I came across an article yesterday that resonated with me in a way that required I pay closer attention. I enjoy writing and blogging but find the time required to actually gather my thoughts in a cohesive manner and then two-finger type them, takes effort. The article that grabbed me in Entrepreneur magazine was about the new world of video-blogging and how technology has made the opportunity of communicating thoughts, ideas and concepts visually a facile reality. Here at Mark Loren Designs it’s all about the visual experience and revealing the intricate world that we create/design every day. I have included an example in this blog post of myself working on the most incredible opal I have ever seen or held!

This past Xmas we had the singular opportunity to design and create a brooch/pendant for an amazing client who loves gifting his beautiful wife with jewelry pieces made from gems they have collected for many years. Gems that were purchased decades ago and are no longer available or even seen! This opal weighed over 200cts and was heart shaped with mesmerizing flashes of green/orange/blue colors. We then surrounded the opal with 90 (yes 90!) green Demantoid garnets from Russia. Demantoid garnets have an unbelievable flash to them and resemble green diamonds. We pre-set the garnets and then laser-assembled them together around the frame of the opal. The video shows me doing the final trimming of the prongs and setting the opal. Opal behaves like glass when you are setting it and loves to chip and flake with the slightest, unwarranted, pressure. Difficult for me to describe in words but the attached video is pretty cool to watch. Most jewelers have never seen a fine opal this large, let alone watched one being set! I’m anticipating the chance to bring you more of the “behind-the-scenes” creating that inspires us at the gallery. Feel free to post back or email with ideas of things you would like to see or are curious about. We are also in the process of setting-up a “Ustream” web camera on our jeweler’s bench so that we can schedule with you when your diamonds or gems are being set and you can log in and watch! Cool right? You can also stop in the gallery and watch in-person with a glass of wine or fresh-made martini in hand. (By the way, I’m typing this blog, on a plane, with my new net book that my awesome staff gave me for Xmas! You guys are the best and it’s an honor for me to create with you…Mark)