Ruby-Sapphire.com
the book
other
free e-newsletter
Subscribe to R-S.com
Subscribe
Unsubscribe
search R-S.com


Amazon Logo

 

Made on Mac

 

Previous Lectures

Tucson, AZ, Feb. 6–10, 2008

People & Places: New Directions in East African GemologyPeople & Places title

While the traditional mines of Burma and Sri Lanka continue to produce, much of the action in today's ruby and sapphire market is taking place in East Africa. The AGTA GTC's Richard Hughes has just completed a survey of corundum mines in Tanzania and will detail that country's mines and markets in this unique multimedia presentation. Those who have seen Richard’s recent programs know that his blend of imagery and sound is not to be missed. Multimedia presentation.

 

Sponsor: American Gem Trade Association

When: February 8, 2008

Where: Tucson, AZ

Cost: Free

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Ana , CA, Saturday, June 23, 2007, Bowers Museum

People & Places:
New Directions in Gemology

by Richard W. Hughes

People & Places titleGemology is tired. Weary. Stumbling. Guilty. We are privileged to work with some of the most stunning and romantic objects on the planet – singular marvels of incredible beauty. And yet all we can do is analyze. Like sadists, we torture beauty until the extraordinary is reduced to the ordinary – chemicals, numbers and digits – abstractions with no relation to the reasons why people are drawn to precious stones. We break the butterfly upon the wheel.

Which instrument comprehends feeling? What tool measures emotion? No device can see with our eyes nor read our minds. Yet we surrender our senses to the machine. Guilty as charged. We break the butterfly upon the wheel.

Gemology cannot become simply science. People are drawn to precious stones because of passions, not just properties. The purchase of a precious stone is an emotional contract that connects the new owner with people and places across the planet. If we wish to fathom desire, we must begin understanding this visceral link. And if answers are not easily measured, if they involve emotion and art, not just science, they are no less real and no less important to gemology.

Richard Hughes will delve into these issues via a dramatic multimedia presentation that covers ground all the way from Manhattan, through Russia's emerald mines, to Madagascar and Tajikistan's remote ruby, sapphire and spinel deposits.

It will provide inspiration, a new direction into the neglected, nether regions of gemology. Don't miss it.

 

Sponsor: The Bowers Museum

When: Saturday, June 23, 2007, 1:30 PM

Where: The Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92706, Tel: 714-567-3600

Cost: Members $8; General $10

 

 

Saturday, April 21, 2007, Carlsbad, CA, Sinkankas Jade Symposium

Jade: Stone of Heaven

by Richard W. Hughes

Jade: Stone of HeavenKnown to the Chinese as the "Stone of Heaven," jade is one of mankind's most beguiling gemstones. While the term "jade" includes both nephrite and jadeite, only jadeite occurs in the coveted "imperial" type, and for this the world has but one source, Upper Burma. It is these mines which are the subject of this program.

 Burma's center of jade mining is the small town of Hpakan. Fortune-seekers from all over Asia are drawn to the mines and the heady atmosphere is one of the gold rush days of the old American West. Famous in Burma as "Little Hong Kong," Hpakan offers Hennessy cognac, Rolex watches, French perfume and much more. This is all the more amazing considering it is located amidst some of the most impenetrable jungle on the planet.

In 1996, Richard Hughes was a member of the first foreign gemological party allowed into these mines in over 30 years and will regale participants with a first-hand account of the mining and trading of this fascinating gemstone.

 

Sponsor: Gemological Institute of America

When: Saturday, April 1, 2007, all day

Where: 5345 Armada Drive, Carlsbad, California 92008; Tel: 760-603-4000

Cost: Not yet announced

 

 

Monday, April 9, 2007, Washington, DC

People & Places:
New Directions in Gemology

by Richard W. Hughes

Let Sporus tremble –
"What? that thing of silk,
Sporus, that mere white curd of ass's milk?
Satire or sense, alas! can Sporus feel?
Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?"

Yet let me flap this bug with gilded wings,
This painted child of dirt that stinks and stings;
Whose buzz the witty and the fair annoys,
Yet wit ne'er tastes, and beauty ne'r enjoys…

Alexander Pope
Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot
January, 1735

Gemology is tired. Weary. Stumbling.

Gemologists are privileged to work with some of the most stunning and romantic objects on the planet – singular marvels of extraordinary beauty and wonder. And yet all we do is analyze. Break it down. Torture beauty until the extraordinary is reduced to an entirely ordinary set of chemicals, numbers and digits, abstractions with no relation to the reasons why people purchase precious stones. At this point, we have broken the butterfly upon the wheel. People & Places title

 Attention! We are told if a Paraíba tourmaline is really a "Paraíba tourmaline," we must analyze it. And yet no one has ever gazed upon a fine Paraíba tourmaline and declared: "Oh sweet jesus, look at that copper content!" No instrument can see with our eyes, none can detect our emotions, and yet we surrender our senses to these abstractions simply because they possess the faint whiff of "science."

Which instrument feels feeling? What tool measures emotion? Precisely what implement can detect the response one gets when viewing a fine Burma ruby and a lesser stone from Thailand?

Few are willing to ask these questions because the answer falls outside the realm of scientific gemology. And yet the answers are crucial to our field.

Gemology is not simply science. Much of it involves plunging into a pool where depth cannot be fathomed, where one floats not upon intellect, but raw emotion.

People acquire precious stones because of passions, not properties. If we wish to understand desire, we must look to art, not science, we must make a connection with the people and places these gems come from.

Richard Hughes will delve into these issues via a dramatic multimedia presentation that covers ground all the way from Manhattan to Russia's emerald mines, Madagascar's sapphire and Tajikistan's remote ruby and spinel deposits.

It will provide inspiration, a new direction into the neglected, nether regions of gemology. The butterfly is broken, but it can fly again if we are willing to patch those gilded wings.

 

Sponsor: Washington, DC Chapter, GIA Alumni Association

When: Monday, April 9, 2007, 7:00 PM

Where: Holiday Inn Rosslyn, 1900 Ft. Meyers Drive, Arlington, VA 22209, at the Virginia end of Key Bridge, tel: 703-807-2000

Cost: Free to members; others $10; tel: 202-342-3943

 

 

Saturday, March 31, 2007, Pasadena, CA Pacific Asia Museum

Jade: Stone of Heaven

by Richard W. Hughes

Jade: Stone of HeavenKnown to the Chinese as the "Stone of Heaven," jade is one of mankind's most beguiling gemstones. While the term "jade" includes both nephrite and jadeite, only jadeite occurs in the coveted "imperial" type, and for this the world has but one source, Upper Burma. It is these mines which are the subject of this program.

Burma's center of jade mining is the small town of Hpakan. Fortune-seekers from all over Asia are drawn to the mines and the heady atmosphere is one of the gold rush days of the old American West. Famous in Burma as "Little Hong Kong," Hpakan offers Hennessy cognac, Rolex watches, French perfume and much more. This is all the more amazing considering it is located amidst some of the most impenetrable jungle on the planet.

In 1996, Richard Hughes was a member of the first foreign gemological party allowed into these mines in over 30 years and will regale participants with a first-hand account of the mining and trading of this fascinating gemstone.

 

Sponsor: Pacific Asia Museum

When: Saturday, March 31, 2007, 2:00 PM

Where: Pacific Asia Museum, 46 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101; Tel: 626-449-2742

Cost: Free with admission

 

 

Thursday, February 1, 2007

Tucson AGTA

New Directions in Ruby & Sapphire:
From Madagascar to Tajikistan

by Richard W. Hughes

The earliest ruby and sapphire mines of yore, Sri Lanka and Burma, continue to be significant producers, but other major deposits have been recently discovered. Most important of these is Madagascar, where huge new fields of blue sapphire, pink sapphire and ruby are now being worked. And in an obscure corner of Central Asia, yet another ruby deposit is beginning to make an impact. Richard Hughes has visited both Madagascar and Tajikistan in the past two years and will take attendees on a journey from the steaming jungles of Moramanga to the high-altitude deserts of Murghab. A highlight will also be a visit to Badakhshan's long-lost balas ruby (spinel) mines and a side trip to the Russian emerald mines.

 

Sponsor: AGTA GemFair Tucson

When: Thursday, February 1, 2007, 1:00–2:00 PM

Where: Tucson Convention Center, Mohave Room

Cost: Free of charge

 

 

Bangkok, Thailand, December 6–9, 2006GIT Logo
Richard Hughes will present lectures at the 1st GIT International Gem & Jewelry Conference.

 

 

Toronto, Canada, October 28, 2006Canadian Gemmological Association logo
Richard Hughes will be delivering the keynote address at the Canadian Gemmological Association's 2006 Conference and Graduation.

 

 

San Diego , CA, Aug.  26–29, 2006GIA Symposium Logo
Richard Hughes will be participating in the GIA International Gemological Symposium 2006, as follows:

 

 

April 29, 2006

AGS

Sorcerers and Sapphires: A visit to Madagascar

by Richard W. Hughes

Sponsor: American Gem Society

When: Saturday, April 29, 2006, 3:30–5:00 PM

Where: Orlando, FL

Cost: Entry restricted to AGS Conclave participants

 

 

February 2, 2006

Tucson AGTA

Tales of Adventure in Colored Gemstone Locales: Madagascar and Burma

by Richard W. Hughes & Vincent Pardieu

Sponsor: AGTA GemFair Tucson

When: Thursday, February 2, 2006, 1:00–2:00 PM

Where: Tucson Convention Center, Graham Room

Cost: Free of charge

 

 

January 10, 2006

Enhanced Emeralds: The Thee Door Puzzle
Sorcerers and Sapphires: A visit to Madagascar

by Richard W. Hughes

Sponsor: GIA Alumni Association, Golden Gate Chapter

Where: San Francisco, CA

Sinbad's Restaurant (at Market & Embarcadero)

Cost: With dinner: $40, Members; $45, Not-Yet-Members;

$15, Lecture/Presentation Only

Tel: Suzanne Martinez-Buyer at 415-982-2213 for reservations

 

 

November 10, 2005

Enhanced Emeralds: The Thee Door Puzzle
Sorcerers and Sapphires: A visit to Madagascar

by Richard W. Hughes

Sponsor: Hawaii Jewelers Group

Where: Honolulu, Hawaii

 

 

August 29, 2005

Enhanced Emeralds: The Thee Door Puzzle
Sorcerers and Sapphires: A visit to Madagascar

by Richard W. Hughes

Sponsor: 13th Annual Conference on Radiation Effects in Insulators (REI-2005)

Where: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Others

Below are some of the groups Richard has addressed over the past two decades.

 

dingbat

|  Home  |  Passion Fruit: The Best of Ruby-Sapphire.com  |  Rants & Slants : Articles  |

|  The Book:  "Ruby & Sapphire"  |  Buy the Book  |  Something of Myself: Meet RWH  |

|  RWH Bibliography  |  The Gemologist's Library  |

|  Links  |  Contact Us  |  Site Map  |  Photo Credits  |  Merci…  |

 

 

© 1997–2008 Richard W. Hughes/RWH Publishing & Books; all rights reserved.

Users may download this information for their own private, non-commercial use.

Other reproduction (text or graphics) without the express written consent of Richard W. Hughes is strictly prohibited.

Ruby-Sapphire.com is dedicated to the free exchange of ideas on gems, gemology, the gem trade and other matters concerning the trade in precious stones and jewelry. Unless otherwise stated, opinions expressed herein are solely those of Richard Hughes/RWH Publishing & Books.

Problems? Praise? Contact the Webmaster

 

W3C XHTML 1.0 image W3C CSS image