A gem dealer's journal — one of a kind

AsiaLounges: I understand that you are, still to this day, the person that takes the pictures and takes care of the web site for your company. Do you believe that the period we are in, late 2020 early 2021, with COVID forcing us all to stay put that online sales are becoming the new normal? Is it, in your opinion, a viable alternative to trade shows such as the Hong Kong Gem and Jewellery show?

Hemi Englisher: Although technology today allows us to transfer images of very high quality, I still think that the personal touch, human interactions, is still prevailing. More than that, the proliferation of gem dealers on the internet is clearly bringing down the level of professionalism overall. While it is true that not every gem dealer is a gemologist, one must wonder, when reading things like  “nearly eye clean”, “assuming no heat”  or the fact that every square stone is considered to be an Asscher, whether there are any professional gem dealers left at all... That being said, whether internet and E-marketing is a threat to existing, established wholesalers, time will tell. Even as a school master of the old school, I really cannot say.

Hey Loungers, Today we’re happy to introduce you to one of the many people working in the shadows for the trade. Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing one of the famous scouts and gem hunters the trade relies on. Today we interview the man who, in his own words, is living the dream. Some of you may have seen him in recent years alongside Vincent Pardieu in expeditions, talking to prominent gem dealers about securing rough gemstones half way around the globe or sharing pictures of his ranch on internet during his down time. Today we propose you to...

Hey Loungers, His name is Zyubenko, Dmitry Zyubenko and the trade has about as many urban legends about his past as there are stones available. Today we receive the cheerful Dmitry to learn more about his path and his trade. Today we get to see another facet of our Eastern friends and the east European gem trade! Dmitry, tovarish (comrade), the floor is yours!     Dmitry Zyubenko is with us in the Lounges today - Photo Credits: Dmitry Zyubenko   AsiaLounges: Privet, Dmitry! Thank you very much for being with us today. Let’s start with learning a bit about...

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, Today we receive a very special guest in our columns, today, we are graced with Nature’s most famous alchemist: the talented Paula Crevoshay! Paula has been dedicated the greatest part of the last three decades mesmerising the jewellery world with her unique creations and her seemingly endless energy. Inspired by nature, often copied but never equalled, Paula is without a doubt one of the most iconic high jewellery designer in the United States if not in the world. It is always a pleasure to meet her or to review her various public appearance in conferences. Be it at...