AZGem Gems
March, 2005

The World's Most Useful
Gem & Jewelry Monthly Newsletter

Written by Carolyn Doyle for customers of
The Dorado Company
and other visitors to the azgem.com website who subscribe.

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Share this newsletter with friends and co-workers by printing or forwarding it to them in its entirety.

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Back issues of the AZGem Gems newsletter can be accessed by clicking here.

Usable Gems... and a little opinion.

Aventurescence In Gems

Aventurescence in gems sounds serious, but it is often a good thing. The term simply refers to metallic glitter in a gem. The term "schiller" is also used to describe the phenomena.

Aventurescence is our last in the series on optical phenomena gems.

The best known gems that display this optical effect are aventurine quartz and sunstone (a feldspar family gem).

Aventurescence is caused by tiny (often microscopic) platelets of natural metals such as copper, mica, or hematite (iron).

The golden sunstone shown here displays the metallic glitter effect handsomely.

The bits of shiny metal in the near-transparent gem crystal reflect light and cause the glitter.

Sunstone has become more popular in recent years, due to the discovery of a more reliable source in Oregon.

Sunstone body colors range from pinks and tans to oranges, greens and reds.

Aventurescence in iolite is also known. The metallic inclusions are reddish hematite. The blue-violet iolite with these red inclusions is known as bloodshot iolite. I mention this material as a curiosity, since I've never seen it in gem quality.

Aventurescence is a term said to be derived from the Italian "a ventura" or "by chance."

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Industry News...

Diamond Wholesaler robbed

Two masked gunmen posing as deliverymen pulled off a $5 million armed robbery at a wholesaler in New York's Diamond District recently.

No arrests have been made in the robbery at Diamart Inc. on West 47th Street.

Because of a holiday, security at the building where Diamart had its offices on the seventh floor was not as intense as usual, another tenant told reporters.

A manager at the diamond wholesaler buzzed the men inside the street door after they identified themselves via an intercom as deliverymen, police said. Once on the seventh floor, the men put on masks and pulled handguns before looting the business of $5 million in diamonds.

No one was injured in the holdup, and the bandits walked out the front door of the building.

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Jewelry Dealers

Mother's Day and graduations are coming. These occasions present great sales opportunities, as do birthdays and wedding anniversaries.

Check your inventory! Is it time to make up a few new pieces? We have the gem stones you need and you already have the resource information to buy the mountings and have the stones set.

Now is the time! Talk it up, and make those sales.

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Also, be sure to check out that great $10 book called Make Your Content PREsell.

The book's wisdom will help you be more effective... in sales and life.

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Jewelry Dealers Program

Do you enjoy jewelry and gems?

Do you enjoy talking with friends and co-workers?

Take a look at our great Jewelry Dealers Program.

Carolyn Doyle

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The Dorado Company
P.O. Box 8232
Scottsdale, AZ 85252-8232