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| Photo by: Robert Weldon |
Instantaneously an email from
Peridot popped up, “We will review the facts on the flight – we're off to
India. Click the attached link in this e-mail; Your flight is confirmed.”
My name is Adamas Bontemps, Graduate Gemologist (G.G.). I'm an avid student of gemstones and the lost art of deductive observation. My heritage is French. However, my formative years were spent in the Midwest, the Chicago area. My home is in California; as you will see, the nature of my work allows me the freedom to travel the world extensively. My good friend and mentor, who you will come to know through our adventures, Hercule Peridot, always had a surprise up his sleeve - but this one
was more mysterious than usual. What could we possibly be doing in India? Obviously, there was no time to waste; the resolve in his e-mail demanded immediate
action. I gathered my things, verified my electronic boarding pass, arranged
for a taxi, and sped off to the airport.
When I arrived in Atlanta, I found Peridot savoring the scent of his espresso at the airport coffee shop, his mustache a slight hint of foam from his beverage. He was impeccably dressed, as always, with a fine vest, a subdued necktie, and polished shoes.
“Monsieur Bontemps, my dear friend, won't you join me for afternoon coffee?”
“Oui, merci, how are you Peridot?”
“Fine, just fine - have a seat, my boy . . . This app is simply delightful; when I arrived, I had absolutely no idea where the coffee shop in this airport was located,” said Peridot. “Not only was I able to locate six in the vicinity, but the GPS in this enchanted phone gave me step-by-step directions through this labyrinth of hallways.”
As an afterthought, Peridot commented, “We absolutely must find a way to use this technology in our pursuit of the Gem Identification process. I’m just so smitten with this “Siri,” her voice is simply charming. How do you find her, Bontemps?”
In a dismissive manner - frustrated, motioning with my right hand, “Yes, yes, charming - so, what’s this about going to India? You brought me all the way to Atlanta to expound on the virtues of your iPhone?” After a short pause, I tried again, “My apologies Hercule, allow me to repeat my question - why are we going to India?”
In his aristocratic bravado, he raised his cup to his lips as he leaned back in his chair and smiled, “Patience my boy, we have a long flight ahead of us. We will review all the facts of the case at that time.”
A few hours later, we were aboard our flight to Mumbai, India. We settled into our first-class accommodations. While swirling, a vintage Bordeaux Peridot began; “Our assignment is to recover a Ceylon Sapphire that was believed to be switched from a Paris boutique just last week. My thread of a lead is a text alert that an unusually large fine quality sapphire was submitted to a lab in India for an origin report. It’s a personal matter, Bontemps; for years, I've tried to pin down my adversary Dee Davies, a swarthy Welsh gentleman, who has tormented me. Through my observations of international activity from this amazing device, I’ve discovered the client who submitted the stone is none other than master Davies himself.”
“Are you sure it’s a Ceylon sapphire?”
“That is what the origin report will confirm. As I'm sure you are aware, Bontemps, the most celebrated sapphires globally, come from Sri Lanka - from the old English name Ceylon. The Kashmir region is another location of top quality sapphire which has long since been exhausted of the gem."
"Yes," I replied. "It's my understanding that sapphires also come from Australia, Thailand, Madagascar, other locations in Africa, even Montana.”
Peridot paused a moment to savor his Bordeaux, “This particular stone has been on display in Paris for many years. It lacked a pedigree, and my suspicion is Dee Davies has a potential buyer he’s meeting in India.”
“So, the stone is not in a mounting, it's loose?”
“Yes, the original mounting is still intact - most assuredly, the stone in Paris is an imitation.” A French colleague of mine, inspector François Vidocq, has confirmed that nothing appears to have been disturbed at the gallery.”
Upon our arrival at Mumbai's International airport, we were walking to our car service when Peridot suddenly stopped abruptly, “There he is Bontemps - that man just getting into the taxi, it's Davies! So, he is in Mumbai . . .”
. . . To be continued.
When I arrived in Atlanta, I found Peridot savoring the scent of his espresso at the airport coffee shop, his mustache a slight hint of foam from his beverage. He was impeccably dressed, as always, with a fine vest, a subdued necktie, and polished shoes.
“Monsieur Bontemps, my dear friend, won't you join me for afternoon coffee?”
“Oui, merci, how are you Peridot?”
“Fine, just fine - have a seat, my boy . . . This app is simply delightful; when I arrived, I had absolutely no idea where the coffee shop in this airport was located,” said Peridot. “Not only was I able to locate six in the vicinity, but the GPS in this enchanted phone gave me step-by-step directions through this labyrinth of hallways.”
As an afterthought, Peridot commented, “We absolutely must find a way to use this technology in our pursuit of the Gem Identification process. I’m just so smitten with this “Siri,” her voice is simply charming. How do you find her, Bontemps?”
In a dismissive manner - frustrated, motioning with my right hand, “Yes, yes, charming - so, what’s this about going to India? You brought me all the way to Atlanta to expound on the virtues of your iPhone?” After a short pause, I tried again, “My apologies Hercule, allow me to repeat my question - why are we going to India?”
In his aristocratic bravado, he raised his cup to his lips as he leaned back in his chair and smiled, “Patience my boy, we have a long flight ahead of us. We will review all the facts of the case at that time.”
A few hours later, we were aboard our flight to Mumbai, India. We settled into our first-class accommodations. While swirling, a vintage Bordeaux Peridot began; “Our assignment is to recover a Ceylon Sapphire that was believed to be switched from a Paris boutique just last week. My thread of a lead is a text alert that an unusually large fine quality sapphire was submitted to a lab in India for an origin report. It’s a personal matter, Bontemps; for years, I've tried to pin down my adversary Dee Davies, a swarthy Welsh gentleman, who has tormented me. Through my observations of international activity from this amazing device, I’ve discovered the client who submitted the stone is none other than master Davies himself.”
“Are you sure it’s a Ceylon sapphire?”
“That is what the origin report will confirm. As I'm sure you are aware, Bontemps, the most celebrated sapphires globally, come from Sri Lanka - from the old English name Ceylon. The Kashmir region is another location of top quality sapphire which has long since been exhausted of the gem."
"Yes," I replied. "It's my understanding that sapphires also come from Australia, Thailand, Madagascar, other locations in Africa, even Montana.”
Peridot paused a moment to savor his Bordeaux, “This particular stone has been on display in Paris for many years. It lacked a pedigree, and my suspicion is Dee Davies has a potential buyer he’s meeting in India.”
“So, the stone is not in a mounting, it's loose?”
“Yes, the original mounting is still intact - most assuredly, the stone in Paris is an imitation.” A French colleague of mine, inspector François Vidocq, has confirmed that nothing appears to have been disturbed at the gallery.”
Upon our arrival at Mumbai's International airport, we were walking to our car service when Peridot suddenly stopped abruptly, “There he is Bontemps - that man just getting into the taxi, it's Davies! So, he is in Mumbai . . .”
. . . To be continued.
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