win it's just a matter of time before we give it all back. But when we lose, that's another story. When we lose, and I'm talking about the kind of loss that makes your asshole pucker to the size of a decimal point - you know what I mean - You've just recreated the worst possible nightmare this side of malignant cancer, for the twentieth goddamn time; and you're standing there and you suddenly realize, Hey, I'm still... here. I'm still breathing. I'm still alive. Us lemons, we fuck shit up all the time on purpose. Because we constantly need to remind ourselves we're alive. Gambling's not your problem. It's this fucked up need to feel something. To convince yourself you exist. That's the problem.

The Federal Trade Commission’s Guide for the Jewelry, Precious Metals and Pewter Industries

FTC writes:

23.19 Misuse of the word "pearl."

(a) It is unfair or deceptive to use the unqualified word "pearl" or any other word or phrase of like meaning to describe, identify, or refer to any object or product that is not in fact a pearl, as defined in 23.18(a).

(b) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word "pearl" to describe, identify, or refer to a cultured pearl unless it is immediately preceded, with equal conspicuousness, by the word "cultured" or "cultivated," or by some other word or phrase of like meaning, so as to indicate definitely and clearly that the product is not a pearl.

(c) It is unfair or deceptive to use the word "pearl" to describe, identify, or refer to an imitation pearl unless it is immediately preceded, with equal conspicuousness, by the word "artificial," "imitation," or "simulated," or by some other word or phrase of like meaning, so as to indicate definitely and clearly that the product is not a pearl.

(d) It is unfair or deceptive to use the terms "faux pearl," "fashion pearl," "Mother of Pearl," or any other such term to describe or qualify an imitation pearl product unless it is immediately preceded, with equal conspicuousness, by the word "artificial," "imitation," or "simulated," or by some other word or phrase of like meaning, so as to indicate definitely and clearly that the product is not a pearl.

More info @ http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/jewel-gd.htm

Travels In India

By Jean Baptiste Tavernier
Baron of Aubonne
Translated from the original French edition of 1676 with a biographical sketch of the Author, Notes, and Appendices, &c.
By V Ball
Edited by William Crooke
Oriental Books Reprint Corporation, New Delhi, India
1977

Oriental Books Reprint Corporation writes:

Jean Baptiste Tavernier’s Travels in India contains the details of his journeys that he undertook traversing the greater part of this country. Rightly considered as one of the most renowned travelers of the seventeenth century, his Travels, like those of other European travelers, are in important source book for the history of India of the seventeenth century.

An avid traveler, Tavernier undertook seven voyages to the East of which six brought him to India including Ceylon and South East Asia between the years 1641 and 1667 and is thus an important source material for the history of Mughal India and Deccan Sultanates. A jeweler by profession, he also undertook journeys to various mines and other sources of precious stones.

The present volume of Tavernier’s Travels In India has been translated by Valentine Ball and the present edition has been edited by William Crooke.

A detailed life sketch of Tavernier apart, this edition also contains a detailed Bibliography, Notes on Tavernier’s History and Geography, six Appendices in which are respectively discussed the Koh-i-nur, list of diamond mines in India, the diamond mines of Bengal, the diamond mines of Boraeo, the ruby mines of Burma and the Sapphire of Washings of Ceylon and two early works by foreign travelers, and a detailed Index and Glossary.

An important source book, Travels in India is an indispensable work for all those interested in various facets of life during the times of the Mughals.

On Investing

Robert Klein (comedian) writes:

"In the book of things people more often do wrong than right, investing must certainly top the list, followed closely by wallpapering and eating artichokes."

The Apartment Movie

A memorable quote from the movie:

C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon): On November 1st, 1959, the population of New York City was 8,042,783. If you laid all these people end to end, figuring an average height of five feet six and a half inches, they would reach from Times Square to the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan. I know facts like this because I work for an insurance company - Consolidated Life of New York. We're one of the top five companies in the country. Our home office has 31,259 employees, which is more than the entire population of uhh... Natchez, Mississippi. I work on the 19th floor. Ordinary Policy Department, Premium Accounting Division, Section W, desk number 861.