Caribbean coastline or green phrase opal from Tanzania? It’s the latter, from my AGS Conclave 2019 opal session with GIA’s Nathan Renfro.

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Fringe elements.  Part of the big Tucson Gem show is visiting the many venues that fringe the fine gem venues.  Not only are there a lot of “finds” but some interesting people and stories.  Miners, cutters, fossil hunters and novelty vendors (I generally add to my tribal mask collection) abound and are a good distraction from the “serious” gem shows.   Take Gem ID and Gem Evaluation classes from me this year and you qualify to join Ted’s Tucson Tour in 2018.  www.nwgem.com

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The Venerable.   As an educator in gemology, I get great satisfaction in seeing a student get their first R.I. (refractive index reading –  a really big deal in what we do).   While, I feel somewhat accomplished in this endeavor, Alan Hodgkinson is easily the preeminent educator in the field.  His straightforward approach – until you get it right – is renowned and last year’s hallmark publication of Gem Testing Techniques is a resource every dedicated gemologist has to own.  Here, he is holding still for a pic with me after receiving an award from colleague and fellow legend Dr. William Hanneman.    Alan, of course, was awarded the very first AGA Bonanno Award (2000) and so many other accolades that we run out of room.   I feel privileged to call Alan a friend after many years of distant admiration.  So, attend my little Gem ID class April 1 & 2, learn to take an RI and discover the many other gem properties that Alan has instilled in countless others who are now leading the field. www.nwgem.com or call 425.455.0985.

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Just Friends.   One of the best parts of the Tucson show is catching up with long-time acquaintances and industry colleagues.  Pictured are two of my favorite people.  Shirley Mitchell (left) is one of the most accomplished jewelry appraisers in the U.K. (or anywhere else, for that matter).  We actually met on line (wife knows), hit it off and correspond regularly on all sorts of gemmological (two m’s in the UK) and other sordid topics.  Dr. Cigdem Lule is a very serious archaeogemologist most of the time, passionate researcher and my “Wild Turk” counterpart (my Grandpa was Greek).  She has the 2016 Bonanno Award, so I will defer to her greatness, give her a wide berth, but still engender age-old rivalries.

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New Color System.  Christopher Smith introduced a new and intriguing approach to the age old question of colored gemstone description at the Accredited Gemologists Association Conference in Tucson.  With Color Codex™ Chris, principal of American Gemological Laboratories (AGA Bonanno recipient for 2009) offers a textural message of color description, refining several previous methods into a uniform system specifically for gemstones.  Very descriptive and precise, it is yet simplistic in its approach to allow anyone – skilled or not – to analyze a stone to a set of descriptors that convey a color nomenclature.  The result is a numerical value for easy communication with another party using the same system.  As the project develops, expectations are to release the system in three phases over the course of the year.   Our Gem Evaluation class in the fall, will incorporate it in our discussion of color description systems.  This is the class where you apply color description and all other gemstone attributes to arrive at a gem’s value. http://www.nwgem.com.

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The big book of corundum.  One of the highlights of the show wasn’t a gem or jewelry but the long-awaited compendium on Ruby and Sapphire a gemologist’s guide by Richard Hughes.  He, Wimon Manorotkul and E. Billie Hughes have produced the ultimate resource on corundum to compliment his other works on the subject.  Dick is the 2010 recipient of the Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology, a storied researcher, lecturer and principal of Lotus Gemology in Bangkok Thailand.   At about $40 US per pound, (five pounds) this is a bargain.

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Cross-conferences.  It was gratifying to see past presenters of our annual Northwest Jewelry Conference (NWJC) in Tucson.   Pictured here at the Accredited Gemologists Association (AGA) conference
are Dr. Jeffrey Post (right), curator of Gems and Jewelry at Smithsonian Institution and Al Gilbertson of the GIA.   Jeff presented a fascinating study of the Hope Diamond for AGA attendees as he did at NWJC in 2015.   Al was this year’s recipient of the AGA’s  Antonio C. Bonanno Award for Excellence in Gemology.  He presented at NWJC in 2014 on the Evolution of Diamond Cutting and won his AGA award for extensive contributions in that arena and appraisal methodology.   August 11-13, 2017 is the weekend for our next conference in Seattle, WA.  Period jewelry historians, collectors and appraisers should visit  www.nwjcon.com or call 425.455.0985 to enroll.

Download a free PDF of  American Cut by Al Gilbertson – https://archive.org/details/gialibrary      and enter American Cut in title bar