Real Gems and Little Nuggets

Why Real Gems and Little Nuggets?

Jewellery and adornment is an essential part of human history, and a fascinating reflection of the issues of the day it is created in. These issues only make it more interesting, and we hope that by generating this discussion, we can understand the emotions and complexities of the issues and together have a more useful and productive conversation around ethics, values and impacts in the industry.

I was frustrated with a lack of quality resources and learning materials for people both within and outside the jewellery industry. There are fantastic resources for customers, but less available for those interested in doing a deep dive not just into concepts but also into other areas of the jewellery industry – art, politics, the environment and history.

I also noticed a lack of discussion around these points between the customers and the industry, which quickly descended into ethical shouting-matches and finger-pointing.

I realised that important discussions were being missed in terms of honest questions by customers, especially those who didn’t have family or social knowledge of jewellery. Questions that people wanted answered without a sales pitch, and without any judgement about their previous knowledge.

Real Gems explores the complex issues in the jewellery industry, attempting not to shy away from complex and thorny discussions. We cover history, politics, economics, environmental and social issues.

Little Nuggets are for you, the consumer. They’re about answering your questions and giving you quick and dirty advice on all aspects of jewellery. Sometimes they’re a jewellers perspective, sometimes important myth-busting, sometimes simple questions people are afraid to ask.

If you’re looking to learn just what is meant by the term ‘blood diamond’, or why a gemstone is valuable, or just have a quick question about jewellery care or materials, this is the place. Send in everything you ever wanted to know, and we’ll do our best to answer.

Why should you trust us?

I’m Eli Broe, jeweller, gemmologist and educator. I’ve been a jeweller for over a decade, completed numerous trade qualifications and further-education and worked in other roles the industry for over five years. I’ve seen all aspects of the industry – from design, to production, product development, material sourcing and manufacturing. If you’d like to see some of my jewellery work, you can check out my website at http://www.rachelbroejewellery.com or Instagram @rachelbroejewellery.

As a gemmologist, member of the Gemmologial Association of Australia, and lecturer with the NSW division, jewellery and gemstones form the fabric of my life.

In another life, I did a degree in Linguistics and Politics and International Relations, where I specialised in security and drug-trafficking policy. One of the things that I noticed while making jewellery, is how often these sections of my life intersected thematically. Even when talking about cocaine trafficking, drug-related violence and crime-reduction, I kept seeing jewellery, diamonds, gold. The dizzying heights of money will buy you art, weapons, gemstones and drugs; and like a snake eating it’s own tail, the drugs, weapons, gemstones and art will give you dizzying amounts of money.

But the stories are not just about those at the top – it’s about the complex web that supports it, builds it and gives it value. None of these things are things that we need; but they are things we desperately want.

When people find out I studied cocaine trafficking, people would always ask me what I found interesting about it. I think they were expecting exciting stories of drug-consumption, or maybe adrenaline fueled adventures. They were not expecting me to tell them how many people died for their gram of white powder, the blood it needed or the societies it collapses so that we can have a little high.

Jewellery and gemstones are the same – we draw a glittering veil of glamour over them to hide their often murky and violent stories. But to me, this is what I find fascinating. Human history is murky and violent stories – stories of things we would never do ourselves, and things that we may never admit we would do. Jewellery is this history, the beauty that all humans seek, and the lengths we go to find it.