Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006

In this message:

• A Spiritual Message from Our Founder
• Moon Over the Pamirs: Chasing Ruby & Spinel in Tajikistan
• Shoutbox: Upcoming Speeches
• Giant Steps
• Good Readdance – Jewels: A Secret History
• Friends of Jade
• Recent Articles

Friends,

Been a while, hasn't it? If you're like many, you've been dodging the slings of hatred, avoiding the arrows of intolerance, keepin' the head down. Welcome to yet another year of life during wartime.

It can be depressing, but only if you let it.

If I can do nothing else during these troubled times, let me reassure you of this simple fact. Planet earth is a glorious place. Wherever you are is the best side of the fence.

For all the fence sitters and grass gazers, fear not. There has never been a better time than now to explore our world. Afraid? Look around you and simply imagine that, no matter where you go on this planet, you will find others who share your thoughts, your values, your hopes, your dreams. Imagine you will meet people just like you. Suddenly, the world is no longer foreign, no longer foe, but an endless expanse of friends.

Do this and the grass, wherever you graze, wherever you gaze, wherever you stand, wherever you land, will be the purest green.

Richard Hughes

This leads into the major update at Ruby-Sapphire.com. Always in search of the off-beat, the insane gem posse hit the trail this past summer in search of the lost balas ruby mines of Marco Polo. We found spinels, we found rubies, and in the process, discovered something far more valuable. Join us on the journey here:

• Moon Over the Pamirs: Chasing Ruby & Spinel in Tajikistan

I will be taking to the road to deliver a couple talks over the next few months.

October 28, 2006

From Madagascar to Malysheva: In Search of Precious Stones

by Richard W. Hughes

Sponsor: Canadian Gemmological Association
Where: Toronto, ON, Canada

December 5–9, 2006

Gem Hunting in Central Asia: Russian Emerald, Tajik Ruby & Spinel

by Richard W. Hughes, with Vincent Pardieu

Sponsor: Gemological Institute of Thailand
Where: Chanthaburi, Thailand

Eons ago, a close friend of mine received a message that sounded like a cry for help. Perhaps it was. She answered with what can only be described as a bullet of pure love and joy. It was a most-extraordinary film, one that I now have purchased several times over, since I am constantly giving it away. The film is 1 Giant Leap and can be had here:

• 1 Giant Leap

I have just learned that 1 Giant Leap's producers, Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgeman, are finishing up another in the same style. For a sneak peek at this wonderful work, see this link:

• Second Giant Leap

It is rare that a gem book excites me anymore. Most are dull beyond belief, serving only to accomplish the remarkable task of taking a subject that overflows with romance and mystery and wringing every drop of life from it.

Thus it is with great pleasure that I introduce readers to Victoria Finlay's latest work, Jewels: A Secret History. Vicky is an extraordinary lass, exemplified by her two visits to Afghanistan's lapis lazuli mines during the time of the Taliban. And now she offers up that rare treat, a book about precious stones that's actually a joy to read. You can pick up a copy here:

• Jewels: A Secret History

For those with a love of jade, my friend Fred Ward has resurrected the Friends of Jade, and a fine job he has done. Founded by Robert Frey and Robert H. Deans in the 1980's, their bulletins featured scholarly articles on all aspects of jade.

Fred has now put the Friends of Jade online and is in the process of digitizing the entire set of previous bulletins, as well as adding new articles. It is work worthy of our support. You can sign up here:

• Friends of Jade

What do I do on my holidays? I go to the ends of the earth in search of the precious stone. Then I bring them home and the fun starts all over. Read about some of my recent adventures below:

• Sorcerers and Sapphires: A visit to Madagascar
• Heat Seeker: UV fluorescence as a gemological tool
• Fluxed Up: The fracture healing of ruby

RWH Publishing & Books
PO Box 2015
Fallbrook, CA 92088
USA
Tel: 760-451-9900
Fax: 760-451-9900
E-Mail: rubydick@ruby-sapphire.com
Web: http://www.ruby-sapphire.com

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