Coatings For Gemstones And Other Decorative Objects

I found the link on treatments @ http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7137275-claims.html educational and insightful.

For The Love Of God

The Economist profiles Jay Joplings, London's most ambitious contemporary gallerist + other viewpoints @ http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/artview/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9707227

Banking Facilities For The Politically Correct

Chaim Even-Zohar writes about diamond banker's dilema on financing the industry + the high administrative costs associated with the anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing compliance rules + other viewpoints @ http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullEditorial.asp?TextSearch=&KeyMatch=0&id=24671

Synthetic Malachite

Today most synthetic malachites are produced in Russia. Visual identification may be difficult because they are virtually indistinguishable except by destructive /analytical tests, but the SG (specific gravity) values aren't the same.

Natural malachite = 3.87 – 3.92
Synthetic malachite = 3.61 – 3.70

Malachite
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachite

Cameos: Gift From The Sea

Deborah Blumenthal writes about Cameo + Torre del Greco, the home of shell cameo carving industry + other viewpoints @ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9C05EEDD1738F936A3575BC0A962948260

Cameo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameo

Can You Identify The Stone?

A 'maw' or window is polished in the boulder to allow inspection before the auction. This statement refers to the sale of: nephrite; jadeite; massive corundum; alexandrite.

Ray Kroc Speaks

If you work just for money, you'll never make it, but if you love what you're doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours.

Buddha Speaks

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.