Where did your gemstones come from?
Alexandrite and Amethyst, Zoisite and Zircon.. from A to Z who can resist the seductive delights of these radiant earthly treasures!
Old School Mining Practices
But the brilliance of the gemstone world is marred by accounts of communities destroyed in the rush to satisfy our desire for them. All to frequently we hear of dirty environmental practices, and mass disregard for a workforce crippled by poor health and unfair wages as the big mining companies scour the earth for resources.
Of course none of us would want to actively engage in such destructive practices; as jewellers – and jewellery-loving customers – historically we have had little choice in the matter.
New Hope, Positive Change
However, thanks to some pivotal pioneers, including members of the Fair Lux group, we are experiencing a sea-change in attitude.This has created dramatic improvements in the ‘precious’ mining industries. In seeking out small artisanal mining communities, and in making fairly traded materials available to us, the jewellery industry is changing from the ground up.
More than just a gemstone
And so, we are delighted to have Stuart Pool of Ninteen48 join us at Flux once again during Creative Urges.
He’ll be here to show his stones for sale, and to answer any questions you might have about gemstones and gemstone mining practices.
Stuart is a specialist in responsibly mined and fully traceable coloured gemstones, mostly sourced directly from mines in Sri Lanka and Tanzania. He runs gem trading companies Nineteen48 (www.nineteen48.com
Stuart works very closely with local mine owners to provide a mine-to-market service. The material is traced throughout the process, from extracting the rough gem material, then cutting and polishing of gemstones, right up to the sale of gems to the end customer, both wholesale and retail. The emphasis throughout the supply chain is on maximum transparency and fair benefits to everyone involved.
Stuart’s companies support charitable projects in both Sri Lanka and the UK. He is also committed to educating the widest possible audience about the issues within the jewellery sector. He is supportive of many initiatives and programmes within the industry which are trying to improve conditions. This brings benefits for those involved in all stages of the supply chains for diamonds, precious metals and coloured gems.
Special Event at Flux
On Tuesday 19 June, 3.30 -5, and 5 – 7.30pm Stuart will be showing and selling his carefully selected collection of gemstones. He’ll be there to talk informally about his activities with artisanal miners in Sri Lanka. He’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have about gemstones. Expect to see cabs, faceted and rough stones sourced mainly from Sri Lanka and Tanzania. This is a selling show, so if you are looking for something special, you might find it here.
The event is free, but we ask you to book in so we can ensure we have space for everyone.
Join us on Tuesday 19 June
Choose between these time slots:
- 3.30 -5pm
- 5 – 7.30pm
We’re looking forward to seeing you here soon!