Gem Junkies

We’ve been away for 6 weeks and we’re all excited to be back at the office! Take a seat as we recap about our quarantine experience and explore the ancient world of Lapis Lazuli. Being one of the oldest gemstones mined, it has an extensive involvement with history and folklore that will lure you in.

00:00:00 Has it really been 6 weeks?

00:29:00 The COVID experience

08:53:00 Ok, we’ve got a gemstone for you—Lapis Lazuli

09:30:00 How long has it been around?

10:12:00 It is a rock!

11:27:00 Its gorgeous blue color

12:53:00 Translucency/ luster/ hardness

13:14:00 What it has been used for

13:23:00 Trade grades and mining locations

15:34:00 How long it takes to mine

17:14:00 A prized procession during ancient time

17:49:00 Citation and translation

18:30:00 Marco Polo

18:56:00 A LOT of history and lore associated with Lapis

19:01:00 Highly favored by the Egyptians

20:24:00 King Solomon

24:45:00 Using semi-precious stones for religious purposes = Egyptian's “Book of the Dead”

28:02:00 Ancient Rome

28:49:50 What it is like in the market today and things to be mindful about when purchasing

This week we're getting back to our roots and talking about a gemstone—chrysoprase. Its golden-green tone has a rich presence in history and folklore. We also explore its healing properties and its ability to be a beacon of courage through a time of change.

00:00:00 Social distancing

00:55:00 2020 has already had it's high and lows

06:38:00 What gemstone are we talking about?

06:58:00 The meaning of chrysoprase

07:37:00 Crystal structure

08:17:00 It’s colored by nickel

11:21:00 The finest color

12:13:00 This gemstone has a rich history

13:58:00 Storytime – negotiating a chrysoprase

14:47:50 First mention of it

15:07:00 Fun stories of chrysoprase

17:19:00 The stone of Venus

17:35:00 Healing/magical properties

18:20:00 To save those who were thieves, to be hung or beheaded

18:53:00 Romanian folklore

19:49:00 King Frederick VII

19:59:00 Saint Wenceslaus Chapel

20:32:00 Assist you to embrace your courage

21:15:00 Emotional balance

One of our goals with the podcast this year is to focus on career paths. Up next, is an interview providing another perspective in opportunities within the jewelry industry--journalism. We sit down with Brecken Branstrator, with National Jeweler, to learn a little more about her role as an editor and of course, talk about the name “Brecken.”

00:00:00 I’m so bossy

01:32:00 “Oh, you’re the other Brecken?

02:22:00 Brecken Branstrator for National Jeweler

03:25:00 How did you get your name?

04:48:00 What do you think the name Brecken means?

06:38:00 How did you get into the gemstone/jewelry world?

08:06:00 Take us through your average day?

09:03:00 What are your favorite things you’ve learned and/or wrote about?

10:04:00 Back to the name Brecken

11:15:00 Anything exciting coming up with National Jewelers

11:48:00 What does your day look like while at Tucson?

15:38:00 If I was going to do something else in the industry . . .

18:03:00 How did you feel growing up with that name?

20:20:00 What is your favorite gemstone?

21:35:00 What is your first memory of a gemstone or a piece of jewelry?

23:22:00 Where are you based?

26:16:0 0 Let’s talk about National Jeweler. How did it start?

Website: https://www.nationaljeweler.com/

Instagram:

@nationaljeweler

https://www.instagram.com/nationaljeweler/

In honor of #womensinternationalday and #womenshistorymonth we sit down with Jennifer Markas to learn more about Women’s Jeweler Association (WJA). We dive into WJA’s history, its mission and get to know Jennifer up close and personal.

00:00:00 Are we ready?

00:16:00 We’re going to Disneyland

00:57:00 Introduction to Jennifer Markas of WJA

01:58:00 Where id WJA start?

05:06:00 A common misconception of WJA

06:57:00 What does it mean to be a member of WJA?

08:26:00 WJA connect

11:17:00 What are some of the goals of WJA?

13:49:00 Equal pay

16:38:00 Young female designers

19:20:00 How do people get involved https://www.womensjewelryassociation.com/

20:23:00 What is going on in March with WJA?

22:08:00 How is it being promoted?

25:45:00 Tell us about yourself

30:11:00 What is your first memory of a gemstone or a piece of jewelry

We’re back with another interview from Tucson at the JCK show and continue to delve into the world of career paths within the jewelry world. Behind every brand is a marketing team that helps bring life to its story. We sit down with Ben Smittee, of The Smithee Group, to get to know a little more about him and his passion supporting the future of the jewelry industry.

00:00:00 Worse topic ever

00:29:00 Ben Smithee

01:20:00 What do you do in the industry?

02:57:00 First memory with a piece of jewelry or gemstone

05:50:00 A little background that brought you to support the jewelry industry?

12:45:00 Helping bring out the story that needs to be heard

14:58:00 Women’s Jewelry Association and involvement at the Tucson Gem Fair

15:06:00 What about Gem Legacy made you say “yes” this is soething you want to be a part of?

17:03:00 Gem Legacy providing its way to give back and telling its story.

20:34:00 Educating retail jewelers

22:33:00 Tell me about my twins

We regularly get asked, “What can I do with a GG? How do I obtain a GG?” We went straight to the source and sat down with Kimberly Overlin, the Dean of Students from GIA. We discuss the nuts and bolts about GIA (Gemological Institute of America), what it offers to students and review career paths that one can obtain.

(Recording took place on the show floor of the AGTA Gem Fair. Some of the background noise was able to get reduce but not fully eliminated.)

00:00:00 Losing an episode

00:27:00 Live from the AGTA with Kimberly Overlin from GIA

01:09:00 Tell us a little bit about you and what you do for GIA?

02:44:00 You got your degree and then what?

03:41:00 The unique part of GIA

04:-2:00 When did you start working for GIA

05:11:00 No family background associated to jewelry and paving a path

05:53:00 Education being key

06:27:00 How does one learn/access more information about GIA

07:05:00 Opportunities for scholarship and financial aid

08:24:00 How to search for scholarships through GIA

09:08:00 Campuses

10:47:00 How did you get from recruitment to Dean of Students

12:34:00 Take us through your day

14:08:00 Carlsbad being a different type of campus

14:29:00 What are the career paths that you’ve seen happen?

19:08:00 What was your first memory of a piece of jewelry or gemstone?

23:34:00 Getting your GG through distance education

27:03:00 Why and how did GIA get started?

28:58:00 Value vs. Pricing

31:53:00 What was your first gemstone purchase after getting your GG?

2020 is in full swing and we thought it would be a good idea to give you an idea of things to look forward to from the podcast.

00:00:00 It’s Brecken!

00:06:00 Back from Hong Kong

05:43:00 What to expect this year

07:33:00 Delve into the world of less known/obscure gemstones

08:32:00 Speaking of Tucson . . .

We’ve been busy bees getting ready for trade show season but don’t worry Gem Junkies we haven’t forgotten about you!! For awhile we’ve teased about putting together an episode about birthstones and it’s finally come into fruition. From it’s early biblical beginning to its influence in the jewelry world we delve into its long history.

00:00:00 Take 2. Press Record.

00:24:00 Parle tradeshow line-up

01:28:00 Birthstones

01:49:00 How did it all start?

01:55:00 Biblical – Aaron’s Breastplate

04:27:00 What stones we set up in Aaron’s breastplate

06:50:00 How did we get from breastplate to birthstone?

09:14:00 A developed notion of switching out jewelry every month

10:27:00 Vedic astrological system associated to gemstones

11:25:00 Why are gemstones are connected to planets?

12:32:00 How do we get to the idea of a person always wearing and only wearing a gemstone corresponding to their birth month?

13:49:00 In 1912 – standardization of birthstones

21:05:00 The additions of birthstones

24:20:00 Chrysolite, what? Birthstones associated to zodiac sign.

26:45:00 Birthstones for mother’s jewelry

28:30:00 Parle Xmas story

Hello 2020!! For the first podcast of the year we sit down with Craig Danforth from Jewelers Mutual. With all the jewelry received over the holidays we talk about the importance of acquiring a policy for your jewelry, the history of Jewelers Mutual and of course, we get to know Craig up close and personal.

00:00:00 Sea Legs

00:42:00 Introducing Craig Danforth

02:09:00 First memory of a piece of jewelry or gemstone

02:50:00 Take us through your life

03:43:00 How did you get involved with jewelry

04:32:00 The silver run at @tiffanyandco

06:32:00 And then . . . @cartier

07:19:00 What was your favorite part about that job?

08:21:00 Working with GIA

10:52:00 Transition to Jewelers Mutual

11:36:00 The polar vortex of Wisconsin

12:39:00 The “Gem State”

13:01:00 What do you do for Jewelers Mutual?

14:10:00 The history of Jewelers Mutual

18:31:00 How do I insure this?

23:21:00 A care plan through Jewelers Mutual

24:54:00 How to learn more about Jewelers Mutual?

26:22:00 Jewelers Mutual’s involvement within the industry

29:12:00 The gem gallery at Jeweler Mutual

32:47:00 What’s your favorite gemstone?

If you’ve been wondering who is often laughing in the background when we’re recording a podcast it’s me, Stephanie Major. Hey Gem Junkies, I’m the producer and marketing coordinator at Parle. We thought it might be time to step up to the mic and for you all to get to know a little more about me.

00:00:00 Hey, @spencerpratt

03:34:00 Happy Birthday Abbey

01:39:00 [Going down a rabbit hole] A look back of the past

02:29:00 The interviews we’ve done

03:14:00 Which one was your favorite interview?

04:47:00 Another interview. . . Stephanie (our podcast producer)

06:41:00 I don’t wear a lot of jewelry

07:20:00 What’s your life story

10:19:00 10 years ago – A BIG YEAR

14:54:00 Never say no . . .fake it till you make it

16:00:00 How did you get to Pocatello

17:36:00 I am done with homeschool

19:11:00 Sh*!, what am I going to do?

21:08:00 A day in the life

22:56:00 A learning curve to get started

23:44:00 A week overview

25:45:00 A personal initiative

26:59:00 Brand Building

27:57:00 Changing the whole vibe

29:57:00 There’s another thing that you do . . .