Author Archives: admin

An Idea to Coat Diamonds with Teflon

I attempted to answer a Quora question about the possibility of coating diamonds with teflon so they would not need to be cleaned so often. I pointed out some possible problems with the idea. But it was certainly creative. It … Continue reading

Posted in Diamond | Tagged , | Leave a comment

My Manila Diary

Here is a compilation of the bulletins I sent to friends when I was living in Manila. I’ve posted them here for those who want to get an idea of what my new series of newsletters will be like. There … Continue reading

Posted in Miscellany | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

North America’s Biggest Diamond

Dominion Diamond Mines announced what it claims to be the biggest diamond ever found in North America at its 40% owned Diavik Mine. It looks a beauty! 552 carats and no obvious fractures (from what photos I’ve seen). They say … Continue reading

Posted in Diamond | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What I’ve been reading – Fourth Saturday December 2018

This is a regular post I hope to continue every week. It will be a summary of the articles and books I’ve finished reading over the course of the week. It’s an off-topic break from book news and gemstone news. … Continue reading

Posted in Miscellany | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Biancabella and the Snake

This is the original translation of Straparola’s story, which I referred to in my book, Known Only to Kings. I leave it here for those who are interested, however I don’t consider it to be suitable for young readers as … Continue reading

Posted in Investment Concepts | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Raw Footage of De Beers Diamond Sorting Rooms

Journeyman Pictures has dumped a quarter hour’s worth of unedited footage of a tour of De Beers’ sorting rooms by a Namibian Prime Ministerial delegation in 2000. It gives a rare look into how they sort rough diamonds by machine … Continue reading

Posted in Diamond | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Diamonds in the Movies – a Select List

Jewellers have a long association with Hollywood. Prestige jewellers began opening branches there in the 1930’s not only to serve the wealthy film stars and producers but also for the influence and recognition their placement of jewellery in the movies … Continue reading

Posted in Investment Concepts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Diamonds in English Literature – Twentieth Century Novels and Short Stories

King Solomon’s Mines. H Rider Haggard The climax of this novel has the heroes finding a secret cave filled with gold, diamonds and other treasure. But they are trapped in the cave when the evil witch doctor closes the heavy … Continue reading

Posted in Investment Concepts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Diamonds in English Literature – Victorian Novelists and Poets

The Diamond Necklace. Thomas Carlyle At a time when scientists were just beginning to understand gemstones and how they form, writers were experimenting with ideas that we now call ‘new age’. Spiritualism, Eastern mysticism, even fairies were catching not only … Continue reading

Posted in Investment Concepts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Diamonds in English Literary Culture – Elizabethan Drama

Love’s Labour’s Lost. William Shakespeare This play has an unusual ending for a Shakespearean comedy. Instead of every character getting married at the end, news of a death causes each couple to separate for a year. In the case of … Continue reading

Posted in Investment Concepts | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment