Gambling On Gems - Stahl Designs Meteorite Gaming Set

One of the highlights of Christie's Magnificent Jewels auction on November 29th in Hong Kong is likely to be a "set of multi gems gaming chips" designed and created by the Swedish artist and jeweller Kristian Ståhl. The outer frames of the 120 chips included in the set are made of 18K white gold and are set with a total of 5,160 calibrated top-quality gems, including diamonds, rubies and sapphires. But what makes the set unique is that each chip is created from a calibrated circular slice from the Muonionalusta meteorite which fell to Earth almost one million years ago.

Stahl, who gained recognition in the global luxury industry in 2004 with The Tailormade Audi project, is an artist, jeweller and gem dealer who creates 'out of the box' luxury projects. He said the idea for the gem-set gaming chips came about after he had crafted a set of dice made from Siberian mammoth ivory, which were successfully auctioned at Sotheby's Hermitage Gala Dinner in London in 2010.

"The creation of the gaming set has been a long process," Ståhl recalled. "However, it was only when I encountered a piece of meteorite from a remote part of northern Sweden called Muonionalusta, that I hit upon the idea of how to make each of the chips truly unique, by integrating in each chip a circular slice of etched meteorite," he said.

"The meteorite crashed into a remote part of northern Sweden, called Muonionalusta, almost one million years ago," Ståhl noted. It's made of iron and nickel, along with some other exotic metals and rare earth minerals. All together these are the main ingredients needed to produce man-made steel - or 'Ståhl' in Swedish. "The appeal and the challenge were too exciting to pass up," he said.

"Hong Kong is the right location to auction this unique set," Ståhl said. "There's a collector out there who is going to buy this set, knowing that this piece is a sure bet and not a gamble."

STÅHL - Bespoke Jewels, Showroom Stockholm: appointment only

Phone: +46 8 661 01 00 Mail: info@stahlstockholm.com

Spectrum Winners to Teach Design Secrets at Revere

For the first time, San Francisco's Revere Academy will host a design class that teaches students five key essentials to creative success. The five-day class, Awaken Your Creativity, will be held during Revere's annual Masters Symposium, from April 23-27, 2012 - taught by Gregoré and Jennifer Morin, a husband-wife team, both of whom are multiple AGTA Spectrum award-winners. The class is open to students at all levels.

Intended for those who want to learn what it takes to create a line of jewelry and design award-winning pieces, this class gives students step-by-step techniques to achieve these goals. Both instructors are outstanding, award-winning jewelry designers who will teach students how to open creative doors, solve problems, and enhance their jewelry design skills. The class combines lectures, guided exercises, individual exploration, group discussion, and skill building. All of this is accessible and fundamental to the novice, key to those building on past experience and invaluable to those farther along the path. 

The class is organized into the five essentials of creative success: Imagination, Seeing, Drawing, Designing, and Believing. Participants will learn the foundation principles of design, drawing, and coloring and how to render dimensional jewelry designs with gemstones using watercolors and colored pencils. Each student will learn how to create a personal "jewelry journal" for use as inspiration to design a collection of original jewelry. This class provides the tools and environment for students to identify and develop their own style, create new work, and unleash their creativity.

Gregoré Morin is a Canadian-trained master goldsmith and jewelry designer. He has won 12 AGTA Spectrum awards for jewelry design, 2 MJSA awards, the AJDC New Talent Contest and JA's Mort Abelson New Designer of the Year Award. All work is designed and hand made by Gregoré with the utmost care and attention to detail. 

Jennifer Morin is a London-trained master goldsmith and jewelry designer who received High Commendations in her final examinations. Jennifer has an MFA in metals under the tutelage of German-trained Dieter Müller-Stach, as well as a California High School teaching credential. Jennifer is the in-house designer at Silverhorn Jewelers in Santa Barbara. She has won 4 AGTA Spectrum awards and was an AJDC New Talent Contest runner-up. Gregoré and Jennifer Morin are married and share a studio in Santa Barbara, California. Visit gregorejoailliers. com.and jenniferjoailliers. com.

Awaken Your Creativity will be part of the Revere Academy's 2012 Masters Symposium, a world-class series of workshops held from April 7-27 in San Francisco. The Masters Symposium is an opportunity to learn from top-notch jewelry artisans, teaching 2 and 5-day workshops in the areas of their greatest expertise. Most classes are open to students at all levels; from absolute beginner to advanced. Each week during its Masters Symposium, the Academy hosts a Wednesday evening lecture/reception for visiting masters, open to the public.

 Master's Symposium
Each spring the Academy invites prominent master craftsmen from across the country and overseas to teach workshops in their areas of specialization. A reception and slide lecture by visiting masters is open to the public each Wednesday evening during the Symposium.

We are pleased to present an exciting line-up of all-star instructors for our 2012 Masters Symposium including Michael Boyd, Charles Lewton-Brain, Andy Cooperman, Tom Herman, Jayne Redman, Davide Bigazzi, Hariete Estel Berman, Deborah Lozier, and AGTA Spectrum Award winners, Gregoré and Jennifer Morin. Click on the class title to the right for more details.The Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts is a professional jewelry school located in downtown San Francisco's historic Phelan Building. Schedules, information and a free video tour are available upon request from:

Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts
760 Market Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, Ca 94102

Tel: 415-391-4179 

Web Site: www.revereacademy. com
E-mail: info@revereacademy. com
Fax: 415-391-7570

Jeweler Thom Underwood Chosen to Receive the 2012 Antonio C. Bonanno Award!

AGA Conference & Gala

Conference check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Conference sessions from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Continental breakfast, light lunch & Gala ticket are included with the conference fee.

The evening will conclude with a festive dinner and awards ceremony, honoring this year’s winner of the prestigious Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology.

Jeweler Thom Underwood will be awarded the 2012 Antonio C. Bonanno Award!  The Antonio C. Bonanno award—named in honor of the AGA’s founding father—was created to recognize people who have made significant contributions to the gemological field. The award, which includes a check for $2,000, not only calls attention to the outstanding contributions of the recipient, but also underscores the responsibility of the international gemological community to encourage and reward ongoing research, education, and dissemination of information. 

The Gala Champagne Reception is from 6:30 to 7:30 pm followed by the Gala Dinner Dance & Bonanno Award Ceremony from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m.

We are pleased to have the following distinguished researchers and gemologists as speakers:

Edward Boehm, President and CEO of RareSource (formerly JOEB Enterprises) is a world renowned gemologist, author and dealer of fine gemstones.  He has traveled the world extensively collecting some of the finest specimens seen in any collection and conduction research at gem deposits. (Biography)

Edward is presenting The World of Spinels, focusing on sources, treatments and quality characteristics. The hands-on session provides a great opportunity to learn about the nuances that expert spinel dealers look for when grading.

Tom Chatham, President of Chatham Created Gems, is recognized as the leader in created gemstones. Pioneers in the created gemstone industry, today their product line extends far beyond grown emerald and ruby. Chatham Created Gems is also a leader in the created diamond industry. Tom has been involved in the created diamond market for decades and is presenting an information packed program exploring the current State of the Synthetic Diamond Industry.

Thomas Hainschwang, Managing Director of GGTL Laboratories and founder of GEMLAB, Liechtenstein is a research gemologist and formerly led the colored diamond department for the GIA research laboratory in Geneva.  Thomas is currently engaged in a number of important gemological research projects in both colored stones and diamonds. (Biography)

Thomas will be addressing the AGA conference delegates regarding Color Enhancement of Tanzanite.

Dominic Mok, Founder and Principal Geologist at the Asian Gemmological Institute and Laboratory, Hong Kong, is an expert in the material Jadeite. He will be presenting a talk on Types, Identification and Testing Jadeite. The AGA is privileged to offer this opportunity to meet Mr. Mok and learn about Jadeite for an international authority on the subject.

Jay Neogi, CEO of Serenity Technologies is a leading researcher regarding nanotechnology. The company’s focus on nanotechnology has been key to the development of brand new products that have opened up new markets. The colored diamond project is one of many such examples of how Serenity’s patent pending technology was used to create a product that satisfies a growing trend in the jewelry industry for pink diamonds. Jay will be presenting a talk on New Coating Technologies - Benefits & Challenges.

Dr. Jim Shigley is Distinguished Research Fellow at the GIA Laboratory in Carlsbad. The editor of the Gems & Gemology in Review series and contributing editor to the journal, he received a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a doctorate in geology from Stanford University. He has written extensively for Gems & Gemology and other professional journals.

Dr. Shigley is well versed in the current state of synthetic diamond detection having conducted numerous studies in the area of diamond treatments and synthetics. He will be discussing the Identification of Synthetic Diamonds from the Laboratory Perspective.

Bob Linares, SCIO Diamonds, is well known for his work regarding CVD grown synthetic diamond at Apollo. SCIO Diamonds is a new venture that recently acquired Apollo and is the only company in the USA currently focusing on the production of colorless synthetic diamonds. The company is expanding this effort and has reportedly produced material larger than 1 carat. Bob will be discussing Growth & Characteristics of their Synthetic Diamonds.

A hands-on session will follow both the morning and afternoon programs.

Information on prices - location - etc at:  http://accreditedgemologists.org/currevent.php

EuropaStar Previews Mouawads Latest Uniformity!

EuropaStar previews some of the new watch brands in the pipe line - especially Blacksand from Alain Mouawad! ...the debut line "Uniformity"...

Alain Mouawad left the family-owned Mouawad Group to set up his own brand Blacksand. Because of the attachment of Asian consumers to established brands, he sees Europe and the USA as the main markets for his new timepieces, which introduce a bold new design element to what is otherwise a relatively classic look. Read our article on this new brand and its Uniformity collection and look out for more new brands in the December/January issue of the magazine.

To see the full contents of our latest issue, click here.

Jewelers to Introduce Fairtrade/Fairmined Gold in the US Market

Toby Pomeroy Jewelry

American Jewelers Organize to Introduce Fairtrade & Fairmined Gold to US Market

A diverse, international group of jewelry, environmental, and mining stakeholders convened in Santa Fe, October 29-30, 2011, and agreed on a common vision of a world in which jewelry, from mine to market, benefits the environment and everyone that touches it.

Participants identified an initial goal to broadly introduce certified Fairtrade and Fairmined gold to the US market in 2012.

Tourmaline Beads from Columbia Gem House

The group will undertake a critical examination of standards and work to ensure the best outcome for communities and the environment through the mineral supply chain. The group also sees emerging opportunities to build a market for transparent and traceable ethical metals, and discussed other areas of concern including colored gems, diamonds, other precious metals and manufacturing.

Fair Jewelry Action and Ethical Metalsmiths hosted the dialogue attended by Larry Bohlen (Green Leaf Gold), Eric Braunwart (Columbia Gem House), Marc Choyt (Fair Jewelry Action and Reflective Images Inc.), Christine Dhein, (Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts and Green Jewelry News), Bill Gallagher (Lori Bonn Design, Inc.), Genevieve Ennis Hume (Hume Atelier, Canada), Christina Miller (Ethical Metalsmiths), Toby Pomeroy(TOBY POMEROY Jewelry and Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM)), and Greg Valerio (Fair Jewellery Action, United Kingdom).

Lori Bonn's "Key to My Heart" from the Sweets Collection 

Fairtrade and Fairmined gold certification is the result of a joint effort between Fairtrade International (FLO) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), who combined their expertise to enable artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) to improve their livelihoods through a set of standards for responsible mining, which the miners have to fulfill in order to get certified. Standards include democratic organization, safe working practices, management of toxic chemicals, as well as respect for the environment and women’s rights. Certified miners will receive a guaranteed Fairtrade and Fairmined minimum price, which is democratically reinvested in community projects and improving miners’ operations. Mining organizations will be audited by FLO-CERT, an independent, international certification body, to ensure compliance.

Observing the meeting were Jennifer Krill (Earthworks) and Maya Spaull (Fair Trade USA).

For more information, visit www.fairgold.org, www.communitymining.org andwww.fairtrade.net.

Afghan Seafoam Tourmaline® from Columbia Gem House

Looking For Work In The Jewelry Industry?

Open your box of JOY!  


Would a new job make your Holidays better?


Not sure if you noticed...at the top of this story - there is a new page!


If you are looking for work in the Jewelry Industry - in the Los Angeles or Orange County areas...feel free to check out the posted positions.


Even if you aren't in the area check it out - I have posted links to a few other sources!

Colored Gems Celebrated at D&H Sustainable Jewelers Event!

Wine Tasting for a Cause at D&H Sustainable Jewelers

D&H is unique in the U.S. being the only retail jewelry store with a wine bar.  The sustainable wines that guests enjoyed throughout the event were handcrafted selections from featured Storrs Winery in the Santa Cruz area.

The presentation of projects at D&H was a preview for the November 18 premiere of Green Gem at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco, and through the expert suggestions of Shawn Higgens and Lindsay Daunell of D&H, Green Gem was able to bring to sharp focus the direct connection to the source gem countries.  

Jean-Noel Soni and Jeffrey Hunt, of  Green Gem Foundation, presented the projects and gems in full detail – each with a story, striking an immediate cord with the event goers. The enthusiasm at D&H was palpable. 

RESULTS:  The Wine Tasting for a Cause event sponsored at San Francisco’s D&H Sustainable Jewelers November 11 and 12 to benefit the Green Gem Foundation resulted in the funding of two full projects and partial funding of another.

The projects funded for Green Gem include:

• a precision gem faceting machine to be given to two Afghan women that are currently being trained in Afghanistan by Green Gem co-director Jim Rentfrow.  The faceting machine was donated by Shawn Higgens of D&H.  
• The second project, fully funded through the direct purchase of a Tanzanian chrome tourmaline, is to be applied to year three and four of high school for a young girl in Voi, Kenya who has lost both parents.  Without this funding she would not be able to continue with her education.
• The third project, 50% funded by a direct purchase of a Kenyan zircon, will be used to install simple railing in a mine outside Kabul.  This represents an extreme labor saving device to the miners who are now extracting material by bucket.

With the successful Wine Tasting for a Cause at D&H Jewelers, Green Gem Foundation’s goal of funding six projects through the 111 Minna Premiere is over two-thirds complete!  A wonderful kickoff for this new foundation.

Tasteful event reminders were sent out by the creative Jeffrey Hunt in White and Blush!

 

About D&H Sustainable Jewelers:

We do not want to reduce the viability of luxury products by selling things that hurt our environment today.

The resources and technology exist today to allow customers to have a green choice. By creating transparency in our "traditional" industry, we can all feel good about what we are buying and selling.

We believe that sustainability must take into account all of these aspects: social, environmental, cultural, and economic. You have to do this on a local level.

Green does not have to be grunge.

About Green Gem Foundation:

The Green Gem Foundation is a new non-profit organization established to promote the development of ethical gemstones. Green Gem promotes community and economic development in gem producing regions with the primary goal of keeping as much wealth as possible in the source country. The communities are built by establishing direct connections between the purchaser and retailer to the miner and gem brokers in the country of origin. Green Gem Foundation does not directly carry or promote gems or gem rough that have been processed in intermediate countries. This represents an actual break from traditional supply lines.

The commercial outsourcing of gems to cutting houses in China, Thailand, and Sri Lanka is the industry standard. These lower cost gems, with increasing quality of cut and design permit sorely needed profit, to the jewelry industry in the US. This industry standard will be slow to change, but as our world shrinks, and more consumers insist on ethically sourced gems, Green Gem Foundation will help to provide that link and alternative to this rapidly growing segment of the consumer market.