Diamonds-Jewelry-Photo

Diamond News : Uncertainty abounds as sightholders anticipate new list

November 16, 2007

By Michelle Graff

New York—The Diamond Trading Co. (DTC) acknowledged on Friday that it is an uncertain time for U.S. diamond dealers as they await the Dec. 12 release of the DTC's updated sightholder list.

Earlier in the week, in response to this uncertainty, the Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association of America (DMIA) sent a letter addressed to DTC Managing Director Varda Shine underscoring the importance of retaining as many U.S. sightholders as possible.

On Friday, in an e-mail to National Jeweler, the DTC stated that it "understands that this may be a time of uncertainty for some, but we would reassure people that the selection process...doesn't favor anybody."

The DMIA's letter, copied to high-ranking government officials including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, included an attachment breaking down the amount of aid the United States supplies to African nations, many of which are the world's top diamond producers.

In its response on Friday, the DTC said it supports producer countries' aspirations to improve local economies in southern Africa. But the response also pointed out that the DTC only supplies a small percentage of N.Y. sightholder requirements, and that the diamonds reserved for polishing in southern African amount to less than 5 percent of world diamond production.

Both the DTC and DMIA President Ronnie Friedman acknowledged that the letter from the DMIA to the DTC was the first of its kind.

In an interview on Thursday, Friedman said that while the DMIA always has communicated with the DTC, the letter marked "the first time we sent a letter like this in this kind of way."

Friedman was unavailable for comment on Friday.

The nine U.S.-based companies currently included on the DTC's sightholder list are: Almod Diamonds Ltd., Dynamic Diamonds Corp., Hasenfeld-Stein Inc., Julius Klein Diamonds LLC, Lazare Kaplan International Inc., Louis Glick Diamond Corp., Michael Werdiger Inc., Premier Gem (Group) and Stuller Inc.

source : http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com/njn/content_display/diamonds/e3i3e7a8165bdbdafc6d7a58487449254d6

HollyDaze & Vine

It was a wonderful show, just the thing to kick off off the Holiday's! Everyone's tables were packed full of goodies, and there was a nice variety of styles and mediums available. It was great to see old friends and catch up, and we always have a lot of fun at his show! Thank you to those of you that stopped by and took home a treasure for your collection.....I hope you enjoy them! Here are some pictures from the show...a few of my table....And here are some of the other lovely tables at the show.... first is Christy's and her delightful cloth folk...
And here is Ginny with her TroutCreek gang...Kitty with her creations....Here is Sharon's Table...I LOVE her new gnome designs!!And I met a new friend at the show....Cheri Williams...here is her fabulous table of paper whimsies...
Wendy and her incredible chocolate molds! I love the giant ones...so neat!The eclectic offerings of Edgar & Edgar....Some wonderful glass art by Charles Hall...Arbutus Hunter and her fun, retro inspired things....And a few close up pictures of some of my offerings that sold at the show.....See you at my next show..... the Holiday Art & Craft Festival sponsored by the Crocker Art Museum on Thanksgiving weekend. This three day show will have 80 artists in a wide range of styles and mediums. Please stop by and say "Hi" it will be a fabulous show!

Ruby : as a mineral

Ruby is a light pink to blood red gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). The common red color is caused mainly by the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. It is considered one of the four precious stones, together with the sapphire, the emerald and the diamond. Improvements used include color alteration, improving transparency by dissolving rutile inclusions, healing of fractures (cracks) or even completely filling them.

Prices of rubies are primarily determined by color (the brightest and best "red" called Pigeon Blood Red, command a huge premium over other rubies of similar quality). After color follows clarity: similar to diamonds, a clear stone will command a premium, but a ruby without any needle-like rutile inclusions will indicate the stone has been treated one way or another. Cut and carat (size) also determine the price.

more about ruby : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby

Ruby
Ruby crystal before faceting, length 0.8 inches (2 cm)
General
Category	Mineral variety
Chemical formula	aluminium oxide with chromium, Al2O3::Cr
Identification
Color	Red, may be brownish or purplish
Crystal habit	Varies with locality. Terminated tabular hexagonal prisms.
Crystal system	Trigonal
Cleavage	No true cleavage
Fracture	Uneven or conchoidal
Mohs Scale hardness	9.0
Luster	Vitreous
Refractive index	~1.762-1.770
Pleochroism	Orangey Red, Purplish Red
Ultraviolet fluorescence	red under longwave
Streak	white
Specific gravity	4.0
Melting point	2050°C
Fusibility	perfectly
Solubility	none
Diaphaneity	transparent

Jewelry Art Awards 2007 of Jewelry Artist Magazine

source : Jewelry Artist

Jewelry Artist is pleased to announce the winners of our 2007 Jewelry Arts Awards. Entries for our sixth annual competition were judged by Todd Reed, a self-taught goldsmith and metalsmith who has been exploring the use of rough diamonds in his award-winning, signature jewelry since 1992; Robert Diamante, a professional photographer who has been photographing jewelry for the craft industry since 1993; and Thomas Mann, a jeweler committed to both the artistic and business sides of jewelry making, who has been active in the contemporary craft movement for more than 30 years.

Congratulations to the winners and our thanks to the judges and everyone who entered.

Jewelry Arts Awards 2007 Winners

Miscellaneous Jewelry

First Place: Daniel M. Nagy - Best of Competition
(also First Place, Miscellaneous Jewelry) Frutto di Mare

14K yellow and white gold 353.5g, 3pcs Tahitian pearls 9mm semi baroque, 2pcs 10.5 round AAA grade 86 pcs, 1.659 ct. brilliant cut diamonds. Wax carved and chased shells, hand cut handpiece, and engraved gemstone buttons. Original electronics only; workable inner part is rebuilt based on design and requirements. 200mm x 80mm x 70mm.
Photo: Arion Kudasz Gabor.

Miscellaneous Jewelry

First Place: Daniel M. Nagy, Frutto di Mare, above.
Second Place: Blue Moon, Marie Scarpa

Maria Scarpa, Second Place
Miscellaneous Jewelry
Blue Moon, 18K gold and platinum, hand fabricated pin/pendant; bezel-set 18mm 7.15ct abalone pearl center and 64 spires divided into 3 levels. Woven, invisibly soldered. Embellished with 28 round faceted 2.0mm pink sapphires, 4 round faceted 2.5mm yellow sapphires, eight round faceted 2.5mm blue sapphires, 4 round faceted 2.9mm blue sapphires, 16 round faceted 3.0mm teal green tourmalines, 4 round faceted 3.5mm teal green tourmalines. Hand fabricated and hand woven. 2.25".

Earrings

First Place (tied): Dream Catcher, Jeffrey Appling
First Place (tied): Whirlpool, Daniel M. Nagy

Jeffrey Appling, First Place (tied)
Earrings (above)
Dream Catcher, platinum chain, 18K yellow and white gold. Two half-moon diamonds, two 5-point-star diamonds, six natural yellow diamonds, 2mm square and round ruby, blue and yellow sapphire, spessartite, tsavorite, blue/green tourmaline, amethyst, two half-moon drusy onyx tablets. Cast manufacture, hand fabrication, bezel, tube, bead, and mock (bead) setting for cubes. 62mm x 26.5mm.
Photo: Hap Sakwa.

Daniel M. Nagy. First Place (tied)
Earrings
Whirlpool, 18K white gold, 15.5g. Tahitian pearl AAA, 10mm round 2pcs. Computer designed, wax printed, chased, hand finished. 120mm x 20mm x 20mm.
Photo: Daniel M. Nagy.

Rings

First Place: Pearl Protrusion, Jeffrey Appling
Second Place: Message, Daniel M. Nagy and Agnes Kertesz

Jeffrey Appling, First Place
Rings (above)
Pearl Protrusion, 950 platinum, 8.5mm faceted black cultured pearl and 8.5mm faceted white cultured pearl, tsavorite garnets and pink sapphires. Hand carved wax and of cast manufacture, bead-set small round gemstones and hand carved (artwork) along outside borders. 10.5mm x 20mm. Photo: Hap Sakwa.

Daniel M. Nagy & Agnes Kertesz, Second Place
Rings (above)
Message, 18K white gold 10.8g, Tahitian pearl AAA round 1pc 9.4mm, brilliant cut diamonds. 20mm x 15mm.

Bracelets

First Place: Salad Blues, Laura Parr
Second Place: Dragon of 4 Elements, Dmitriy Pavlov

Laura Parr, First Place
Bracelets (above)
Salad Blues, forged and riveted sterling silver sheet, wire, tube, copper sheet; ten 1.5 millimeter, tube-set and riveted sapphires; ink. 51mm x 82mm x 72mm.
Photo: Jeremy Addington.



Dmitriy Pavlov, Second Place
Bracelets (above)
Dragon of 4 Elements, pierced, bent, and engraved sterling silver. 51mm x 82mm x 72mm.
Photo: Galina Pavlova.

Pins & Brooches

First Place: Inception, Tricia Lachowiec
Second Place: Star, Wendy McAllister

Tricia Lachowiec, First Place
Pins/Brooches (above)
Inception, 18K gold on sterling silver, copper, enamel, diamond, steel. Chasing and repoussé, enameling. 23⁄4" x 1-5⁄8" x 3⁄4".
Photo: Dean Powell.
Wendy McAllister, Second Place
Pins/Brooches (above)
Star, sterling silver, acrylic, lenticular lens, 24K gold leaf, fabricated silver brooch, fabricated double pinstem back; found objects: candle bobeche and child’s ruler. 3.5".
Photo: Ralph Gabriner.

Pendants & Necklaces

First Place: Mary Darwall
Second Place (tied): Evolution, Jeffrey Appling
Second Place (tied): Fruit, Tricia Lachowiec

Mary Darwall, First Place
Pendants/Necklaces (above)
Eleven turquoise cabochons, turquoise beads, freshwater pearls, glass seed beads, beading cloth, nylon thread, 49-strand wire, 14K closure, leather backing. Hand needle woven, bead appliqué, freeform peyote, branching stitches. 18".
Photo: John Yohman.
Jeffrey Appling, Second Place (tied)
Pendants/Necklaces (above)
Evolution, 30.37ct drilled citrine intruded with malachite, coral, and lapis tubes, 3.66cts. Drilled-out citrine pavilion injected with gemstones, pendant area cast, and hand fabricated. 16", 30.5mm x 33mm.
Photo: Hap Sakwa.

Tricia Lachowiec, Second Place (tied)
Pendants/Necklaces (above)
Fruit, oxidized sterling silver, electroformed copper, enamel, 14K gold, cognac diamonds, sapphires. Electroforming and enameling. 10" x 6-1⁄4" x 1-1⁄4".
Photo: Dean Powell.

source : Jewelry Artist

Memories Of Summer....

Hello everyone! I've been away....spending time with family, working at my son Simon's preschool, making things for my upcoming shows, and enjoying all that Fall has to offer! Here are a few of my favorites memories from summer....Simon at Disney's California AdventureThe whole family posing with the "Cars" gang....that's my mom on the left, myself, and hubby Ryan, with Simon in the middle.....
Fun times at Knott's Berry Farm....
A day at the California State Fair.....wonderful dancers in beautiful costumes....
A race at the boating safety exhibit....
Will Simon's boat finish first?
The home stretch!!
Nope....his was the one on the far right...it went over to the side at the end, but we still had fun just the same. :)Aren't these miniature antique motor's cute!The art of Dr. Seuss at the ToyTopia exhibit....The tower of toys.....The giant slide......
A Day Out With Thomas The Tank Engine....
Riding on the Thomas train....Simon & Sir Topham Hatt.....As you can see, I love spending time with my family....and enjoying activities that bring a smile to my son's face! Thanks you for taking a walk down memory lane with me. :)

I have an upcoming show in Petaluma California on Saturday November 10th from 9am to 3pm. It's the HollyDaze & Vine show, and it's a wonderful folk art show where you can see a variety of art encompassing all of the Holiday's between Halloween and New Year's. I hope some of you can stop by to see my newest Holiday art, and say "Hi".

I plan to post updates more often, but things are a bit hectic for me this time of the year so please bear with me. I will be shooting to post an update a couple of times this month as time allows...thank you for your patience! :)

Here is one more picture of my little guy all dressed up and ready to go Trick Or Treating last week. He is Remy from Disney's Ratatouille.......which, by the way, will be released on DVD this Tuesday. Pick of a copy of this delightful film....I think it is one of the best animated movies I've seen this year!