Hi everyone, It might interest you all to know that this project (a
TV series on precious stones) is of my own origination; my idea, my
proposal. I wrote the first version five years ago. It was at that
time submitted to the Canadian Learning Channel; was trned down with
compliments (I think maybe they always do that); went into prolonged
hiatus, then was activated again about this time last year when I
re-wrote it and the production company submitted to the (Canadian)
Discovery Channel. At that time the Discovery Channel committed to a
one hour pilot; which, however, didn’t pass the starting gate by
virtue of the fact that funding for a pilot is difficult to come by.
Not long after, however, the proposal was reconsidered, and the
Canadian Discovery Channel committed to seven episodes of what I
originally wrote as a thirteen part series. While I was visiting in
Los Angeles in December/January the word came from the production
company that the final funding portion had fallen into place.
In anticipation of this outcome, I visited among others, Orchidean
David Barzilay who was wonderfully helpful and informative in
shepherding me through the Los Angeles “jewelry district”. (Thanks
David!).
And then I drove back, 3.383 miles all told, all the way from Los
Angeles to Moncton in New Brunswick Canada, stopping en route in
Quartzite; then stopping to dig peridot with the Apache Indians of
the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona (that was a wonderful day which
I will never forget - thank you Charles Vargas!) then stopping in
Mount Ida Arkansas to dig quartz crystals; and arriving in Hiddenite
North Carolina just a few days after the most recent major emerald
find. This was fortuitous timing indeed! The day I arrived Jamie Hill
the emerald man of North Carolina, was just in the process of
briefing 21 armed security guards who would stand watch over the site
24 hours a day beginning the next morning. I saw the two emeralds in
situ in their cleft in the rock just as the afternoon sun slanted
right down upon them. Wow! Such a brilliant vibrant green! And of
course thanks to Jamie Hill.
Then it was on to the Smithsonian (got lost trying to find my way
out of Washington DC) and to the Peabody Museum at Harvard, and
finally to Bucksfield Maine in the middle of Maine gem district do
some trading of my remaining Bay of Fundy minerals for cutting rough
including a spectacular chunk of Four Peaks Amethyst.
By now, research work is well underway. And I don’t think I’m
letting any secrets out when I mention that the director of the Topaz
episode is Susan Mawhood of Toronto, who is not at all a
"he"…S…
And if any of the many many other persons who helped me by providing
me with and contacts, and whom I did not mention by name,
are also Ochideans…to you, all, a sincere and appreciative thank
you also!
Cheers,
Hans Durstling
Moncton, Canada