Gem Quiz

Born of Fire and Fury, I Now Radiate a Cool Blue Beauty

My name pays homage to one of the founders of gemology. Who am I?

Published

2 years ago

April 10, 2022

INSTORE Staff

Born of Fire and Fury, I Now Radiate a Cool Blue Beauty

THE PERIODIC FURY of Vesuvius has mostly brought fear and destruction to its surrounding slopes, but it also delivered me — a gem collector’s favorite — to the surface. First described in 1807, I was named after one of the French founders of the science of gemology. Today, I can be found in a handful of locations, from the Canary Islands to upstate New York, although the best specimens – which display a transparent electric blue – come from the Eifel Mountains in Germany. While my fragility limits my use as a gemstone, in (extremely rare) large and clean sizes I can command prices that rival those of the most illustrious gems.

Who am I?

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”