Gem Junkies

Mexican Fire Opal is what is up for the week! Yes, Jonathan and Brecken covered opal in 2 prior podcast episodes but thought it would be best to go into a little more detail about this mystical stone. From Aztec lore to the very core of how this opal is formed.

[Warning: we experience some technical difficulties in the middle of the recording so we apologize for the intermittent sound quality.]

00:24:00 Gemma and a little story time

03:05:00 Mexican Fire Opal introduction

03:47:00 Mexican Fire Opal

04:33:00 Aztec name for Opal

06:19:00 Where it is found

07:18:00 How is it formed?

07:41:00 Hardness

07:55:00 How is it formed (continued)

09:18:00 It almost appears to glow

09:51:00 Fire Opal/Mexican Fire opal mix-up

11:23:00 Play of color

11:52:00 Base colors of Fire Opal

12:58:50 Transparency

13:29:00 Faceted Fire Opal

14:34:00 Needles

15:19:00 Water content in opal

16:58:50 Amorphous crystal structure

18:54:00 Leopard Opal

19:58:50 Mystical properties

It's been awhile but Gem Junkies is back! Jonathan and Brecken talk about the heavenly world of Jade. As always, they'll cover the chemical compositions and Brecken favorite the lore and history among different cultures/civilizations.

00:00:00 Getting back into the swing of things

01:26:00 Intro to Jade

01:56:00 Two types: Nephrite and Jadeite

02:26:00 Toughness vs. Hardness

03:03:00 Toughness scale of Jadeite and Nephrite

03:29:00 Jade is just a general term

05:24:00 Lore - Stone for the pain in the side

05:51:00 Nephrite derives from. . .

06:49:50 More history and lore (the juicy stuff)

06:55:00 Tools and weapons

07:04:00 A great appreciation in China

08:01:00 Chinese association with Jade

08:58:00 Butterfly significance in Chinese legend

09:39:00 Jade should be worn to touch the skin

10:31:00 Jade to reflect the life of the wearer

11:00:00 1784 - How jadeite took over

11:50:00 The importance in New Zealand

12:10:00 Nephrite holds a better edge than iron

12:47:00 Using Nephrite to carve out tiki figures

14:03:00 Wizard to source Nephrite

15:34:00 Jade on Central America

16:31:50 16th century with Jadeite

17:17:00 The impact on the Mayan Culture

17:37:50 Major sources for Jadeite

18:32:00 Major sources for Nephrite

18:46:00 Quality and value (color, transparency and

texture)

19:04:00 Finest color (Jadeite) = GREEN

19:33:00 Imperial Jade

20:51:00 Transparency

21:36:00 Texture

23:15:00 Jade treatment/enhancement

24:33:00 FUN FACT: How Jade helped out the opal industry

25:16:00 Blind shopping for Jade

25:43:00 Two varieties of Jadeite

26:30:50 Care for Jade

26:40:00 Purchasing Jade = Price

00:00:00 Mickey isn’t real

01:21:50 Returning to the basement and what we’ve been up to

04:35:00 Phenomenal Gemstones

(2) main types: Structure and Inclusions

05:04:00 Structure of phenomenal gemstones

05:24:00 Play of Color

Our favorite gemstone – opal

06:11:00 Iridescence = Pearl

07:31:50 Ladradorescence = Ladradorescence

09:22:50 Adularescence = Moonstone

10:48:00 Moonstone Lore

13:01:00 Second Type of Phenomenon: Inclusions

13:09:00 Chatoyancy = Cat Eye + Alexandrite

14:52:00 Milk and Honey effect

16:08:00 Cat Eye Lore

16:36:00 Asterism

17:36:00 Gemstone varieties that exhibit asterism

17:51:00 Idaho Star Opal

18:58:00 Intersecting, paralleling inclusions

20:30:00 Star Sapphire Lore – Stone of Destiny

22:48:00 Adventurescence

23:09:00 Most commonly known = Sunstone

24:19:00 Color change – transitional element

26:04:00 The difference between color change and color shift

27:11:00 Review of the different types of gemstone phenomenons

Ask and you will receive? You all requested more interviews and Jonathan and Brecken come back with another special guest. You can call him Leo Valentine, the Beyoncè of AGS but we know him as John Carter – President of the American Gemstone Society and owner of Jack Lewis Jewelers. Learn about John’s early beginnings at Jack Lewis his transition into ownership and even some awesome gem junkie banter.

00:00:00 Valentine Drive

00:45:00 Introduction to John Carter

02:01:00 What is your first memory of jewelry?

04:04:00 She wanted to buy a really nice cocktail ring

04:51:00 Tell us about Jack Lewis Jewelers. Tell us about how you get your start.

11:45:50 When did you get an opportunity to buy?

--Jack Lewis was the reason to stay and attend Illinois State

--Fraternity President and learning about leadership and friendship

--Time on the road with Maurice Lacroix

24:35:00 And then you went where?

Returning to Jack Lewis

30:37:00 The heart of what AGS stands for

40:42:00 How would you tell someone not involved with AGS to get involved with it?

44:49:00 Talking about what we love

45:47:00 Gem Geek-out Banter

A Northern Californian taking the gemstone world by storm with her paintings. Yes, PAINTINGS!! Jonathan and Brecken sit with Angie Crabtree. From her childhood memories to geodes, teaching to stumbling into the world of gemstones we get to better know the woman behind the canvas.

00:40:00 Introduction to Angie Crabtree

01:55:00 What inspired you to do this?

05:23:50 Somehow I accidentally slipped into this

6:48:00 What is your first memory of a gemstone or jewelry?

08:14:50 Going to GIA to get a tour

09:02:50 My first time at AGTA

10:29:50 Growing up on a ranch

11:10:00 I always loved geology

11:41:00 Finding a geode

12:47:00 I’ve always fished too

13:31:00 Have you painted a geode yet?

14:01:00 Have you painted a process series?

12:12:50 My mom is amazing. She is my best friend.

16:39:00 So what goes into doing a live painting?

18:04:00 And then it was opals

19:02:00 What about cellphone cases?

19:55:00 So transitioning to your own painting selections? “Do what inspires me.”

20:49:00 Painting with gemstones

21:24:00 So are you going to Luxury in Vegas?

22:29:50 Coming to the Parle booth

Eureka!! We have diamonds!! Jonathan and Brecken finally talk about the #1 gemstone sold –Diamonds! There’s a lot to cover when it comes to Diamonds so this episode will cover some lore, its history and even touch base on the subject Natural vs. Synthetic Diamonds.

00:00:00 Intro

00:41:00 Diamonds!!!

01:53:50 Discover the best donuts in the world

02:50:00 Back to our regular scheduled program 😊

03:24:00 The name! Where does it come from?

03:47:50 Earliest references of diamonds

04:31:00 4th Century BC in India w/ diamonds

05:05:00 9th Century and Aristotle and Alexander the Great

07:39:00 600 AD

08:08:00 Lore behind Diamond dust

12:06:50 In Ancient China

12:28:50 1800s demand for diamonds changed

12:48:00 The “Modern Diamond Market”

14:54:50 3 years after the Eureka Diamond

15:23:00 The making of De Beers

16:36:00 From 1871 – 1915

17:59:00 “Diamonds are forever”

19:53:00 What is a Diamond?

21:16:00 The most common habit

24:10:00 Help us answer a question

24:23:00 Let’s talk color!!

25:43:00 Color: order from least rare to rare

26:39:00 Black Diamonds

27:36:00 Let’s talk about the 4 – Cs

27:52:00 Clarity

28.22:00 Color

29:49:00 Cut

30:21:00 Carat weight

31:17:50 Natural vs. Synthetic

36:57:00 Responsible sourcing

38:12:50 Call to ask from you the followers!!

Part III of the interview series from the Tucson AGTA Gem Fair. Jonathan and Brecken interview fellow designer William Travis Kukovich. Transforming his life from a traumatic childhood to becoming a recipient of 17 AGTA Spectrum Awards.

00:00:00 How the podcast started?

00:48:00 Introducing William Travis Kukovich

01:26:80 Want to see the scar?

01:56:00 So you were 4 years old. What happened?

04:44:00 You said your brain rewired itself.

05:28:00 I can sculpt anything

06:11:50 I don’t write, I draw words

06:34:20 5th generation metalsmith

09:05:00 Take us through your story

10:40:70 So after school, did you open up a store immediately?

13:32:30 At 26, Breast Cancer

18:39:50 Warrior rings

21:04:80 My kids

24:51:50 To live like you were dying

26:05:00 What inspired your first Spectrum Award piece?

27:47:00 First memory of jewelry/gemstone

29:56:00 Favorite Gemstone

30:29:00 Where does the inspiration come from when you’re

creating Spectrum pieces

32:04:00 What comes first? Designer? Gemstone?

32:47:00 What makes a great designer?

34:23:50 Where are you now?

37:02.20 Where is this journey going to take you next?

39:45:50 Saying “YES”

St. Patrick’s day is just around the corner and to bring in as much luck as possible we explore the lore behind lucky gemstones. Crack open a beer, enjoy some laughs and discover the perfect gemstone to bring you the best luck!!

1:05:00 Juicy Gem

2:49:00 Green. The color of St. Patrick’s Day and Luck

4:40:00 Finding luck in Jade

5:24:00 Luck in birthstones > Zodiac birthstone gemstone

7:41:00 Aquarius = Garnet

8:05:00 Pisces = Amethyst

8:23:00 Aries = Bloodstone

8:50:00 Taurus = Sapphire

9:26:00 Gemini = Agate

9:42.00 Cancer = Emerald

10:02:00 Leo = Onyx

10:27:00 Virgo = Carnelian

10:43:50 Libra = Chrysolite/Peridot

11:52:50 Scorpio = Beryl

12:45:00 Sagittarius = Topaz

13:00:00 Capricorn = Ruby

13:58:00 Optimizing the powers of your gemstone

15:00:00 Do you have a ring you like to wear that brings you

luck?

16:09:50 An unlikely stone

21:13:50 Most Famous Stone in Ireland

Jonathan and Brecken explore the world of Aquamarine. The birthstone of March provides unique gemstone qualities and an expansive folklore behind it. Who wouldn’t want to conjure people from the dead, carry a piece of mermaid treasure or ensure a life-long marriage?

0:25.0 Welcome! We’re back in the basement!!

(Reminisce about Tucson and meeting Gem Junkie

fans)

3:05.0 So aqua, in the barrel family

(Birthstone and other barrel gemstones)

4:06.0 Where does the name Aquamarine come from

4:47.0 Gem Lore #1 – Mermaids

5:23.0 Gem Lore #2 – Why was it worn?

5:43.0 Gem Lore #3 – Love

6:28.0 Gem Lore #4 – Cleansing emotional body and open

communication

6:48.0 Gem Lore #5 – Long life lover stone

7:21.0 Gem Lore #6 -- Color Energy

8:09.0 Gem Lore #7 – During the Middle Ages

9:00.0 Gem Lore #8 – Meditation

9:25.0 Continue with Gem Lore #6 – During the Middle Ages

13:16.07 King Wenceslas

(Brecken sings us a little tune!!! A MUST LISTEN!)

16:56.0 Aquamarine Color

17.25.0 It grows in pegmatites

18:15.0 Cutting Aquamarine

22:49.0 Treatment for Aquamarine

Jonathan and Brecken interview Danielle Miele of Gem Gossip. From her early childhood memories with jewelry, how Gem Gossip started and even about her new role into motherhood.

0:35.00 – Introduction with Gem Gossip

1:14.20 – Starting out as a blog

1:36.20 – What is your first memory of a piece of jewelry/gemstone?

2:59.00 – If your family in the jewelry/gemstone business?

3:13.00 – How did you get involved with jewelry?

6:05.00 – Substitute teaching, then what?

7:06.50 – Why Nashville?

7:46.60 – Is this when you started your blog?

8:50.30 – Where does your style get inspired from?

10:03.00 – What is your favorite gemstone?

10:14.00 – First memory of the opal you saw

11:09.50 – Opal Superstition

13:10.00 – What’s the future of Gem Gossip?

14:18.00 – Is there a time period/style that you look for when purchasing?

15:05.00 – Do you have any tips on purchasing estate jewelry?

16:31.00 – Do you have a shopping list of what you’re looking for?

20:11.30 – Having a little boy?

20:38.00 – Any names picked out?

22:05.70 – Do you plan top bring him out to Tucson next year?