I don’t even know where to start because I did so much while I was in Las Vegas, so I guess I’ll just go in chronological order and give an abbreviated look into three of the most intense days of my life.
Thursday
So, I’m lucky enough to live relatively close to Las Vegas. As a result, I decided to drive across the Mojave (which is not a decision to be taken lightly!) and save a bit on airfare. Well, just as I had pulled off the freeway to stop at an ATM, and was stopped at a stoplight, I picked up my phone to check the map, and a cop pulled me over for using my phone while driving. Apparently I need to start using paper maps rather than my phone as a map. That did not start my trip off well. In addition to that rough start, my lovely bling friend who was rooming with me, her flight was not only delayed, but she was moved to another flight, that would have her arrive ten hours after she had originally been scheduled.
Not a good start to what was supposed to be a fun weekend.
So, at that point, alone and grouchy, I checked in, got some free drink vouchers (bless the woman at the check in counter!) I unpacked everything, and decided to check my messages, where my delayed roommate had mentioned a potential dinner date with Roger Dery. Seeing as how I hadn’t eaten anything all day, I figured I should probably put something in my stomach. So I text Roger and arranged to meet him at a restaurant a block from his hotel.
Dinner with Roger Dery
Let me start out by saying that Roger is wonderful. I’m not just saying that because I know he’ll read this either! I don’t want to talk too much about dinner because we talked about a lot of gemstone stuff, my plans for the future, his history with gemstones, posting on Pricescope (we both typically refrain unless we think very carefully about what we’re going to say before we say it), the increase in interest in gray spinel, mining, etc. You get the picture, I basically got as much information out of him as I possibly could over a couple of hours.
Gemstone showing with Roger
After we finished dinner, Roger invited me to view the gemstones he had with him, and of course I jumped at the opportunity! Who wouldn’t?! Here are some of the pictures I took of some of his gems.
Chrysoberyl
Orange sapphire. Just a tiny bit more brown than a fine orange garnet. This picture does not do it justice.
A large blue sapphire
My favorite stone of the night, a 2.03ct blue sapphire
Iolite cabochon. A wonderful violet color.
One of many kiwi garnets.
Another kiwi garnet.
A fine spessartite, as usual, this picture does it no justice.
The amazing crown on a red garnet.
A gorgeous burnt orange garnet that has a tinge of pink to it; another favorite of the night.
Admiring the chrysoberyl.
I took pictures of every single gem he brought with him, but some of them came out terribly, so I won’t post those! Roger gave me some helpful hints about the business and made some great suggestions as to next steps I should take. Not long afterward I finished looking at the gems, Jason Brim, Ryan Quantz and some other gemstone afflicted came by to go through Roger’s gems, and talk about gems. We also talked at length about Sharing the Rough, which I was able to see at the Newport Beach Film Festival. But more on the film later!
Back to the Bling Room
At this point, it was midnight and my roommate had finally made it to our hotel, so I decided it was time to head back….and look at more bling.
Colombian emerald cut by Lisa Elser.
6+ct violet sapphire from Gene Flanigan at Precision Gems.
Electric blue zircon from Roger Dery, customized Gabriel & Co setting.
A red flame spinel in a custom Bez Ambar setting with Blaze diamonds
A special transitional diamond from Love Affair Diamonds. This diamond comes with a story!
Violet sapphire from Natural Sapphire Company, setting from Jeff Davies.
Shoulder views of Gabriel & Co setting and Julia B Jewelry setting with a Prima Gems red Mahenge spinel.
I finally passed out around 3am, already feeling a bit overwhelmed. This is what a colored stone lover’s nightstand looks like when we have a bling weekend.
Part 2 with the lowdown on Friday’s insanity coming tomorrow!
Hint: it involved a lot of time with Prima Gems, and a limo ride. Not related to each other!
The Gemstone Project 