Chasing The Blue Beyond

I stopped by Gem A in  London's historic Hatton Garden last night to have some fun looking at beautiful gemstones. Getting some refresher knowledge from the longest established gemological teaching organization in the world. Iolite-The Viking Compass was used as the first pair of polarized  lenses to navigate and determine latitude accurately. The property that made iolite so valuable to the Vikings is its extreme pleochroism.The gem has a Tamzanite- Sapphire  violet blue  at one angle, completely clear at a 2nd angle , and hints of yellow at a 3rd angle.  Using the basic tools of the trade, and following their motto "Do every test you can on every stone you have", Gem Testing with the Spectroscope had me thinking like a proton and staying positive! Using a London Dichroscope while in London is like eating a croissant in Paris-delicious, and authentic. A vibrant royal blue saphire

It may not be the biggest but it is the oldest...Canterbury Cathedral:in a country full of old cathedral's, this is one of the oldest, going back to 597 AD. Our (USA) sidewalks are as big as their (UK) roads here, and our doors well, they are HUGE compared to some of these Medieval passageways. An American,Scott Waters, was in England last week. These are his observations that went viral: Funny but True: * Almost everyone is very polite * The food is generally outstanding * There are no guns * There are too many narrow stairs * Everything is just a little bit different * The pubs close too early * The reason they drive on the left is because all their cars are built backwards * Pubs are not bars, they are community living rooms. * You'd better like peas, potatoes and sausage * Refrigerators and washing machines are very small * Everything is generally older, smaller and shorter * People don't seem to be afraid of their neighbors or the government * Their paper money makes s...

Building a ring in London, Tiffany setting, Hallmarked an Assayed 18K Yellow Gold.The center stone is a stunning white emerald, considered the Mother of Genstones-known as Goshenite, as in Oh My Gosh! Actually a large deposit was discovered in Goshen Massachusetts.  It's pure Beryl. When there is blue traces it's Aquamarine;  pink and peach beryl, Morganite; Yellow Beryl Heliodore, and Red Beryl, well that is called Simply Red. Notes From The Underground

Beachy Head: Where England Meets the Sea Beachy Head Where England Meets the Infinite Sea Standing 162 meters above the English Channel, Beachy Head represents one of Britain's most spectacular natural landmarks. These magnificent chalk cliffs in Eastbourne tell a story spanning millions of years. ↓ Discover More ↓ A Geological Marvel Ancient Origins Formed over 100 million years ago from the compressed remains of countless marine microorganisms, these chalk cliffs are a window into Earth's prehistoric past. Each layer tells a story of ancient seas and vanished worlds. Natural Heritage The Seven Sisters and Beachy Head form part of the South Downs National Park, protecting th...

Oxford is known as the "city of dreaming spires", a term coined by poet Matthew Arnold.Visited here today.

Visited  Bath, today a city so beautiful and special that it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Stepping back in time,, a perfect retreat in the beautiful North Wales countryside...Another lucky day in England Holy Cow