A gem dealer's journal — Gemstone

Hey Loungers,  Today we have the pleasure of receiving Master Jeweller/Gemologist and Tasmanian man of mystery (perhaps only second to infamous Looney Tunes Tazz!) Today we interviewed Chris Hood!  Chris has been seen in recent years and decades travelling with Vincent Pardieu and is known for his never ending good mood, sense of humour and keen eye for a pretty gem, rough or cut!  Chris has been involved in the trade since 1994 and opened his jewellery company: Metal Urges Fine Jewelry & Diamonds in 2005.  During this interview we intend to learn more about Chris’s background, journey to date...

Hey Loungers,  Today we interview one of our favorite people in the trade, the charming and quiet Mikola Kukharuk from the legendary Nomad's gem company!  Today, hopefully, we'll learn about how he got to start in the trade, why, and how he began Nomad's! I don't know about you, but I'm excited to learn more about the birth of this pioneering company and Mikola himself! Mikola, the floor is yours!     Here is Nomad's Mikola Kukharuk staring happily at the camera while holding a fine cobalt blue spinel - Photo Credit: Nomad's Ltd   AsiaLounges: First of all, thank you...

Hey Loungers, Today we interview our friend Zoe Michelou from Imperial Colors and we’ll be discussing about her path in the gem trade. Daughter of a prominent coloured-gems sourcing entrepreneur and emerald specialist, Zoe has made a name for herself in the fine quality gem segment. Discover with us today how she got involved in the trade and what pushed her to pursue the mine to market path she is now on. Without any further delay, we give you Zoe Michelou!   Here is Zoe Michelou looking at some fine emeralds in Colombia - Photo Credits: Zoe Michelou   AsiaLounges: First...

Hey Loungers,    Today we have the pleasure to interview a new acquaintance of ours: Jeremy Dunn. He is a talented Seattle based jeweller who has won 3rd place in the 2020 AGTA Spectrum awards.    Jeremy, whom we discovered during the very same Tucson show, follows a path that is not unlike that of our pal Jason Marchiafava in that he hand makes his jewellery instead of using the more modern CAD systems to develop his models.     Let us see in this interview how he came to be the artist he is today and what drove him to take the traditional approach rather than the modern one.   ...

Hey Loungers,

As you may have noticed, we have had a fair few gem cutters coming through our columns recently. Today, we interview the newly appointed president of the South Australian division of the G.A.A. (Gemmological Association of Australia), Madame the President Laura Phillis!

Laura is a famed lapidary artist, whom is more widely known by her company name on Instagram: Tatum Gems, who’s made a name for herself for coming up with brand new gem designs as well as for being a gemmological teacher in her native Australia.

We had the opportunity of meeting her recently during the 2020 edition of the Tucson show where she agreed to answer to our questions.