Saturday, July 21, 2007
DTC Ombudsman Starts Cleansing Role
Chaim Even-Zohar writes about the new supplier of choice methodology + the role of DTC Key Account Managers and their periodic reviews about their clients + Dermot Gleesson effect + other viewpoints @ http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp
Are You Looking At Prices or Art?
Eileen Kinsella writes about the state of mind of the collectors and their ability (or inability) to look at a work, appreciate it, and evaluate it in and of itself + other viewspoints @ http://artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2268
Again there are similarities between pricing of gemstones and art. Both are subjective concepts. A piece of art or gem always have nice stories with them + they are have their special beauty. You need a third eye to see through, appreciate and evaluate. You also need expertise, meaning you need to understand how gems or art are bought and sold. If you don't have the product knowledge or don't want to take the time to learn, then you need an expert that you trust to make the judgment for you. I think most of today's buyers are collectors with a passion for gems or art and want to know everything they can about them. Some may even become too addicted; they would never part with these stones or art at any price.
Again there are similarities between pricing of gemstones and art. Both are subjective concepts. A piece of art or gem always have nice stories with them + they are have their special beauty. You need a third eye to see through, appreciate and evaluate. You also need expertise, meaning you need to understand how gems or art are bought and sold. If you don't have the product knowledge or don't want to take the time to learn, then you need an expert that you trust to make the judgment for you. I think most of today's buyers are collectors with a passion for gems or art and want to know everything they can about them. Some may even become too addicted; they would never part with these stones or art at any price.
Two Tricky Items
2007: I have gone through a similar situation during the course of my work, and I believe gemstones will continue to teach us one way or the other.
(via The Journal of Gemmology, Vol.IX, No.9, January 1965) G V Axon writes:
The pleasure one gets from guessing an identification and then proving it to be correct is always to be offset by the tendency to read the various gem instruments incorrectly with the guess uppermost in mind. Two stones recently gave the author a rather sharp lesson.
The first stone, about half-a-carat, was bright green, and with ‘horse-tail’ inclusions. The stone appeared pink with red flashes under the ordinary color filter, and even in ordinary light without the filter appeared to give off red flashes. The second stone, of some 22 carats, was quite a lively brown.
The first guess was demantoid garnet. The stone turned out to be chrome sphene. The second guess was heat treated amethyst. The stone was golden calcite. Neither chrome sphene nor golden calcite is seen frequently, the former because it is still rather rare, and the latter because it is so difficult to cut and so fragile.
Here were two very good examples of tricky looks. Of course, closer examination would have revealed that the horse-tail in chrome sphene did not appear to radiate, and that the doubling of the back facets in the calcite was apparent. The same would no doubt apply to a small clean chrome sphene examined under 10x lens.
Both stones were extremely tricky items, to say the least, for the horse-tail inclusion of demantoid has practically become its most single identification, yet here was a stone with very similar inclusions and almost identical in appearance. Thus ‘horse-tail’ inclusions will have to be watched rather more closely now.
As for golden calcite, so few specimens are to be seen that few jewelers will ever encounter them. Even so, heat treated amethyst is by now almost recognizable at sight—at least I thought it was, but after the shock of receiving a golden calcite and finding what appeared to be a heat treated amethyst, I have again learned the importance of never taking anything for granted, and of always making at least to tests, excluding the first ‘informed guess.’
(via The Journal of Gemmology, Vol.IX, No.9, January 1965) G V Axon writes:
The pleasure one gets from guessing an identification and then proving it to be correct is always to be offset by the tendency to read the various gem instruments incorrectly with the guess uppermost in mind. Two stones recently gave the author a rather sharp lesson.
The first stone, about half-a-carat, was bright green, and with ‘horse-tail’ inclusions. The stone appeared pink with red flashes under the ordinary color filter, and even in ordinary light without the filter appeared to give off red flashes. The second stone, of some 22 carats, was quite a lively brown.
The first guess was demantoid garnet. The stone turned out to be chrome sphene. The second guess was heat treated amethyst. The stone was golden calcite. Neither chrome sphene nor golden calcite is seen frequently, the former because it is still rather rare, and the latter because it is so difficult to cut and so fragile.
Here were two very good examples of tricky looks. Of course, closer examination would have revealed that the horse-tail in chrome sphene did not appear to radiate, and that the doubling of the back facets in the calcite was apparent. The same would no doubt apply to a small clean chrome sphene examined under 10x lens.
Both stones were extremely tricky items, to say the least, for the horse-tail inclusion of demantoid has practically become its most single identification, yet here was a stone with very similar inclusions and almost identical in appearance. Thus ‘horse-tail’ inclusions will have to be watched rather more closely now.
As for golden calcite, so few specimens are to be seen that few jewelers will ever encounter them. Even so, heat treated amethyst is by now almost recognizable at sight—at least I thought it was, but after the shock of receiving a golden calcite and finding what appeared to be a heat treated amethyst, I have again learned the importance of never taking anything for granted, and of always making at least to tests, excluding the first ‘informed guess.’
Insight
A E Farn writes:
..........it has been mooted among people in the jewelry trade that there are two kinds of gemologists. The one, shall we say, the front-line troops who absorb the assaults of the gem-querying customer. The other, the support troops, who furnish the ammunition to them in the guise of theoretical and practical explanations. It is said that the late Harry Truman, when President of the United States of America, had on his desk a notice which indicated ‘the buck stops here.’ Likewise, we in the laboratory of the London Chamber of Commerce feel the same way about jewelry tests. Provided the item is jewelry in the broad sense—we should be able to furnish the answer. We are not magic, we are almost human, we have certain skills which predominate and between the useful combination of experience, skill, training, aptitude, comparison stones, notes, books and stored-up knowledge, we come to a decision on most items..........
..........it has been mooted among people in the jewelry trade that there are two kinds of gemologists. The one, shall we say, the front-line troops who absorb the assaults of the gem-querying customer. The other, the support troops, who furnish the ammunition to them in the guise of theoretical and practical explanations. It is said that the late Harry Truman, when President of the United States of America, had on his desk a notice which indicated ‘the buck stops here.’ Likewise, we in the laboratory of the London Chamber of Commerce feel the same way about jewelry tests. Provided the item is jewelry in the broad sense—we should be able to furnish the answer. We are not magic, we are almost human, we have certain skills which predominate and between the useful combination of experience, skill, training, aptitude, comparison stones, notes, books and stored-up knowledge, we come to a decision on most items..........
Hauyne (Hauynite)
Chemistry: Complex sodium aluminum silicate
Crystal system: Cubic; dodecahedral or octahedral (rounded grains).
Color: Transparent to translucent; blue, white, gray, green, yellow, red.
Hardness: 6
Cleavage: Distinct: 1 direction; Fracture: brittle, conchoidal to uneven.
Specific gravity: 2.4
Refractive index: 1.496; SR (isotropic)
Luster: Vitreous to greasy.
Dispersion: -
Dichroism: -
Occurrence: Igneous rocks; under saturated lavas; Italy, Germany (Rhineland).
Notes
A constituent of lapis lazuli; sulphur-rich hauyne called ‘lazurite’; translucent and the rare type blue crystals cut for collectors; faceted, cabochon.
Crystal system: Cubic; dodecahedral or octahedral (rounded grains).
Color: Transparent to translucent; blue, white, gray, green, yellow, red.
Hardness: 6
Cleavage: Distinct: 1 direction; Fracture: brittle, conchoidal to uneven.
Specific gravity: 2.4
Refractive index: 1.496; SR (isotropic)
Luster: Vitreous to greasy.
Dispersion: -
Dichroism: -
Occurrence: Igneous rocks; under saturated lavas; Italy, Germany (Rhineland).
Notes
A constituent of lapis lazuli; sulphur-rich hauyne called ‘lazurite’; translucent and the rare type blue crystals cut for collectors; faceted, cabochon.
Friday, July 20, 2007
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."
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.
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.
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