Adventures abroad

Adventures abroad All about gems Inside the industry

Bogota 2026: Emeralds, Investments, Inflation

Yvonne Raley – May 14, 2026

I was actually going on vacation in the Atacama Desert, Chile, on a farewell journey with my gem buddy Jochen …

Adventures abroad All about gems

Namibia’s Gems and Crystals Today

Yvonne Raley – Apr 17, 2024

If you read my last few blogs, then you know that I traveled to Namibia for a fact finding mission. …

Adventures abroad Life beyond the sparkle

The Inner Working of Hospitals, plus a Safari: A Broken Foot Travels to Germany

Yvonne Raley – Apr 1, 2024

I wake up to the sound of birds chirping, the sun shining onto my cozy comforter in my cushy bed. …

Adventures abroad Gem Show Shopping Life beyond the sparkle

Adventures of a Broken Foot: In the Middle of Nowhere

Yvonne Raley – Mar 25, 2024

As you read in my previous blog (you didn’t? Go back!), a playful dog plowed into my left leg as …

Adventures abroad Life beyond the sparkle

Adventures of a Broken Foot: Namibia

Yvonne Raley – Mar 20, 2024

I didn’t advertise my upcoming trip to Namibia because I had been forewarned. Yes, Namibia has a wealth of minerals …

Adventures abroad Inside the industry

Buying on Location: Gem Shopping in Sri Lanka

Yvonne Raley – Aug 20, 2023

My clients say this to me all the time: “it’s cheaper to buy on location, right?” And I have heard …

Adventures abroad Inside the industry

From Mining to Markets: Sri Lanka’s Gem Industry

Yvonne Raley – Aug 14, 2023

Gem mining has always been a rugged business. It involves hard and uncomfortable physical labor, high risk of injury, and …

Adventures abroad Inside the industry

Sri Lanka: The Treasure Hunter’s Holy Grail

Yvonne Raley – Aug 9, 2023

For over 2,500 years, Sri Lanka has been known for its wealth of precious gems. In particular, the Ratnapura area …

Adventures abroad Inside the industry

Gemstones Travel the World: New Gems from Madagascar and their Many Adventures!

Yvonne Raley – Dec 21, 2022

I announced their arrival somewhat prematurely in the fall of 2021, right before all exports from Madagascar stopped because of …

Adventures abroad All about gems Inside the industry

Adventures in Emerald City, Part II (Muzo, Cosquez, Guataque & Chivor)

Yvonne Raley – Oct 28, 2021

So here we were, the three of us, in the dark in a small foreign town, just following two total …

Adventures abroad All about gems Inside the industry

OUT- Adventures in Emerald City, Part II (Muzo, Cosquez, Guataque & Chivor)

Yvonne Raley – Oct 21, 2021

So here we were, the three of us, in the dark in a small foreign town, just following two total …

Adventures abroad All about gems Inside the industry

Adventures in Emerald City: Gem Hunting in Bogota, Part I

Yvonne Raley – Oct 17, 2021

TWO years! That’s how long I had to wait to go to Colombia again. But I did it, and with …

Adventures abroad All about gems

Fifty Shades of Green: Colombian Emerald Origins and Varieties Explained

Yvonne Raley – Oct 8, 2021

This Colombia trip was my first real adventure since COVID hit, but after a few days in Bogota and on …

Adventures abroad Life beyond the sparkle Our story

The Real Deal: Traveling Internationally During COVID-19

Yvonne Raley – Oct 19, 2020

This will probably be the last COVID-related travel blog for 2020 since it is likely the last time I travel this year …

Adventures abroad Inside the industry

Buckle Up; It's Going to Be a Bumpy Ride…

Yvonne Raley – Apr 16, 2020

COVID-19 and the International Gem Business As the world continues to be on pause, I’ve checked in with everyone overseas …

Adventures abroad Inside the industry Life beyond the sparkle Our story

Travel or Not? Possible Plans and Some Corona Induced Industry Challenges

Yvonne Raley – Mar 5, 2020

Ring Featuring Colombian Emerald from Chivor So this was supposed to be a blog about my upcoming trip to …

Adventures abroad Gem Show Shopping Inside the industry

Pack your Virtual Bags: You’re Coming to Tucson with Us!

Yvonne Raley – Jan 20, 2020

Hooker Emerald Brooch, designed by Tiffany & Co, previously exhibited at Tucson Gem & Mineral Show & worth $5,000,000 USD!!! …

Adventures abroad All about gems Our story

In the Muzo Emerald Mines: Getting Down and Dirty

Yvonne Raley – Aug 2, 2019

Take a tour with Yvonne of the emerald mines of Muzo, Colombia! It’s interesting to see that the gem trade works …

Adventures abroad All about gems Inside the industry

Colombia Part I. Bogota and Muzo

Yvonne Raley – Jul 28, 2019

A lush countryside, a rich history of gold and conquest, delicate indiginous art, well-preserved ancient Spanish towns, and the lure …

Adventures abroad All about gems Inside the industry

New Travels Ahead: Emerald Hunting in Colombia

Yvonne Raley – Jul 9, 2019

It’s summer again and I am ready to explore a new location for gems: Colombia. On Saturday July 13th, I …

Adventures abroad Gem Show Shopping Inside the industry

From Venice to The Venetian: CRD Heads to Vegas

Yvonne Raley – May 23, 2019

Still jet lagged from my recent trip to Venice, I am already packing my bags again! The Las Vegas AGTA …

Adventures abroad Inside the industry Life beyond the sparkle Our story

Our Own Christmas Story

Yvonne Raley – Dec 3, 2018

In the spirit of this season of giving, we would like to dedicate this blog to our friends in Madagascar, …

Adventures abroad All about gems Inside the industry

Finding New Minerals in Kongwa

Yvonne Raley – Oct 2, 2018

So this is going to be a longer story, and it starts a few billion years ago. As my geologist …

Adventures abroad All about gems Inside the industry

Gem Buying in Tanzania: Rubies Rubies Rubies

Yvonne Raley – Sep 5, 2018

As promised, let me tell you about the gems I saw, or didn’t see, in Tanzania: on my second day, …

Adventures abroad Inside the industry

Visiting Kenya and Tanzania

Yvonne Raley – Sep 5, 2018

Kenya Our next destination after Madagascar was Nairobi, Kenya, where I planned a long overdue reunion with my friend Doreen. …

Adventures abroad Inside the industry

A Little Trip (Madagascar Part IV)

Yvonne Raley – Aug 19, 2018

Thursday afternoon two interesting bits of news reached us. The first: There had been a new find of tourmaline near …

Adventures abroad All about gems Inside the industry

Madagascar Gem Shopping (Part III)

Yvonne Raley – Aug 15, 2018

On my second day gem shopping in Antsirabe, I bought one piece of purple spinel from Ilakaka, 1.1 cts, and a …

Adventures abroad All about gems

Travels to Antsirabe and Local Gem Buying (Part II)

Yvonne Raley – Aug 15, 2018

After a 4:30 a.m. morning rise (for which neither of our alarms rang but Jochen appeared to have an internal …

Adventures abroad All about gems Inside the industry

Madagascar – A New Trip, New Experiences, New Gems (Part I)

Yvonne Raley – Aug 7, 2018

The first destination on my most recent trip to Madagascar was the Island of Nosy Be, slightly to the northwest …

Adventures abroad All about gems Inside the industry

Africa Revisited – A New Trip

Yvonne Raley – Jul 1, 2018

I can’t believe it came upon me so fast. This coming Monday I am leaving on my second trip to Africa. I …

Adventures abroad All about gems Inside the industry

A traveler's report on the world of gems

Yvonne Raley – Nov 2, 2017

A German traveler’s report on the world of gems Manhattan’s 47th Street rightfully deserves the name “Diamond District”: shops for …

Adventures abroad

Yvonne Goes to Africa

Yvonne Raley – Dec 14, 2016

Yes, this is really happening, a dream come true. On August 17th, in just a few days, I’ll be flying …

Adventures abroad

My Trip To Madagascar – Part One

Yvonne Raley – Dec 14, 2016

We arrived safely in Antanarivo, Madagascar, after a few hiccups: baggage not checked through, plane delay, long lines upon arrival …

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Yvonne Relay