New to PS -- aged in gems

[Roger Dery]

Hello Gemaholics!
I am new to Pricescope, but have been lurking a bit to see if there are areas where I can contribute. Hopefully what I have to share is of some value.

Began in the gem trade in 1981, and due to some unusual circumstances, took up faceting in 2001. Even though gems are how I make my living, they are also where my passion is. Of course, if one is passionate about gemstones, one is also passionate about finding them! And there lies my other interest, going to unusual places around the world to locate them -- in the rough. In the last ten years I have made 7 trips to Africa, and the search continues as next month I will be traveling there again with two cohorts, Peter Torraca and Gene Flanigan - which I believe some of you may know.

I have also traveled to visit mining and gem markets in India, Sri Lanka, South America, SE Asia and Madagascar, but currently Tanzania is the next location. I am very certain that the three of us will bring back some very nice goodies! (Yeah, I know, you all will want to see pictures....

)

So here''s a pic of one of my recent favorites. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Welcome!

We are always glad to welcome passionate and knowledgeable professionals to the boards! I''m sure I''m not the only one who anxiously awaits the goodies you and your cohorts will be bringing back after your next trip!

That is a stunning morganite! I''m assuming you faceted that yourself?

 

[Lovinggems]

Hi Roger, I'm looking forward to reading about your gem experiences.

The morganite is very elegant and beautiful, it'll look great as a centrepiece for a necklace.

 

[Roger Dery]

Date: 5/23/2009 8:58:23 AM
Author: MakingTheGrade
Welcome!

We are always glad to welcome passionate and knowledgeable professionals to the boards! I''m sure I''m not the only one who anxiously awaits the goodies you and your cohorts will be bringing back after your next trip!

That is a stunning morganite! I''m assuming you faceted that yourself?

Hi MTG,
Thanks for the welcome. Yes, I am the cutter, although I can not take credit for the photo. It was performed by a friend of mine, Jeffrey Hunt of northern CA. The rough came from Madagascar in 2008, and it was a honker. From the same piece, there was another 17ct Asscher cut! It too, was awesome.

 

[Roger Dery]

Date: 5/23/2009 9:02:34 AM
Author: Lovinggems
Hi Roger, I''m looking forward to reading about your gem experiences.

The morganite is very elegant and beautiful, it''ll look great as a centrepiece for a necklace.

Lovinggems,
Well, I have lots of "gem experiences", and some are very funny. I''ll share some from time to time. As for the Morganite, it has not found a home yet, though I''m sure it will make a great centerpiece.

 

[Cind11]

Love the Morganite! How neat to be able to travel around in search of such beautiful gems! Looking forward to what you have to show us!

 

[cellentani]

Welcome Roger! It''s always fun when the experts weigh in, so I''m already looking forward to your comments on PS. Also, I was just reading part of your blog on your latest Africa trip - very interesting! I especially liked seeing the Umba River mining camp. It looks like exhausting work though, and it''s funny how pictures just can''t capture the heat that I''m sure you endured.

 

[Roger Dery]

Cind11,
Thanks. When I started in the trade I had no idea I would travel as much as I do. Great fun, and great experiences in other cultures.

Cellentani,
We were in Tanzania during their summer. It was hot by my standards living in Michigan. It was also fairly dry, not truly desert-like, but not humid so it wasn''t so bad. Highest temperature during our time at the camp was around 95*F. Which, after swinging a pick-axe for a half hour, it was near unbearable. The locals made us look bad though, as they were accustomed to this kind of work. I''m looking forward to going back, but I''m going to skip the camp!

 

[cushioncutnut]

Hello Roger and welcome to the forum. You may not remember me, but last year, you were in Kettering, OHIO and my husband I were lucky enough to meet you! We met you at a gemstone showing/bidding through Ted Herzog. I really enjoyed seeing all the beautiful gems you brought in and how you faceted some of them! I still can''t get that gorgeous blue zircon out of my head! Nice to see that you will be chiming in and sharing some of your gems on the forum. The morganite is just gorgeous! What a lovely paperweight that would make!

 

[Roger Dery]

Hi CCN,
That was a wild night at Ted''s roundtable! Hope you had as much fun as Ginger and I. As you may recall, Jacob and Katie ended up with the 6.30ct Blue Zircon oval. Not to worry though, there will be more. Good to hear from you.

 

[marcy]

Welcome to Pricescope. The morganite is gorgeous!

 

[innerkitten]

Hi Roger and Welcome! I''m pretty sure I''ve met you and your wife in San Francisco. I looked at your gems, maybe two years ago. Your wife had pearl and zircon earrings on.

 

[innerkitten]

P.S. I love the photo you posted of the morganite!

 

[Stone Hunter]

Welcome to PS. It will be good to have another expert on board. Lovely stone you cut!

 

[Roger Dery]

Hi marcyc, innerkitten and StoneHunter,
Thanks for the warm welcome. I hope my contributions offer some value to all passionate PS gem lovers.

innerkitten,
Great memory you have! My wife enjoys her earrings almost as much I did having them made.

And thanks to all for your commentary on the Morganite, it is much appreciated.

 

[Cind11]

Date: 5/23/2009 9:52:01 AM
Author: cushioncutnut
Hello Roger and welcome to the forum. You may not remember me, but last year, you were in Kettering, OHIO and my husband I were lucky enough to meet you! We met you at a gemstone showing/bidding through Ted Herzog. I really enjoyed seeing all the beautiful gems you brought in and how you faceted some of them! I still can''t get that gorgeous blue zircon out of my head! Nice to see that you will be chiming in and sharing some of your gems on the forum. The morganite is just gorgeous! What a lovely paperweight that would make!

Hey cushioncutnut, I live in Ohio! Do you live here too? Sometimes it seems no one from PS lives here but me!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Welcome! I am amzaed by the calibre of posters here in PS and I am sure you will be another valued contributor.

 

[cushioncutnut]

Date: 5/23/2009 10:07:05 AM
Author: Roger Dery
Hi CCN,
That was a wild night at Ted''s roundtable! Hope you had as much fun as Ginger and I. As you may recall, Jacob and Katie ended up with the 6.30ct Blue Zircon oval. Not to worry though, there will be more. Good to hear from you.

I had noooo idea they got that dreamy blue zircon! I told them that the color was like no one that I have ever seen and they would be hard pressed to find another!!! GOOD for them! I will have to ask Ted about this! I saw it still listed on your website not too long ago, so I didn''t think anyone purchased it! If you remember, I nicknamed it "The Blue Lagoon"! LOL! Congratulations to Jacob and Katie! I hope to run into them to see how they had it set!!! Your wife was a real sweetheart too. Lucky Lady!!!

 

[chrono]

Roger,
Welcome to Pricescope and I am delighted you have joined us here. I have long admired your cutting and selection of gemstones.

 

[cushioncutnut]

Date: 5/23/2009 12:53:45 PM
Author: Cind11

Date: 5/23/2009 9:52:01 AM
Author: cushioncutnut
Hello Roger and welcome to the forum. You may not remember me, but last year, you were in Kettering, OHIO and my husband I were lucky enough to meet you! We met you at a gemstone showing/bidding through Ted Herzog. I really enjoyed seeing all the beautiful gems you brought in and how you faceted some of them! I still can''t get that gorgeous blue zircon out of my head! Nice to see that you will be chiming in and sharing some of your gems on the forum. The morganite is just gorgeous! What a lovely paperweight that would make!

Hey cushioncutnut, I live in Ohio! Do you live here too? Sometimes it seems no one from PS lives here but me!

I sure do! Whereabouts are you from? I live close to Dayton!

 

[cushioncutnut]

Date: 5/23/2009 11:07:55 AM
Author: innerkitten
Hi Roger and Welcome! I''m pretty sure I''ve met you and your wife in San Francisco. I looked at your gems, maybe two years ago. Your wife had pearl and zircon earrings on.

How cool! What a small world!

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Welcome, Roger! What a great introduction, and you seem to keep great company! Looking forward to seeing more posts from you!

 

[T L]

Hi Roger,
Nice to see you on PS. I like your mint garnet on your website. Nice picture of that stone. Is it really that bright in person?

 

[Harriet]

Welcome Roger! I love that flame spinel you have on your website. The "sold" sign keeps taunting me.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 5/23/2009 2:33:56 PM
Author: cushioncutnut
I sure do! Whereabouts are you from? I live close to Dayton!

Hey, I used to live in Ann Arbor!

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Welcome aboard Roger. Nice to have you around. I suspect you''re gonna love it here.

 

[icekid]

Date: 5/23/2009 2:24:38 PM
Author: Chrono
Roger,

Welcome to Pricescope and I am delighted you have joined us here. I have long admired your cutting and selection of gemstones.

Ditto! Your sites is one of my favorites for drooling, Roger. So glad to have you here, imparting your knowledge. The asscher is phenomenal!

 

[cushioncutnut]

Date: 5/23/2009 4:26:48 PM
Author: Harriet

Date: 5/23/2009 2:33:56 PM
Author: cushioncutnut
I sure do! Whereabouts are you from? I live close to Dayton!

Hey, I used to live in Ann Arbor!

LOL! Close enough! We can meet in the middle and have a gemstone party! I will have wine and gemstones!! LOL!!

 

[LtlFirecracker]

Hi

, sounds like you have a lot to contribute. I am excited we have another expert on the forum. I just went though your sites. You have some killer stones.

 

[Catmom]

Hi Roger, welcome to the gem asylum!!

We are lucky when another professional joins us. Your morganite is gorgeous. I look forward to seeing more of your work!