Gem Quiz

Here’s the Answer to December’s Gem Quiz

And congratulations to the winner.

Published

3 years ago

January 5, 2021

Chris Burslem

ALEXANDER RYSMAN, owner of Romm Diamonds in Brockton, MA, dug deep into the igneous rock of his gemological knowledge and correctly surmised the answer to our December Gem Quiz: Yogo sapphire. Well done to Alexander, who walks away with a cool new Gem Geek t-shirt, and also to all our honorable mentions, a significant number of who perhaps not surprisingly come from Montana – natural home to the beautiful blue gem. Thanks to everyone who participated in last month’s quiz. And please look out for the next Gem Quiz coming soon at instoremag.com/fun/gem-quiz/ and in the January edition of INSTORE.

Honorable Mentions

Derrick Allen
Graham Jewelers
Wayzata, MN

Annamarie Bara
Choose-Your-Gift.com
Chicago, IL

Daniel Bogue
LaunchPad
New Rochelle, NY

Bryan Cavitt
Images Jewelers
Elkhart, IN

Haim Cohen
CBF Traders
Fair Lawn, NJ

Candace George
Bill George Jewelers
Thibodaux, LA

Steven Glazer
Bob Richards
Germantown, MD

Kim Hatchell
Galloway & Moseley
Sumter, SC

Randy Hneiting
Montana Gem Inc
Hobson, MT

Sami Jack
Sami Fine Jewelry
Fountain Hills, AZ

Kathy Keiser
Mountz Jewelers
Camp Hill, PA

Kathy Kelehan
K Kelehan Jewelry
Los Angeles, CA

Anthony Kelson
A.P. Kelson – Arcanum
Great Falls, MT

Robert Lurie
Robert Lurie Jewelry Evaluator
Cape Town, South Africa

Lisa Lyons
Clarkson Jewelers
Ellisville, MO

Paula Morgan
Travelwares
Hollywood, FL

Ray Morton
Ray’s Gems
Hebron, KY

Oui Nilakul, Yogo Mining Company, Bozeman, MT

If you’ve ever wondered what a Yogo sapphire looks in its natural state, here’s one Oui found last summer, still attached to ore rock. Oui’s husband, Don Baide, owns the Vortex Yogo Sapphire mine.

John Paul
John Paul’s Jewelers
Columbus, OH

Brette Peters
Dixon Jewellers
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Tamara StGermain
Day’s Jewelers
Nashua, NH

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.”