August Gems
August is Gem Packed
Thank you so much for being with me for my big Anniversary show! What a blast! The whole show was so special and certainly a highlight of my 10 years. It felt great to share with you some of my picks. The big announcement was that I am officially now a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America!!!! It has been quite a journey – and thanks for all of your well wishes! Your support and good thoughts really helped. Even if I had never told a soul that I was going to go for this goal, I would have still done it. The experience has been so expanding and enlightening.
Working and going to school at the same time was worth it. The courses were so interesting. The final course that I took is known as Gem Identification and it was by far the toughest. The infamous 20 stone exam is intense. They put 20 stones in front of you and say “go.” You need to identify their species, variety, whether or not they are synthetic, simulated and what kind of treatment they have had. You cannot get even 1 wrong. If you identify the stone properly, but record it on the form improperly, you have to take the test over again! I learned so much. I can’t wait to share my continued appreciation and education of the beauty of gems with you.
A couple of updates with you about upcoming shows – Jay King was kind enough to come in for my Anniversary show. Thank you, Jay! He has just finished a world tour and talks about it in his blog. Some of his new MineFinds will be highlighted during his weekend visit August 22nd – 24th. We will be together on Sunday morning, the 23rd at 10am EST. He has this beautiful purple stone called Alunite you have got to see. Have you noticed that he is also bringing in more earrings? Thanks for giving the necklace he made for “us” for the anniversary show such high ratings on hsn.com. I just knew you would love it. On August 27th at 10 pm, Designs by Veronica is going to be huge. She is so vivacious. I adore her personally and professionally. She has an hour of the hottest looks in organic, red carpet, bohemian Agate, slab style jewelry and of course, pearls! I want everything in the show for my own collection.
Has Carol Brodie wowed you or what?. I just read her blog and learned so much more about her. Isn’t that Amethyst and Agate ring amazing? Be on the lookout for with Carol and her Rarities collection at HSN.
The month finishes with a bang with Gem Trends on August 31st – new and different along with classics with a twist. Love it!
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| Adam Freeman and I on the set co-hosting my anniversary show. I am so glad he is at HSN. He is a good man, friend and Host! |
Jay King always brings a smile to my face! He was such a dear to come in for my anniversary show. His big anniversary is in October!! |
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| My graduate gemologist diploma | ||
I promised to answer your questions –
Deborah, IL regarding the Nicky Butler bracelet and the planets associated with each stone. He is out of the country right now, but I am working on the answer to your question. He is probably approaching it from the Ayurvedic perspective, but I don’t want to speak for him. I promise to keep following up on this. We have a designer in Technibond, Karen Bizer, who put together a Navratna collection. It is also based on the planets and gems from the ancients of India.
Janet, CO – Lilac Quartz and Pink Amethyst can be from a variety of sources. We do try to put the source of the stones at the very least on hsn.com anytime we can. Our gems go through a vigorous series of reviews from our Quality Assurance Department. Sometimes we can’t say which source a stone is from because they come from around the world.
Let’s say we bring in 100 Pink Amethyst rings. Most frequently, they are all going to be from the same source, but sometimes a gem house will have been gathering the rough material for years from a variety of mines around globe before they come to us. That is a long answer to your short question. Hope I answered it for you.
Marsha, GA – Your Heidi Daus Serpent creations are year-round for sure. That turquoise color is amazing with winter whites, chocolate browns and everything in between! Enjoy!
Nora in FL, Jay can answer your question and you can get in contact with him by going to the HSN FAQs page and search keyword Jay King. This will give you information to contact him directly.
That is it for now…
Rock on! Love and Light,
Shivan
Shivan,
I love watching you on HSN.
You have so much energy and joy.
It’s a delight to watch you on tv.
I love the way you talk about gems from around the world. I learn so much from your comments and fascinating tid bits.
Congratulations on your certification and ten years at HSN.
You are the best!
I emailed my friends about your anniversary show.
At least 15 of us tuned in to watch and shop of course!
Mrs. HA
I have the chrome diopside band ring you features this morning. I absolutely love it, sparkles beyond belief. Love to hear the information about the gems you present.
Jo
3rd time is a charm.Twice I have requested(2nd time on your blog) to see more technibond in the white metal,(rings, braclets). Have a nice day.
My son is getting married in Oct. and the dress I am wearing needs a top like you had on today during Highgate Manor on Sept. 3. It is not a HSN item but I would appreciate knowing where I can find it. Thanks Shivan
Hi,
I watched and purchasedthe Aqua-color stone Seahorse pendant in last night show on August 30th. I want to be emailed when you are coming next. There was no spot on the hsn page to let us be alerted when you are coming. Also do you do small earrings like post type earrings. I would love to get some to match my pendant. I am renewing our vows in March and want to wear this in Our sons memory. Thank you it was his favorite color.
Hi Shivan,
I watched your anniversary show. You looked beautiful and were beaming!
Congrats on the GIA certificate. I cant believe you worked AND did that course! Amazing!!
I always enjoy your presentations of fine jewelry.
Shivan, I too would love to have the turquoise bowls of Jay’s. It seems the only fair way to do this is to draw names or numbers since there are so few. Oct is my birthday, and also my mother’s who died a year past. Turquoise, aqua and teal were her all time favorite colors. I moved to a new home after her death, and decorated with these colors in her memory. The bowls would be a perfect fit. Please think of a method to be fair to all who want the bowls. Thanks.
Hi Shivan; I really like watching you. I am interested in all of the gemstones and it is a very informative day when you persent them. There is a gemstone that I saw the other day and it was called charoite; can you tell me more of this stone. It was a beautiful purple color with swirls of white in it. Thank you.
Dear Shivan, Asking you to help me with some research. I purchased 12/29/08 order # 834997243 item 378686 JKINGTURQUOISERND/NUGGENECKLAC for $91.72 from a Jay King show because they kept over and over describing it as sleeping beauty turquoise. I do not recall the host. Now the necklace is always described as anhui turq. I purchased it because it was sleeping beauty. What is the deal? Thanks.
Hi, Shivan –
I am another turq lover and am interested in the bowls. I understand that Jay is bringing only about 100 of the big bowls in October and maybe 500 of the smaller ones in November. Can we get any info on the sizes and prices? I would love one of each — but I have no idea even what the HSN price will be! Congrats on your GG accomplishment! Hopefully, you will do some more extensive gemology info during your shows. Thanks for the blog, Shivan. Very helpful.
I have also been waiting for Jay’s bowl, but how can they be spoken for if they have not aired yet? I would like to reserve one of them. Please let me know what I have to do to acquire one of them.
I also love Jay’s jewelry and living in the Southwest I have a great appreciation for his work.
Thanks
Like Karen, FL, I too heard on the show that the turquiose bowls were coming in October. Are they spoken for? What is the price and how do we reserve one? They look amazing!
Thanks,
I was watching Mine Finds on 8/23/09 on your show with Jay when you mentioned the Turquoise bowls that will be for sale in October. Jay said that they are pretty much spoken for. Is there a way to reserve one? I have been waiting for months for this item to be available and I definetley want one of these bowls. Can you help?
Hi Shivan, I wanted to make a comment on Princess Amanda’s ring, item #388-354. If you look carefully at the design on the ring it appears to have the German swastika thereon. Has quality control noticed this? I noticed it and thought I should bring it to HSN’S attention. Thank you for taking my comment.