The AFMS is making it harder for the little guy in a quest to make judgeing across the USA uniform. The lableing rules know state basically that tourmaline has to be labled elbite etc. Well that means you have to pay for analysis and a microprobe costs $200/hr. To top it off some crystals of tourmaline may have different readings if probed in a couple of spots. I entered an intarsia in a California Fed show years ago got third out of 5 competitors, was happy with that but reading the score sheet you scratch your head wondering how they could see that or why that did not meet their grade. On the other hand I guess they have to use some kind of criteria to separate individuals. Always remember that there is always going to be something better out there, maybe not even out of the ground yet.

From Mike C - June 21, 2009 at 19:46:09

Message: 67954