Rough Diamonds

1. The purchase of rough diamonds is a specialized field requiring much experience and is definitely not recommended for beginners.

2. Ask for Kimberley Certificate. Today most reputable diamond dealers will not buy rough diamonds without documents.

3. Market factors. One of the great mysteries for beginners is understanding the relationship between price and quality. In a perfect world, price would directly relate to quality, weight, and rarity. But rough diamond trade is far from perfect. Market factors can have as much or even greater impact on prices as does quality. Check current prices.

4. If you are using thermal testers to confirm your identification of rough diamonds, make sure the instruments are working properly. Read the instructions fully and practice using it. Allow stones to acclimatize to the surrounding temperature before testing.

5. There are plenty of diamond imitations in the open market. Frequently encountered diamond simulants include glass, quartz, corundum, topaz, phenakite, spinel, zircon + synthetic cubic zirconia, GGG, YAG, synthetic strontium titanate, synthetic moissanite, and assembled stones.

6. If you are doubtful always consult a reputed gem testing laboratory.

Alexandrium

Li Al Silicate (+Nd) + Amorphous (glass) + Light blue to lavender + Hardness = 6.5 + Heat sensitive + perceived as simulants for many light blue colored stones (especially alexandrite).

Heard On The Street

Pense moult, Parle peu, Ecris rien (Think a lot, Say little, Write nothing).

Antwerp Diamond Conference

The 2008 Antwerp Diamond Conference will be held at the Elisabeth hall on the Koningin Astridplein, adjacent to the diamond district, on November 17 - 19, 2008.

Useful links:
www.antwerpdiamondconference.be
www.awdc.be

Charlie Gillett

Charlie Gillett is a British radio presenter + writer + one of the country's most influential proponents of 'world music'. Go to www.charliegillett.com for further information

Random Thoughts

I am, unfortunately, a person who has often said: You put a gun to my head and pull the trigger or take the gun away, I won't move my head.

I admire people who are very successful. But if that success has been achieved through too much ruthlessness, then I may admire that person, but I can't respect him.

- Ratan Tata
www.tata.com

We Campaign

Bryan Walsh's article on We Campaign + other viewpoints @ http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1837761,00.html was educational and insightful.

Useful links:
www.climateprotect.org
www.wecansolveit.org

Termite = Fuel

Lisa Margonelli's article, Gut Reactions + other viewpoints @ http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200809/termites was brilliant. A must read.

Useful links:
www.newamerica.net
www.nhm.ac.uk
www.nature.com
www.jgi.doe.gov
www.verenium.com
www.jbei.org
www.arctech.com