tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post8510106259590790643..comments2024-03-28T23:57:50.103-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: Financial security, Oriental stylePeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-52584752313360272802013-08-17T02:52:31.277-05:002013-08-17T02:52:31.277-05:00@JO: I can't say whether any diamonds were sh...@JO: I can't say whether any diamonds were shattered or damaged in the process. It was the kind of situation where to get too close, or ask awkward questions, might attract entirely the wrong sort of response! Nevertheless, when I asked my hosts at the time, they said this happened several times a month. Gold was smuggled out as fishing weights, painted gray or coated with lead; diamonds were hidden anywhere that offered a small, concealable space; and other valuables (including banknotes - the black market dollar exchange rate was at least ten times better than the 'official' one, not that you could actually get dollars officially!).<br /><br />Interesting that oil disguises flaws in diamonds. I didn't know that. There again, being from South Africa, I know that illicit diamond buying/selling was pretty rampant involving workers from de Beers mines, particularly Alexandra and the Sperrgebiet in what's today Namibia, and the watchword was always 'caveat emptor'.<br />Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-67116574463307337312013-08-16T20:32:04.570-05:002013-08-16T20:32:04.570-05:00Just curious Peter, I always enjoy your recollecti...Just curious Peter, I always enjoy your recollections. It is neat story and got me thinking on why or how it would work out:)(maybe undersize stones would have a chance...)I'm having a hard time accepting that a single or multiple gemstone would survive a trip in a "ball mill". Yes, I do geology and minerals. Corundrum and diamond are harder than steel, but far more brittle. Hit a gem or rough crystal with a hammer and see whats left! Especially under pressure, regardless of lube, those facets would be chewed up, thus seriously devaluing a cut stone. Sure, recut it, but you have lost money. Course, leaving it behind or getting seized is far far worse-escaping with something would be best!<br />On the flip side, perhaps they looked fine as the oldest way to enhance a stone is to oil the fractures(or grease em?:)<br />Gem buyers generally carry a small vial of acetone to soak strones from new buyers to check for oil-the solvent removes it and drys quickly.(there are many many things being done to stones these days. Caveat emptor! THUS Reputation is SO important in gem trade!)<br /><br />Carry on!<br />~JO:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-63824052582182629272013-08-16T11:36:46.451-05:002013-08-16T11:36:46.451-05:00I have picked up a bit of silver, but my main emph...I have picked up a bit of silver, but my main emphasis has been on the poor man precious metals: steel, brass and lead.tweellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164718561825615886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-15862341319300211952013-08-16T06:50:15.541-05:002013-08-16T06:50:15.541-05:00@Sunnybrook Farm: You were wise, IMHO. The only ca...@Sunnybrook Farm: You were wise, IMHO. The only caveat I'd add is that you should make sure your IRA provider is holding the physical gold itself, rather than paper certificates of deposit in a central repository. There are strong indications that those repositories have leased out (several times over) the gold in their vaults. Some have even stopped handing over gold to depositors who demand it, instead paying out its cash value. See, for example:<br /><br />http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-03-24/another-gold-shortage-abn-halt-physical-gold-delivery<br /><br />One speculative and unverified perspective on that reality may be read at:<br /><br />http://truthingold.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-truth-about-gold-being-drained-from.html<br /><br />The sources cited in that article are unverified, but I'm hearing corroborating comments from several others. You'll have to make up your own mind whether to trust them. On the balance of probabilities, I do.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-31818721450925748152013-08-16T05:39:10.074-05:002013-08-16T05:39:10.074-05:00I have an IRA left from when I used to make money ...I have an IRA left from when I used to make money and the investment guy didn't want me to switch it to a gold IRA back in 08. Kept comparing it to stocks and schemes but I explained how Obama was going to destroy the dollar and wouldn't listen as I wanted security. He didn't have much to say a few years later. It goes up and down but long term is what I am after.Sunnybrook Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18135224259672444423noreply@blogger.com