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.

Pearl

It has been reported that the first International Pearl Convention will be held in Abu Dhabi and Dubai (November 18, 2007), in order to highlight the country's pearling tradition and cultural identity with pearl seminars, films, fashions, cultured pearl displays and an Arabia pearl exhibition.

A unique highlight will be the world's second largest natural pearl + the 30-millimeter 'Rosebud' pearl + 13-millimeter 'Golden Dome Oriental' pearl + the two strand 'Oriental" necklace' + 18th century button pearl and gold jewelry.

I think the objective of this convention is to connect pearl collectors and investors worldwide + provide a platform to revive the once-famous pearl market of the Middle-East.