A gem dealer's journal — blog

Hey Loungers,   Been a while since our last interview came in. Sorry about that, we got busy with your jewelry and other gem hunts. Nevertheless, I think today’s interview will be a treat! The interview that we promised for so long about gem cutting is finally in and we have none other than Nomad’s Josh Saltzman to talk to us about it! Buckle up and enjoy the show guys!   Photo of Josh Saltzman in the Nomad's Bangkok office.  Photo Credit: Prangpak Ruahong and Maria Arkhipova   Asia Lounges: Hi Josh, thanks for accepting Asia Lounges' invitation today and to...

Hi Loungers,  With "Journey through the Rough: The Making of a Gem" we discovered the very first step of the jewelry making process. Today, we'll see what happens when you contact the Creation Lounge in order to turn your dream piece of jewelry into a reality. To this end we will follow Lotus Gemology's Billie Hughes' journey with our team. Traditionally, there are two ways to start a jewelry project (either designing the piece of jewelry around a gem or, finding the gem that goes with a specific design). This time around, Billie asked us to come up with a design that would highlight her gemstones in...

In today's interview we will explore the complex and critical role gemological laboratory hold in our trade. We are honored to have as our guide for this tour, one of the legendary trio, E. Billie Hughes from Lotus Gemology! Buckle up and enjoy the ride Loungers!   AsiaLounges: Hi Billie, thank you for being with us today! We appreciate you taking time off of your schedule to explain us a bit who you are and what you do. Tell us about yourself, Lotus Gemology, and the team behind it. E.Billie Hughes: Lotus Gemology is a Bangkok-based gem testing lab that...

 Dear Loungers, As a token of thanks for your continued support, Asia Lounges celebrates its thousandth visit on the website by bringing you a series of 7 interviews. These Interviews will help you explore and understand the secret world of gemstone.  In today's edition we will follow Arjuna Irsutti, professional gemstone photographer at Arjuna Irsutti Photography, in order to help you, Loungers, understand this particular aspect of the trade! Hope you'll enjoy it as much as we did enjoy running through this topic.   AsiaLounges: Hi Arjuna, thank you for agreeing to answer our questions today. Let us start by learning...

In today's world, where information is everywhere and in any form, finding the right type of knowledge is key to succeed. When it comes to purchasing colored gemstones, knowing how to buy and what to look for can make a big difference. Today, I will explain you how to make a smart purchase. Very much like with diamonds, you judge a gemstone according to these four criterion: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight. Then come an extra two: treatment and origin. First came the cut: Cutting is what gives the stone its shape, therefore, it has a very high incidence...