Guest Blog Post: To Bid Or Not To Bid
Posted on | September 21, 2009 | 2 Comments
This is an awesome guest blog post by Dana Kiyomura, expert in estate and antique jewelry. Dana has an office in NYC where she buys and sells vintage jewelry and you can follow her on Twitter @winebrilliant.
“Bidding at a jewelry auction is time consuming and can be dangerous.
First you have to preview the jewels. For professionals, that often means sitting down at a table with viewing assistants showing you all the lots you are interested in. This is where I got my start – as a viewing assistant. Now I am on the other side of the table. Loupe and pen in hand I look at each piece and decide on what to bid. Taking notes in the margins, a calculator is imperative to figure out what to pay including the buyer’s premium. For many auctions, this premium can be between 15-20%. Pretty steep in my opinion – the auction makes money from both the buyer and the seller.
The day of the auction, I am often on the phone. Someone from the salerooom calls a few lots before the lot I want to bid on, and then acts as my agent, raising a paddle for me. This is the most dangerous part. Auction fever. Of course, there is competition for most lots. Once I get my bid in and then someone else raises the bid, I have the option of bidding again. When I am maxed out – there is always that little voice in my head that says, “if you go one more bid you may get it.” When I listen to that voice, I almost always am sorry I pushed. Must learn DISCIPLINE.
In other scenarios, I pick things up for way below my mark – a pleasant surprise and most times a score. Jewelry professionals are drawn to auctions hoping to find that little overlooked item – literally a gem that is the “sleeper.” However, these days, I am finding there are no secrets anymore and the days of identifying a signed piece of jewelry that no one else has recognized is now passed.
After the sale, the items are shipped or picked up and then you can access the damage. It’s almost like the morning after, and the beer googles come off. “What was I thinking?” Somehow things look better when other people want it too. Now, it’s mine and I have to hope someone still wants it after me!”
Tags: auction > Christie's > estate jewelry > guest blog post > jewelry auctions > sotheby's
Gold Spot Prices At 1000, What’s Next?
Posted on | September 21, 2009 | 1 Comment
Gold has been floating around $1000 per ounce lately, reaching as high as $1034 and now dipping a little below $1000. So the big question is where will it go? Of course I don’t have a crystal ball and neither does Wall Street. The weaker the dollar, the stronger gold will get.
Here’s what some of the experts are saying from this Wall Street Journal Article:
Bud Conrad, chief economist at Casey Research and a leading gold bug, says it’s worth far more. Based on long-term analyses of macroeconomic trends such as the money supply, he says, “a lot of ratios… get you into the $4,000 to $5,000 level without any problem.”
Of course the WSJ has no idea just like the rest of us:
And although gold looks bullish in dollars, that specifically reflects the greenback’s weakness gold remains well below last winter’s peaks when priced in pounds, euros, yen, or Swiss francs.
Despite gold’s rise, the market is not, yet signaling any great concern about inflation. On the contrary, when you compare the yields on regular 10-year Treasury bonds and the yields on inflation-protected bonds, the market right now thinks inflation is likely to be about 2% a year for the next decade. That’s well below the levels seen before the 2008 crisis.
In short: Stay tuned. Gold may boom from here, or it may not. At this juncture dry powder may prove a better investment than yellow metal.
What do I think? I don’t think $4-5000 per ounce is realistic any time soon, but $1200 – $1500 is possible in the next year. I definitely do not think that gold will go back to $500-600 per ounce as it was not too long ago.
I will say that DIAMONDS are a better investment and will hold strong, especially when this economy comes back. I also think that platinum will go up to $2000 per ounce in the next year (where it was a year ago) once people start buying cars again.
Who are you gonna listen to – The Wall Street Journal or Ramble On Ron?
Tags: diamonds > gold > gold market > gold price per ounce > gold prices > platinum
Go Ravens!!
Posted on | September 12, 2009 | No Comments
Just a short post to thank the Baltimore Ravens for giving this town a real sports team. I’ll be hitting a few games this year. Opening Day tomorrow where we crush the Chiefs!
Here’s Joe Flacco working on his game:
The Baltimore Orioles Were My Favorite Team
Posted on | September 10, 2009 | No Comments
A couple days ago I was listening to one of my favorite radio stations, WNST. I heard about a great promotion and fundraiser that Nestor and the gang were running called “Save The Birds.” It was pretty simple, as all good promotions should be. The Baltimore Orioles were selling tickets to some upcoming games for a buck apiece. Yes, just one dollar to go see our hometown baseball team play. WNST asked for sponsors to buy tickets to the game for $2 each, a dollar for the ticket and a dollar for a local charity, The Markakis Foundation. Sounds like a win for everyone. Hard-working people get to the see the game for free, the O’s get some fans in the seats, some money goes to a local charity. It’s all good, right? Apparently not.
You see, the O’s have a different opinion than you and me. And this shows a great lesson I learned from my grandfather. He used to say, “when you point your finger at someone, there’s always three other fingers pointing back at you.” In other words, we are often guilty of exactly that which we accuse others of doing. If you’re a Baltimore sports fan you certainly know who Nestor Aparicio is. And if you’re a Baltimore Orioles fan, you most certainly know of Nestor’s “challenging” relationship with our beloved Birds. Nestor orchestrated the walkout that took place some 13 years ago, called “Free The Birds.” That began (or ended in this case) a hostile relationship between him and the O’s. They, and his detractors, accused him of hating the team. He has always maintained that he loves the team, just questions and dislikes ownership. And why wouldn’t he? The team that he and I grew up worshiping with pride and awe, is now a laughingstock. And worse, a laughingstock that produces a tremendous income for ownership. I was a batboy at an O’s game when I was 9 years old. My dad gave $1200 twenty-five years ago (not a small sum) for me to be part of an experience that would last a lifetime. I have a 6 year old son. He happens to be a great baseball player. Unfortunately, with the state of the O’s the way it’s been since before his birth, he doesn’t even know who they are. He’d rather watch the Yankees (my wife’s from NY) or some other winning franchise. If the opportunity for him came to be the batboy at an O’s game, I’m not sure I could pay him $1200 to do it. Of course, I’m exaggerating. But the point is clear. Ownership has continued to deliver an inferior product to its fans. And fans have spoken loudly by not going to the games, even for a measly buck. Nestor and his sponsors (myself included) tried to help out, but the O’s refused to even sell the tickets. So, I ask you, who really hates the O’s more? And how did my grandfather know so much?
Tags: baltimore > baltimore orioles > baseball > camden yards > free the birds > major league basball > Markakis Foundation > nestor aparicio > orioles > wnst
Summer Concert Review
Posted on | September 5, 2009 | 5 Comments
As the late, great Jerry Garcia said, “Summer time’s come and gone my oh my.” And this summer went fast. I hit a few shows though, both local and national acts, and the results were mixed. I’m gonna start in the spring.
March – Blues Traveler
Yeah I folded and thought that they would be good. I’ve been seeing them ever since the Horde Festival way back in the early 90’s and remembered that they sucked live. Well 2009 was no exception. What a bore. Next time just play your first album all the way through and Hook as the encore and get a new guitar player and it will rock!
March – The Allman Brothers Band
I have a yearly tradition of going to The Beacon in NYC to see the Allmans and this year I headed up with Laura. Had a great dinner at Neo before the show BTW. Of course I missed Eric Clapton play with them the night before, but got to catch a great show as usual with a Bruce Hornsby guest appearance. The Allmans bring me back to college and The Beacon is the best place to see them. Plus, Warren Haynes is one of my all time favorite guitar players – only with the Allmans. I discussed Warren in the post – Warren Haynes Is Better With The Allman Brothers. Click here to see some video I took at the show.
June – Santana
Surprisingly, Santana was one of the best shows I saw all summer. I saw him in Vegas at the Hard Rock and was not expecting much. I guess that’s part of it – not expecting much. Sat in the 3rd row center and I have to say that Carlos delivered. Sure he played his hits and scattered a few new tunes in the set. But guess what? I wanted to hear him rip Oye Como Va, and he also did this killer version of Soul Sacrifice.
July – The Bridge
These guys are an up and coming band in Baltimore. I hope they make it because they are very talented and good guys. I had a great time at the show. Click here to see my band jamming out with lead guitarist from The Bridge, Cris Jacobs.
August – Phish
I’ve been seeing Phish for a long time and was pumped to have 2nd row at this show. I used to see them in small venues back in the early 90’s and as soon as they started playing bigger venues, I did not enjoy it as much. The show at Merriweather Post Pavillion was the one show that had a terrible setlist. The shows before and after had all the great songs that I love, so part of the blame was timing. Click here to see a funky jam I recorded, but overall, not the best show. Could I have gotten just one YEM, Stash, Golgi, Cavern, Suzy Greenberg, Chalkdust or any of the other fifty songs I like? Oh well.
August – The Black Crowes
I’ve seen the Crowes five times now. The first time in Atlanta 1991, then at a small bar in Baltimore called Bohager’s which was a great show, in Atlantic City at The Borgata, in Philadelphia with Jimmy Page, (which was one the best shows I have ever seen from any band – all Zepplin) and this last show at the Ram’s Head in Baltimore. This last show was sooo boring. All new stuff that I guess is on their new album, (that they recorded at Levon Helm’s farm) but it was slow. And of course The Ram’s Head oversold the show so you couldn’t even see them. It also didn’t help that Chris Robinson was a jerk on stage. He was the same way at Bohager’s but a least they played a great show. Hey Chris, big deal, you married Kate Hudson – she realized what a schmuck you are and got rid of you – good move Kate! Your brother’s Rich’s hot wife dumped him too and took his money. Maybe they’ll sell their diamonds to me through DivorceYourDiamond.com.
I saw a theme at these shows. All the bands that I loved so much in college went through (and are going through) the same trip. They were new and fresh and hungry when they first came out on the scene. Then they got sick of each other, got older, and went on to do solo stuff. Trey, Mike and Paige from Phish did it and so did Chris and Rich Robinson from The Black Crowes. Well, they didn’t make any coin from their solo careers, so they got back together to go on tour and make a new album to earn some money. At their live shows, they play all the new stuff and very little of the old beacause they’re sick of it, but the crowd wants to hear the old tunes. Because that’s what brings them back to a good time in their life and that’s what is familiar. Only music can give you that feeling. It’s like when I hear a Journey song and get that nervous feeling in my stomach that I had to ask a girl to slow dance. Now, I don’t expect them never to create new music. As an artist, that’s what it’s about. But when you’re paying $50 or more a ticket, maybe the band shouldn’t be so selfish and play some crowd pleasers and covers. Take it from Carlos Santana – it’s NOT all about them! Look, on a much much smaller scale, when my band Heller Highwater is practicing for a gig and we jam a tune that is fun, we nix it sometimes. Why? Because we say to ourselves. “Is anyone really gonna want to listen to this?” If the answer is no, then we don’t play it live. Maybe these guys who do this for a living should think the same way…
Tags: allman brothers band > Black Crowes > Blues Traveler > Chris Robinson > Eric Clapton > hard rock > jerry garcia > Jimmy Page > Journey > Kate Hudson > phish > Ram's Head > santana > Soul Sacrifice > The Beacon > The Borgata > the bridge
Heller Highwater Goes Into The Studio
Posted on | August 29, 2009 | No Comments
Tuesday night my band, Heller Highwater, went into the recording studio to lay down a few tracks. It was so much fun. We played a few songs including Suzy Greenberg, Mississippi Morning, Fire Eater, Blowin’ in the Wind, and When I Paint My Masterpiece. The best song that came out of it was Masterpiece. The others we need to go back and work on.
Overall a great experience that will happen again. Check out these videos of us cutting some tracks:
One Of The Greatest Scenes From The Godfather
Posted on | August 22, 2009 | 2 Comments
So I was watching one of my favorite movies last night, Scarface, for the 1000th time, and today I was thinking of my favorite movies. You know the ones that come on TV and you can’t turn them off no matter how many times you’ve seen them. Goodfellas, Shawshank Redemption, Casino, Scarface, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, History of the World Part I and of course Godfather I and II. The Godfather must be on 100 times a year on AMC, TNT and other channels, and I watch it every time. I am fascinated with the story of the Corleone Family business. Here’s the turning point in the movie, when Michael makes his first hit on Solozzo and the crooked cop, McClusky. It’s when he goes from a college kid to the next Don. This could be the greatest movie scene of all time – the nervousness of Michael, the train in the backround, it was brilliant. Enjoy!
Tags: Al Pachino > Casino > Fast Times at Ridgemont High > Goodfellas > mafia > mob > Scarface > Shawshank Redemption > The Godfather
Was It For This My Life I Sought?
Posted on | August 14, 2009 | 4 Comments
Tomorrow night I got the 2nd row center at Phish. I’ve been seeing these guys since 1991 but have not seen them in about 10 years. The big venue/stadium tours weren’t for me, but I am pumped to see the boys tear it up tomorrow night. Plus I am meeting up with a lot of old and new friends.
Here’s a great recent version of Stash. “Was it for this my life I sought?”
“Maybe so and maybe not…”
Tags: merriweather post > mike gordon > phish > stash > trey anastastio
Etail 2009
Posted on | August 11, 2009 | No Comments
Our first trip to Etail 2009 was a success! The Samuelson’s Diamonds team had a great show and I met some nice connections as well. On Thursday I spoke to a packed room on “Leveraging Social Media to Engage Your Customers”. It went very well with a big Q & A after. I may have to play guitar at the next one to liven up the place. 🙂 Here’s a clip where I’m talking about a DIAMOND GIVEAWAY we did through our Facebook Diamonds Fan Page:
Happy Birthday Jerry!
Posted on | August 2, 2009 | No Comments
Yesterday was Jerry’s birthday – he would have been 67. I went to see The Bridge and they played a great version of Althea. Here’s Jerry and the boys doing it. Check out Jerry’s shiny new custom “tiger” guitar – my favorite. Turn the volume up and enjoy!
Tags: althea > grateful dead > jerry garcia > jerry garcia's birthday > the bridge > the bridge baltimore > the bridge music
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