Aussie Sapphire

Aussie Sapphire has long been a fan of Black Spinel and we take pride in being able to offer one of the largest range of calibrated sizes anywhere.  So it is always good to see others extol the virtues of this wonderful gemstone.

Came across this article in the Indian media recently which clearly outlines all the advantages of Black Spinel that we’ve been talking about for some years.  But it also had some really interesting snippets about how black gems are used in Indian culture.

The writer talks about a well-known custom in India for babies to wear bracelets on both wrists for the first year to ward off evil – the bracelets using beads of gold and black gemstones.   I have read of this custom elsewhere so it does appear to be an established custom.

He also mentions the Mangalsutra - one of the most important symbols of a Hindu marriage, traditionally worn by a married woman until her husband’s death.  The Mangalsutra usually consists of a gold ornament strung from a yellow thread, a string of black beads or a gold chain (or some combination of those elements) – it is said that the black beads are a protection from evil and so are an important part of the design.

An example of Mangalsutra from Mumbai Pluses

The examples above show some great modern variations on the traditional designs – see more about this trend at this Mumbai Pluses Blog article.

cheers for now from Andrew and Leah (Aussie Sapphire)

Exclusive new dealership for Aussie Sapphire
Australia’s Favourite Lapidary & Gem Shop

The Omni Faceting Machine – NO LONGER AVAILABLE (as of January 2009).

IMPORTANT NOTE:  we are no longer dealers for OMNI faceting machines.  If you are interested in purchasing an OMNI, please contact them directly here:  http://www.jerseyinstruments.com/

Aussie Sappire are proud to announce that we are now exclusive Dealers in Australia for the Omni faceting machine.  Orders taken now with the next machine expected in about 2-3 weeks.

Omni – Designed by Laurie Hall and Manufactured by Jersey Instruments (in the USA).  The OMNI faceting machine is a collaborative effort with Laurie Hall who for the past 35 years has been building production quality faceting machines for the gem cutting fields in Qld Australia.   We believe this NEW MODEL Omni is a great improvement on the already extremely popular Hall Xtra. It features as standard a Digital Zero Reference Faceting (protractor) and “meet point” indicator.  It has a small footprint but big impact – improvements in splash pan design have overcome the spindle bearings problems sometimes reported in early models of the Omni and Hall.

Now the Hall Faceting Machine Fans have another option that boasts extra features and design improvements PLUS no long waiting lists!  Call Aussie Sapphire now if you have queries about the Omni.

USA made Design by Laurie Hall QLD

Darkside now Down Under

Aussie Sapphire are now Stocking Dealers for the famous BATT and BRAND NEW Darkside Polishing Laps.
Developed by Gearloose in the USA, the BATT Lap is a superior tin alloy (lead free) which has been the number one pick of many expert cutters in the USA for years.  Now after much testing, Gearloose has released the Darkside, a brand new winner in gem polishing.

Be among the first in Australia to benefit from this POLISHING REVOLUTION.  The DARKSIDE™ is a brand new lightweight lap, made of  specially developed material (composite polymer) coated onto an aluminum baseplate.  The Darkside lap is designed for polishing only - you will NOT be able to cut with the DARKSIDE™ as you can with the BATT.

Like all Gearloose laps, the polishing mechanism relies on surface complexity for polish retention, and lubricity for reduced heating and higher polishing efficiency. Some users have gotten three pavilions done before needing to add more diamond. Because the composite contains carbon, it has a natural affinity for diamond, but the hydrophilic domains accept oxide polishes.

Super Closeup of the Darkside Lap

See this discussion on Gemology Online for comments by both the manufacturer and gem cutters about using this new lap.

Last thing – the new Print Catalogue has been sent off to the printers so we hope to be able to send these out quite soon.

Cheers for now Andrew (www.aussiesapphire.com.au)

It has been clear the our Aussie Sapphire website has been getting more of a lapidary focus.  One really important part of this new focus is providing advice and support to those new to the lapidary hobby.

As such, we have decided to start a brand new forum for anyone interested in rocks and gems – this is a free service hosted and administered by Aussie Sapphire.  It is open to everyone with an interest in lapidary and gems so please join up and get involved.  Membership is absolutely free to all and registration just takes a few moments.

Hope to see you there:
Aussie Lapidary Forum

cheers from Andrew and Leah (www.aussiesapphire.com.au)

You only need a few gems before you need to consider how best to store and display them.  There are a multitude of options out there but as always, some products are better than others.  After many years working with gems, we can give you a few tips on what to look out for.

Gem Boxes
We strongly recommend using boxes with glass lids.  Plastic lid boxes or round pods might be cheaper but they will scratch and become unusable very quickly.  Glass lids are far superior – anything less is false economy.

Labelling
It is critical to identify your gems clearly and if you can add the important details such as weight and dimensions, it will make life much easier later.  There are many ways to do this but if you are using gem boxes such as ours, we find it easiest to write the details on the bottom or side of the box iusing a fine permanent marker.  This is easily removed with acetone (or nail polish remover) when required but is a quick and convenient way of labelling gems.  You can use sticky labels but these tend to leave a sticky residue upon removal and is just an unnecessary hassle.

Inserts
Inserts generally come in black or white and may be reversible.  We generally use white inserts which are suitable for almost all coloured gemstones but stock some black insert boxes for our opal customers where the play of colour seems to show up better on black. 

Display Cases
Once you accumulate a few gems, display cases are a great way to show off your collection.   We believe that the cases holding individual gem boxes are the best option as these hold your gems securely and allow you to label them clearly to avoid confusion.  These are available in a range of sizes so choose the one which suits you best.

Some people prefer cases which can hold a number of gems without individual boxes.  These usually come in two styles – the traditional “dimple” case and the newer style “ridged” case.  The “dimple” case generally has a felt pad indented with rows of holes where the gems sit.  This case is traditionally used by gem faceters but has a number of serious problems – mainly that the gems are prone to falling out and there is no way of labelling individual gems.  The newer style “ridged” case has a leatherette interior formed into rows where the gems sit much more securely and you can label the gems more easily if required.

We’ve all had the experience of slightly tilting one of the old “dimple” cases and then spending the next hour on the floor searching for lost gems.  This just does not happen with the new “ridged” cases – just take a look at this demonstration on the video:

Aussie Sapphire stocks these cases in 3 sizes as well as the gem box display cases in a range of sizes.  Take a look at our gem display category for more information.

Plastic Bags or Diamond Paper?
Once you start getting into commercial quantities of gems, space becomes an issue and some need to move to plastic bag or diamond paper storage.  I have to admit, we prefer plastic bags simply because it is easier to see what is inside at a glance.  Buy good quality plastic (not the thin flimsy ones) with white strips for writing details on them but this is a cheap and convenient option.  Diamond or gem papers are available in a range of colours to best display your chosen gems – there is a knack to folding them correctly and you should practice this so it becomes second nature.  Both plastic bags or papers can be compactly stored in boxes in a secure location.

It is not recommended to store more than one gem at a time inside a bag or paper – softer gems may chip or wear if continually jostled against each other inside a bag. 

Take-home message is simply this – gems are beautiful so dont hide them away in a cupboard!!  Display them properly so you can enjoy them and show them off proudly.

cheers for now from Andrew and Leah (Aussie Sapphire)

Rough Gem Supply
What a difference 6 months makes!  There has been a significant shortage of rough gemstones in most catagories – this has been a gradual trend developing for a considerable time but has really started to bite since December 2008.

REASONS:  A combination of factors, most completely out of the control of the trade but some the direct fault of some in the industry.

• Huge increases in the cost of production (fuel, electricity, parts and supplies, etc) at the same time as only modest increases in rough prices.
• The closure by the Madagascan Goverment of exports of Rough Gems (mainly Sapphire but many others gems as well).  This is probably the biggest news in the industry for many years.  It appears all Gems are to be Cut and Heat Treated in Africa before they can leave (similar to current rules in Sri Lanka prohibiting export of gem rough).  

One must remember that this small island is probably the richest gemstone resource ever discovered and most importantly this is where the largest majority of that “CEYLON” branded Sapphire has come from for some time. 

I would like to hope this works for the financially struggling Africans on the ground but I fear that not much will change.  Already, signs are that the more powerful USA and Indian companies are trying, although with difficulty, to move their cutting operations to this country and carry on as before.

• Enviromental and Farmers rights.  The global weather concerns and the desperate need for food production has really had major effects on production especially in China.  A good friend and major Sapphire miner Alex reports that the local farmers are not allowing them to mine on the productive river flats any longer (most of the easier river beds are already exhausted) so they are forced to mine deeper harder ground.  Mine production in China is still large but much less than even last calendar year.

More interesting Gem News:
Ruby Rumblings - The Ruby game has been in a mess for some time since the “Lead Filled” treatment became almost commonplace.  There has been mountains of Ruby in the market, mainly lower grade Indian product (often large and almost opaque) and lead filled African material.  Unfortunately for the retail customer, the altered Ruby looks very good to the eye but in my strong opinion it just “aint Ruby”!  (Oh I forgot the Berillium treated Ruby as well).

Burma Ruby Dead ?  President  Bush in his “wisdom” has banned the import of Ruby  and Jade from Burma (now known as Myanmar) into the USA starting in September 2008.  This in my opinion is a silly decision based on politics not common sense.  Although there has been a Ban in place since 2003, this latest move is supposed to tie up the loophole of Gems being processed in another country (mainly Thailand).  This is aimed at the Military Goverment but in my opinion will just hurt the individual and long suffering Burmese poor while the rich Generals will see little change.

Just how will it work?  In short it wont!  Any Ruby or Jade already in the USA prior to the cut off date can still be legally sold as Burmese.  Reports from the ground in Thailand show large US based companies pouring as much cash as they can spare into getting stockpiles into their country before the deadline.  I suppose the USA customs will now be able to tell the origin of a Gem just by looking at it.  A difficult job even for the most experienced Gem Labs.  Of course there will now be a lot of Burmese type Ruby coming from other countries or “New Finds”.

Richard Hughes changes jobs:
Richard Hughes, gemologist and author, has resigned as senior staff gemologist for the AGTA, (American Gem Trade Association) to join a jewellery TV company based in Singapore and Bangkok.  Richard has vast knowledge and experience in the Gem world - he seems to be willing to give these alternative methods of selling some support – hopefully he will bring some much needed credibility to the system.  The thought that springs to my mind though is that perhaps the old fashioned bricks and mortar Jewellery stores need to do some catching up or they might die?  Good luck Richard.

Lapidary Gear:
We have had several questions asking if Lapidary supplies will decrease in price because of our high dollar. The answer is simple Yes but No. Confused ?  I dont blame you but the simple fact is freight cost increases have wiped out in most cases more than the gain in currency exchange.  On top of this, all manufacturers face large increases on all the material they use with many increasing our buying prices.  Having said this the choice of where or what to purchase has never been better so shop around and enjoy the savings that come from competition.  We’re pretty confident you wont find a better deal than at Aussie Sapphire.  Just remember, when comparing prices, check if stock is ready to deliver immediately and if any additional costs apply – such as for 220 Volt (a common trap when buying from the US), credit card fees, foreign currency fees and charges, etc.

Tips and Tricks:

• Need storage for your 6″ Faceting Laps, diamond saw blades, etc ? Inexpensive Size 1 padded envelopes are a cheap solution or try CD cases - ideal for your 4″ or 5″ diamond blades.  You can mark each type clearly and avoid contamination.  
• Dull Diamond Blades – if your diamond blade becomes dull try redressing it before you throw it out. There are specific dressing sticks available but a old silicon carbide grinding wheel does the same job cheaper.  Just cut into the wheel a couple of times this removes tiny particles of metal that melt into the Diamond while cutting.  If this doesnt work then there is no Diamond left so your blade is only a drink coaster now.

Website Reviews:
http://www.gemologyonline.com - A great free forum for everything to do with Gems and Lapidary.  Cannot recommend this site highly enough – filled with genuine experts who are genuinely happy to help out with advice and share knowledge.

Those of you familiar with sapphire mining in Australia will know that most is done by small individual operators.  Involvement of public companies has not always been successful with Cluff Resources and Great Northern Resources exiting the sapphire industry to pursue other more lucrative minerals.

While the above mentioned companies have repositioned their business in a purposeful and sensible way, Great Northern in particular having some years of successful mining under their belt, others have had more trouble coping with the particular challenges of the sapphire industry.  A case in point is Australis – this company is currently suspended from the ASX, has been under administration for an extended period and is a good example of what can go wrong.

A new company that plans to list on the stockmarket very soon has released a prospectus with plans to operate in our own region – Glen Innes and Inverell.  The company is Australian Gemstone House - managing director is Pnina Feldman.  EDITED TO ADD:  Please note that we have been requested by Dr Pecover to remove inaccurate material from this post.  The link to the upcoming float on the ASX is no longer valid and so has been edited to point to the AGH website.  The article on the Business Spectator has been removed by that organisation – the comments below are based on reading the hard copy in the Australian Financial Review – any issues with the accuracy of that article should be taken up with the journalist concerned.

There have been some questions raised with an article in the Financial Review this week – we read the article from the paper itself but you need to be a subscriber to read it online – see this link from the Business Spectator to read more about the issues.  We should point out that the miners mentioned in this article are not us, we have had no contact with the writers of the article and are making no statement on the upcoming float – it is for others to assess the prospectus.  Obviously we are following these developments with great interest.

Finally, we should mention Van Dieman Mines which have been operating in Tasmania at a development stage for some time.  It is our understanding that this company is yet to commence commercial operation as a sapphire/tin miner with the most recent update in late August.  One interesting development is the joint venture with Columbia Gem House to brand sapphire from this operation as “Tasmin Blue” – hopefully this will succeed although we suggest that Columbia could develop this market a lot quicker by talking to those actually producing sapphire now – proven miners who can get gems to the market consistently and cost-effectively.

While the public companies may have the profile, it is often the private operators who can do the job more efficiently since we can just get in there and concentrate on production rather than stock market announcements.  Perhaps Australian Gemstone House and Van Dieman Mines will succeed where others have failed – we will all just have to wait and see.

We have had quite a few requests from customers asking about books on gemstones and lapidary.  After quite a search to find a good source, we are proud to announce that Aussie Sapphire now carries a range of books that will be of interest.

Please see the Books & DVD category to select from a range of lapidary books covering gem cutting, rock tumbling, jewellery making, gem collecting and more.

These books are imported from the USA so will be ordering new stock periodically – if you are after something that is not listed, please feel free to contact us or browse the catalogues of our affiliate partner Fishpond (use the search box at the top of the list).

Book prices are extremely reasonable and they make fantastic gift ideas so please take a look at our selection.  If you are choosing for someone else, sending a gift voucher allows them to make the perfect choice.

The equipment and lapidary supplies category continues to be very popular with another Gemmasta faceting machine going out last week (replacement machine expected late this week) and lots of gem display cases, laps, tools, etc being despatched each day.  We continue to work on sourcing new products so keep an eye on this section for more bargains to come.

Have just finished another batch of sapphire cutting and in the middle of cutting some nice rough tourmaline so please contact us if you are interested in sourcing anything like this.  Mining continues to be challenging with fuel prices soaring and costs of production generally being too high for the return.  Sapphire rough is in short supply presently but we hope to list a few new pieces in the facet rough section as soon as possible.  This appears to be a general problem with very little sapphire being produced in Australia currently and similar shortages in many of the other producing countries. 

cheers for now from Aussie Sapphire

Have just received a new parcel of tourmaline facet rough and have spent the last couple of days listing some of the better pieces.  Some excellent intense pinks and other colours so make sure you check these out now.  We will be progressively listing more of this material – much of the remaining lot will be more affordable so there will be something for every budget.  Colour is great in this lot!!

See our imported facet rough catalogue for more details.

Cheers from Andrew and Leah Lane (www.aussiesapphire.com.au

We know it’s been a while but we finally managed to find time to list a few new pieces of sapphire rough.  Just goes to show you’ve got to be quick though as one of our regulars snapped up two nice bits literally only minutes after they went live.  Didnt even have a chance to get this post up first so dont wait too long and check out our rough sapphire catalogue. 

Note that we are noticing a general shortage of rough in the marketplace.  Unfortunately, this has not yet translated into higher prices for cut gems probably due to challenging economic conditions faced by USA.  However we do not see any likelihood that prices for rough will decrease given the difficult times faced by miners worldwide.  Our cost of mining has skyrocketed in the past year with onerous government regulation making things extremely difficult – we are seeing these trends elsewhere also so gem cutters should be prepared to pay more for facet rough into the future.

On a more positive note, we have just sourced a new parcel of tourmaline rough at reasonable prices.  We have graded this up today and will be listing some as soon as possible ranging in price from $6 to $20 per carat. 

cheers for now from Aussie Sapphire

One of the most important features of Minerama is the programme of field trips.  Fossickers can visit a range of locations in the company of an experienced guide to look for a range of gems.  Heaps of fun and very affordable. 

There are field trips to suit all types of fossickers – from the complete beginner to the utterly obsessed.  See the Minerama website for more information on the program or just call in to the Minerama information desk for some guidance.

Click “Continue Reading” below to see some options for each day from Thursday 6th March to Monday 10th March 2008.

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