The Formula

Memorable quote (s) from the movie:

Tom (Chris Hanel): If you would have asked me a month ago, why I was making this fanfilm, I really don't know what I would have said. For the experience, recognition, chance at fame... stupid excuse to make a lightsaber duel? Revenge would have been my most honest answer, but still not the right one. The real reason for anyone, anyone to make a fanfilm, in my opinion - Man, just have fun. My film isn't going to change the world, I understand that. But I learned a lot, and I had a lot of laughs because I made it with my friends. And if you're not having fun... why are you making this fanfilm in the first place? Who cares if your film's not perfect? Who cares what other viewers or some stupid short-sighted radio critic says on some flashy website? Sometimes you have to step back and say, "Hey, it's only a movie."

The Indian Retail Industry

According to Research and Market report, the Indian retail industry may become a US$175-200 billion business by 2016. More info @ http://www.researchandmarkets.com

More Demand, More Questions

Konstantin Akinsha writes about the emerging Russian/East European art (s) + forgeries + other viewpoints @ http://artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2246

Gem and jewelry are good comparisons. Who can tell you whether the gem and jewelry you see on dispaly are real? Today experience + visual observations skills are not enough. Keeping up with fraudsters is difficult. They are always one step ahead. Most gemstones created in the laboratory, or enhanced by heat or chemical/special treatments are fine, but are not stated openly. In order to improve color, clarity + overall quality gemstones may be oiled, waxed, dyed, bleached, coated with lacquer or enamel, heat treated (with or without pressure), irradiated with neutrons, gamma rays or beta particles, surface diffused, glass/plastic filled (to add weight + toughen + hide surface/structural flaws), depending on the gemstone species. If you are doubtful always consult a reputed gem testing laboratory.

Botswana’s 15% Stake In De Beers: To Sell Or Not To Sell Is Not The Question – The Timing Is!

Chaim Even-Zohar writes about Botswana's diversification plans to compete with other players + the Nicky factor + other viewpoints @ http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp?TextSearch=&KeyMatch=0&id=25942

Notes From The Laboratory

2007: Here is another tip from my mentor. Fuel for thought. This is done even today. Keep your eyes open.

(via The Journal of Gemmology, Vol.XIX, N0.2, April 1984) Kenneth Scarratt writes:

An item that we have seen quite a number of examples of over the past few years is the imitation crystal.

One interesting specimen made to imitate ruby was composed of fragments of natural and synthetic (Verneuil) ruby together by an adhesive and coated in mica. More often than not though, these imitations are made to resemble emerald, in particular the type of mica-coated rough that emanates from East Africa.

Sometimes produced with obvious crystal form, or more convincingly with the minimum of form, the basic material for this type of imitation is either very poor quality emerald, beryl or glass. The poor quality emerald or beryl varieties may be manufactured either by slicing the crystal down its length and gluing the two pieces back together with a green adhesive and then coating the whole in mica, or by hollowing out the crystal, infilling with a green substance and then coating the base with a matrix-like material.

Hambergite

Chemistry: Berylium borate
Crystal system: Orthorhombic; prism; flattened.
Color: Transparent to translucent; colorless, gray, yellow.
Hardness: 7.5
Cleavage: Perfect: 2 directions; Fracture: brittle, conchoidal to uneven.
Specific gravity: 2.35
Refractive index: 1.553 – 1.631; Biaxial positive; 0.072
Luster: Vitreous.
Dispersion: Low.
Dichroism: -
Occurrence: In pegmatites; Madagascar, Norway.

Notes
Collector’s stone; high DR and vitreous luster (looks like glass); rare; seldom very clean; lowest known density for gem with such a high birefringence; faceted.

Gemstones vs. Chocolates

The chocolate companies in the US and elsewhere have started labeling their bars according to cacao content (cocoa solids + cocoa butter). The experts believe chocolate's taste is a magic combination of origin + blend + roasting of the cocoa beans. Many industry analysts believe the next wave in chocolate marketing will be focussed on origin + variety of cocoa beans.

I think the colored stone + diamond industry have a lot to learn from the chocolate industry. If the grading laboratories were able to classify origin, variety, treatments + product contents (chemistry) in a easy-to-read (understand) format, the concept could have made a big difference.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

In the US, discussions are underway to enforce NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) regulations on treated gems, especially when dealing with irradiated gems because most of the gems comes from overseas. In the US, many gemstones are sold in noncompliance with NRC regulations, and there are no NRC-licensed facilities to test gemstones. Many in gem and jewelry industry, especially jewelry retailers do not like nasty surprises during the Christmas season.

The new regulations may be ready by early next year with reference to tool kit on treated gems. For more information visit http://www.nrc.gov