Articles and News
Industry News: MJSA Offers Bench Courses In Tucson; World’s Largest Csarite Gem On Display; More January 21, 2015 (0 comments)
MJSA's “At the Bench Live” Session Schedule For Tucson
Attleboro, MA— MJSA will again present its At The Bench Live program during the AGTA GemFair in Tucson, AZ, from Feb. 3-8. Running twice daily in the Tools, Technology, and Supplies Pavilion, the interactive demonstrations will offer advice and insights to bench work easier, more productive, and more profitable. Sessions are sponsored by the American Gem Trade Association. Bench and tool sponsor is Arthur Anton Skuratowicz of Anton Nash LLC in Colorado Springs, CO. The schedule is:
A Cut Above: Common Jewelry Engraving Patterns, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 3, with Tira Mitchell, Engraver.com. Mitchell will present some common jewelry engraving patterns and demonstrate how to create them. Starting with scribed markings, she will show how to combine basic cuts into complex patterns, and create an engraved surface that truly enhances a design. Basic to Intermediate
Mixing Metals: Techniques for 24k Gold Inlay, 2:30 to 4 p.m. Feb. 3, with Tira Mitchell. Mitchell will demonstrate techniques for inlaying 24k gold wire into stainless steel, titanium, and other non-precious metals. Topics to be covered include sizing gold wire, properly excavating gold lines and cavities, seating the gold, and finishing the design. Intermediate to Advanced
The Well-Dressed Bench: Tools That Make a Difference, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 4, with Arthur Anton Skuratowicz, Anton Nash LLC. Skuratowicz will focus on the tools essential for specific tasks and also how to best use those tools and arrange them for maximum speed and efficiency. Basic to Advanced
The Flat-Top Bur and Other Tool Tricks for Easier Setting, 2:30 to 4 p.m. Feb 4., with Arthur Anton Skuratowicz. Skuratowicz will show how to modify and even rejuvenate existing tools to gain greater precision, avoid stone damage, and ensure a secure fit. Intermediate
Wax Work 1: Precision Carving Techniques, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb 5., with Gary Dawson, Gary Dawson Designs. In the first of a two-part session, Dawson will show how wax carvings can be more precise and ultimately cast better. The session will include demonstrations of general carving techniques, design transfer, and detail work, and cover the appropriate tools that make carving easier. Intermediate
Wax Work 2: Integrating Gems into a Design, 2:30 to 4 p.m. Feb 5., with Gary Dawson. The second part of the "Wax Work" series will discuss both the process of accurate centering and the technique of creating “balance without symmetry" to showcase gems to maximum effect. Intermediate to Advanced
To the Point: Easy Ways to Build up Prongs, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 6, with Arthur Anton Skuratowicz. Skuratowicz will review various ways to build up a bead on top of a worn-down prong, including tricks for repairing micro pavé settings. Intermediate to Advanced
Down to the Wire: Replacing Prongs and Gallery Wires, 2:30 to 4 p.m. Feb. 6, with Arthur Anton Skuratowicz. In the follow-up to "To the Point," Skuratowicz will demonstrate cost-effective ways to replace the prong by grafting in a new wire. He'll also demonstrate how to best replace worn or broken gallery wires, with a few tricks for easily positioning the wire and keeping it in place. Advanced
All sessions will take place at AGTA GemFair Tucson at the Tucson Convention Center. For more information about the At the Bench Live sessions, go to MJSA.org.
World’s Largest Faceted Csarite Will Be In Tucson
Tucson, AZ—Milenyum Mining Limited is excited to announce that the world’s largest known faceted Csarite gemstone (top of page) will be displayed by The Courtney Collection at the Gem and Jewelry Exchange trade show in Tucson, AZ, from February 3 – 8, 2015. The 121.65-ct. pear shape rarity was cut from a rough of approximately 430 grams. Previously, the largest known faceted Csarite was an 88.49-ct. pear shape that took home a coveted 2014 AGTA Cutting Edge Award last year.
“Achieving a faceted Csarite of this size and quality is extremely difficult, given the typical loss of rough when faceting,” said Murat Akgun, president of Milenyum Mining Ltd, the operator of the world’s only Csarite mine. The only other large Csarites of a similar size have been cabochon gems that exhibit the cat’s eye and color change effect.
Exhibitor Erica Courtney of The Courtney Collection said, “We are so excited to be able to share this one-of-a-kind color change gem with the industry! All the collectors and designers know that Tucson is the place to find the truly unusual, so we expect to receive a lot of interest in this rare and responsibly-sourced stone.”
Diamond Show 2015 Is Back In Basel
Basel, Switzerland—The Diamond Show, the world’s only trade show dedicated to diamonds, will open at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, at Markthalle in Basel, Switzerland. The show is only minutes away from the renowned Baselworld fair, running concurrently.
Pre-registration is now open and attendees are invited to pre-register here for complimentary express access to the Show. Attendees also are again invited to the opening night diamond party, March 19 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the show hall.
Show hours are 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (including party) on Thursday, March 19, and from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on March 20, 22, and 23. The show is closed Saturday, March 21. For additional information about the show, visit www.thediamondshow.net