Druzy Agate Freeform Pendant Bead

Druzy Agate Freeform Pendant Bead
Originally uploaded by milminedesign

My imagination tells me to make a beautiful unique ring out of this by polishing the inside surface lol

Indo Argyle Diamond Council closes

Paso Robles, Calif.—The Indo Argyle Diamond Council (IADC), a by-invitation-only, paid-membership program for Indian diamond jewelry manufacturers, will close this December because it has "accomplished all of its goals," the organization has announced.According to the IADC, over its 15-year history, the program has raised the U.S. market's awareness of India's ability to manufacture high-quality, sellable diamond jewelry in price points from mass market to high end.One of the most significant signs of the program's success has been the tremendous increase of jewelry exports from India to North America. The amount of finished-jewelry exports has gone from approximately $300 million in 1994 to $2.3 billion in 2007, the IADC reports.Another successful aspect of the program was its ability to introduce and secure appointments between IADC members and major North American retail jewelers. This was accomplished more than 3,060 times leading to every major retailer now purchasing directly from Indian jewelry manufacturers, according to the IADC. Some of these appointments took place in India during IADC-sponsored buying trips with the IADC management team.

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Venus Jewel launches online diamond auction

Mumbai, India—Diamond Trading Co. sightholder Venus Jewel has announced it is now offering a service that allows its customers to bid for diamonds online.According to a release from the Mumbai, India-based manufacturer, the new Venus Exclusive Diamonds (VED) is the first time an auction service has been offered by a diamond manufacturer.VED will upload new diamonds every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. IST (about 10:00 a.m. EST), displaying a minimum price for each of the diamonds.The auction will be open for seven days.

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Burmese ruby ban takes effect

Washington—A long-expected U.S. ban on gemstones from Myanmar took effect on Monday, 60 days from the date that President Bush signed the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008 into law.Gems from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) that entered the country prior to the ban can still be bought and sold in the United States, at least as long as supplies last.The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency has issued new, harmonized tariff system codes for all non-Burmese rubies and jadeite imported into the United States to distinguish those goods from the ones that have been banned, according to a press release issued on Monday by the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC).The new codes, which encompass both rough and polished gemstones covered by the act, as well as jewelry containing ruby and jadeite, can be obtained by contacting the JVC."The Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008 has a serious and long-term impact on U.S. jewelry manufacturers who import jadeite and rubies," said Cecilia Gardner, the JVC's president, chief executive officer and general counsel, in the release. "Use of the new Customs codes should begin immediately for all imports from non-Burmese countries of ruby and jadeite."

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http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com/njn/content_display/colored_stones/e3i5452d1396a606a415cb2a0b049ee6387

Alarm in Raipur as Maoists reach diamond belt

Maoists have begun extending their activities into Chhatisgarh's diamond-rich belt with the murder of a former village panchayat sarpanch at Amagaon in Raipur district, about 100 km from the state capital, on Saturday.
In the last six months, numerous villagers in Chhattisgrah have alerted the police about Naxalite presence in the forests of Gariaband, Mainpur and Churra blocks, including areas where kimberlite pipes - the most important source of mined diamonds - are located. Intelligence inputs have said CPI (Maoist) cadres are using this region as a safe haven because of the pressure mounting on them in South Bastar.
Raipur Inspector General of Police Y K S Thakur told The Indian Express that, in the last six months, there has been Naxalite movement in areas close to diamond deposits. "The security apparatus has been beefed up and vigil is being maintained in the area," he added.
The first incident of Naxalite violence in Gariaband - in which the rebels killed former sarpanch Niram Singh Dhruv - has raised concerns as the state Government has already started prospecting and mining of diamonds in seven districts, including Gariaband block in Raipur district.
"Naxalite incidents close to diamond deposit areas could slow down the process," an official of the state Mining Department said. "At least half a dozen companies are involved at an advanced stage of diamond prospecting in seven districts and the target is to start commercial production in next four or five years," he said, adding that diamond prospecting is being carried out in Raipur, Mahasamund, Durg, Dhamtari, Kanker, Jashpur and Rajnandgaon districts.
A group of 35 Naxalites stormed into 55-year-old Dhruv's house late on Saturday night. They locked his family members in a room and dragged him out of the house, accusing him of being a police informer. The rebels thrashed him with lathis, tied him to an electric pole and shot him dead. They also left pamphlets announcing "death penalty" to Dhruv and his son-in-law Dinesh Dhruv, who has not been seen after the incident.

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Spectacular Precious Topaz

Spectacular Precious Topaz
Originally uploaded by Jewelry Muse

A lovely imperial topaz and garnet pendant I just came across.

Kashmir Sapphires - The Real Story

Kashmir sapphires were first discovered as the result of a landslide between 1879 and 1882 in the Kudi valley near the hamlet of Sumjam in the Padar region of Kashmir in the Himalayas. Upon hearing of these superb gems, the Maharajah sent a regiment of sepoy(soldiers) to protect the mines.

The first few years saw prolific mining for these fine gems and by 1882 they began to appear on the Indian market in Simla. Even in these early years, however, the recovery of these stones was exceedingly difficult due to the high altitude of the terrain, the inclement weather conditions and the fact the mines were only accessible during the short summer months from July to September.

In 1887 the British sent the geologist TD La Touche to the Kudi valley, who after an extensive survey, discovered that there were two mines. The original 'old mine' which procured the finest gems, consisted of a series of shallow pits on the Northeast wall of the valley, and the 'new mine' a trench located 100 metres south of the 'old mine'. Both mines were leased to C.M.P Wright and the Kashmir Mineral Company in 1906, but after the discovery of limited fine gems and due to the poor weather conditions they ceased in 1908.

Since the time of their initial discovery the production of Kashmir sapphires has remained sporadic and their supply limited. Valued for their velvety blue colour with a greenish dichroism when viewed from the side, these sapphires sometimes appear milky due to minute liquid filled cavities or crystals within the stone, an appearance which is often described as "sleepy'.