sharing the rough Orin Mazzoni

#idazzletravels: Kenya and Tanzania Part One: The Gems

I find myself saying “Asante” to people instead of thank you, and, like a narcoleptic, fall asleep mid-sentence after 8pm. I must be home from Africa.
I just returned from my 6th trip–in about 30 months–to Kenya and Tanzania. After so many trips…

Sharing the Rough Uncut: Adventures in Rough Gemstone Buying

Our days are dense with experiences…

Today we’re on location at a local gem dealer’s office in Voi, Kenya! It’s an exciting day, to say the least. Not only are we on set, we’re in front of the camera!
The filming process is…

Gemstone Central: Color Trend Review from AGTA and Tucson Gem Shows

I spent a whirlwind couple of days in Tucson, AZ, home to the Tucson Gem Shows. I spent most of my time at the AGTA GemFair, which is the crowning jewel, so to speak, of the whole Tucson gemstone circus…

Sharing the Rough Day Two: Another Facet of Africa

Day two in Africa with the Sharing the Rough* film documentary team illustrated how East Africans are adding value to the gem trade there. It was a visceral reminder that hope and significance can come from unlikely places…

Gem Hunt and Sharing the Rough: Going to Africa

My arm hurts, and I’m kind of happy about it. I just had Yellow Fever and Polio subcutaneous vaccines, the third and fourth–or more, I forget–in a series of inoculations…

Be Part of a (Jewelry) Movie: Sharing The Rough

Have I mentioned that I’m going to be in a movie? No? Ok, just kidding. Maybe. Who doesn’t want to be some small part–or at least a voyeur into the process–of a film? I recently heard about a documentary movie project that follows a jewelry design…