All That Glitters Website Changes and Info for May 2009

As our those on our email list already know, we did not have an April 2009 email sent. We explained that we had to attend to some business obligations. We were away for a few weeks in California setting up our West Coast Office! This new office, as well as our main headquarters in New England, is not open to the public. We will continue servicing our internet clientele from either office, and will now have the opportunity to visit goldsmiths and jewelry stores on the West Coast, as well as GIA. Many would say that the West Coast is known to be very different from the East Coast, with the East Coast being very traditional in gemstones and designs. Those on the Pacific side, tend to enjoy the unique and unusual, and it is our hope to continue our sales at even a faster pace by having direct access.

Here are the changes to look for on the All That Glitters website for May 2009:

This Months Special: 17+gram, Solid 14kt, 17 inch, Armenian Rope Chain

Wonderful 17", SOLID 14kt, Yellow Gold Armenian Rope Chain, measuring 4mm wide. This weighs over 17grams and is therefore, over 1/2 an ounce! Nice solid clasp has two features to keep it secure. This is a unique style that is not often seen - it takes a premium due to the time and workmanship required to produce this style. This is one of the most costly chains to make and a major reason one doesn't see this in stores/catalogs. It is a variation of a rope chain, but far more complicated. Priced to move - limited time only as it will be melted down for the gold content in the future!

This Months Gem News: Sunstone Mining in Oregon, Dust Devil Mine 2008

http://www.atggems.com/Photos_Sunstone-Dig-2008.htm

Once again, I found myself flying from Manchester, NH in to Reno, NV, as I had just slightly over one year previously. My goal was the same as it had been then - drive from Reno up past Plush, OR to one of the high deserts within Oregon where I would spend a few days at the Dust Devil Mine in search of Oregun Sunstone! See Photos and read the full story. (This article is also a permanent link on our Blog as well as our Learn More Page.

Newly Faceted or Photographed Gemstones:

http://www.atggems.com/Photos_New.htm

A Suite of Color consisting of two Tourmalines and three Garnets - purchase separately or save $$$ with the parcel purchase.

Large 14ct Radiant Cut (custom faceted 14x10mm for All That Glitters) Cubic Zirconium (CZ); Livelier than Canary Diamond

695ct Zincite Specimen

14kt Armenian Rope Chain - This Months Special

Sterling Silver/Turquoise Hand Made Zuni Pin Signed CJ (we have had this in our vault for possibly 20 years!)

4mm 18" Sterling Silver Diamond Cut Rope Chain

Sterling Silver Ring with nice round Brasilian Garnet - can't purchase the ring OR the Garnet at our asking price...

3 Fluorite Crystals from China - great color - place on your desk, toss them in your hand while on the phone instead of doodling!

Other: 1100+ct Tourmaline Slice, Two Wonderful Bronzes, One of a Kind Meteorite, All Kinds of Mineral Specimens (top notch pieces),

Sapphire, Purple Mozambique Tourmaline, Opal, Tsavorite, Tourmaline, Rings, Oregon Sunstone, Neon Apatite (the rough from which these stones were faceted, was featured in a JCK Article on Apatite), Incredible re-cut Burmese Hot Pink/Red/Orange Spinel and Much Much More on other pages. The items listed above under Other will be removed shortly to their respective pages and taken off of the Newly Photographed Page. There is no guarantee that the prices might increase from their Initial Public Offering (IPO).

Addition to Learn More Page:

We received a nice email from one of our customers who has purchased some very fine gemstones in the past. His email indicates that he does follow our monthly website changes as well as our Blog. We thank him for his feedback as without this feedback, we would not know if anyone was actually reading what we have written!

< An Email from an ATG Customer >

Special Purply Mozambique Tourmaline - Sold(?):

For those who have been eyeing the 6.10ct Squarish Purply Mozambique Tourmaline, faceted by our Master Cutter, Clean, and with a very unique color shift (we know of no others like this) - we believe that it has sold (currently awaiting input from the purchaser to insure that this particular gemstone will fit the bill, as they say). This is an item that is hard to price, but we priced it at the wholesale price of the Modern Jewelers Article that discussed the Mozambique Tourmaline and the Lavender Colored Gems. We always attempt to price items to move and to keep prices below, at or just above wholesale, without approaching the expected retail figures. Though the one photographed for the article was not clean (not even eye clean), did not have as nice a color as the All That Glitters example, did not color shift and was not faceted by a Master Cutter (most recent award was received at the AGTA Cutting Competition in 2008), we felt the price was very fair and reasonable, but as usual, we are sorry to see it go. This is a gemstone, like many in our inventory (and that certainly includes all of the Purplish Mozambique Tourmaline), that once gone, one can indicate that they are willing to pay 'anything' for a similar gemstone, and the fact is, this material is just not being found and it is just a unique one-of-a-kind piece. To see some of the Mozambique Tourmalines, click on the following link: < Mozambique Tourmalines > Or visit our website, go to the Photo Gallery Page and find the Mozambique Tourmaline link.

An Email From One of Our Customers

The email below was received on January 28, 2009, just prior to our trip to Tucson. It is from one of our customers who keeps in touch and has purchased some fine, high end colored gemstones from All That Glitters for use in not only his jewelry, but his wife's also:

"I have purchased several gems from you, including one of your first offered large faceted Turkish diaspore. It is one of my favorites!!!.

I am Emailing you to let you know I am still alive, and even more importantly to congratulate you on your excellent blog site as well as the updates on many pertinent events occuring around the world and challenging the gemstone business. I read all of the information you publish on your updates as well as your blog; I wanted to make sure that you know I and hopefully others appreciate the work you do and your proven record of honesty and asuring what you have before you sell it. Keep these qualities up, as I am sure you will.

I have not bought any gemstones in almost 2 years now, but try to keep up with the field. I appreciate all you do for the colored gemstone industry worldwide, and when i return to being a buyer, will certainly interact with you. I still have not obtained a neon vibrant Purple tourmaline(natural) nor a treated vibrant neon blue. I follow and agree on the nomeclature hassles of this stone, have looked at several "deals" but have not bought largely on what you have brought to my attention. You get what you pay for... I need to wait until I have he money to buy the best...from you.

I read with interest the issue occuring in Africa.....I am planning to go to Africa with my wife for our 40th yr annivesary in 2010, and plan to go to South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nambia, Mozambique for a once in a lifetime trip to see this beautiful continent. I am planning it with several experts, and expect to be their about 1 month and do it right!!!! It will not be for gems, but for memories....

I know Tucson is coming up...and wish I could join you there as well. Let me know how it goes, and I am very interested in the pink Zircon issue once it is solved...I agree with you that the bright pink is likely heated (at least) and may not even be Zircon. I am sure you will be instrumental in getting to the bottom of this issue.

Lets keep in touch, and keep me on your distribution list. I would still love to interact professionally with you some time, and meet you in person."

--- The above is from one of our customers who lives in California. I would like to personally thank him for his input. Though I write and post a Monthly News page, Monthly Special, and update the Blog, we don't receive feedback and have no idea of whether anyone actually reads the information posted. During this years Tucson show, I did dinner with the previous colored gemstone editor for JCK (I say previous, because just prior to leaving for Tucson, JCK had a layoff of employees). He indicated that he also checked the All That Glitters Blog, and I had been working with him on attempting to find out more about all this 'pinkish' Zircon that is being seen in the market. There was also talk of publishing photos and an article on the October 2008 trip to mine for Sunstone in Oregon, but unfortunately, this is currently up in the air, though I have quickly written what could be considered a draft and that will be active on our website.

Sunstone Mining in Oregon, Dust Devil Mine 2008

Once again, I found myself flying from Manchester, NH in to Reno, NV, as I had just slightly over one year previously. My goal was the same as it had been then - drive from Reno up past Plush, OR to one of the high deserts within Oregon where I would spend a few days at the Dust Devil Mine in search of Oregon Sunstone!...

See Photos and Read the Full Story

< Sunstone Expedition October 2008 >

All That Glitters Opens West Coast Office

While other businesses are laying off and closing their doors, All That Glitters is expanding to include a West Coast Office. This creates a presence on both coasts of the United States. All That Glitters will continue to use associates offices in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Brasil and other countries when necessary/traveling.

This office, as our main headquarters in New England, will not be open to the public. We will continue servicing our internet clientele from both offices, and will now have the opportunity to visit goldsmiths and jewelry stores, as well as GIA at times. Many would say that the West coast is known to be very different from the East Coast, with the East Coast being very traditional in gemstones and designs. Those on the Pacific side, tend to enjoy the unique and unusual, and it is our hope to continue our sales at even a faster pace by having direct access.

As explained previously on our website/emails/blog, the high end, unique and unusual gemstones are indeed rare and continue to increase in value and demand, whereas the more common gemstones, which can be found in all stores and in many deposits around the world, decrease in value. All That Glitters niche in the trade is that we stock quality and uniqueness at prices below the competition, and many times that means below, at or just above wholesale prices. All That Glitters can do this because of our contacts that have been established over a 30 year timeframe.