As podcasts I once trusted for news, journalism, and truth become chat shows or mouthpieces for a handful of US tech companies trying to justify their extreme valuations, I take a step back and consider if I really need their advertorial content or banter. I am cutting them out of my life becausethey are spreading slop now too.

It’s time to focus on truth, art, and the real.

I talk about how emotionally trying it can be for an artist to look at work they produced when young. There are a lot of reasons why artists can’t look back and I explain some of them.

We have started looking for  sponsors for the show. Send me an email for our rate card, if you want to connect deeply with artists and creatives around the world, the Cannabis Goldsmith is the place to do it. Only one sponsor perepisode.  Money earned through advertising or sponsorship of this show will go directly to the TRIBE MAGAZINE photographic archive digitization project.

TRIBE – Custom Made Sterling Silver Trophy Belt Buckles and Jewelry – Product of Canada
https://tribe.ca

Send an email to alexd@cannabisgoldsmith.com to get on our mailing list or to order custom jewelry products from TRIBE.

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Upper Canada.
© and ℗ 2025 Alex Dordevic

TRIBE is a registered trademark

One of the greatest human experiences you can have is when you resonate with an artist's work, or it resonates with you on some almost unconscious level.

Petr Válek's synthesizers are hand-built from found materials and embellished with designs coming from a very deep place in a rural area in the Czech Republic. They are also fun and comical. How can an art object contain such multitudes? How can I buy one of these for my own studio?

In the second half of the show I talk about all the big diamonds turning up at auction houses as the rich try to unload and go liquid to face an impending market crash.

My thought is that the Mellon Blue auction price signified the peak of diamond auction prices. I explore why certain diamonds sell for more than others and also speculate as to the the value of Taylor Swift's engagement ring diamond in a hundred years.

Not only does Petr Válek look like a paint covered artist, but his art is amazing. Check it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDG-zQF0kvI

TRIBE – Custom Made Sterling Silver Trophy Belt Buckles and Jewelry – Product of Canada

https://tribe.ca

Send an email to alexd@cannabisgoldsmith.com to get on our mailing list or to order custom jewelry products from TRIBE.

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Upper Canada.

© and ℗ 2025 Alex Dordevic

TRIBE is a registered trademark

5xqybiGD6vb1PK2Hoooa

Artists can be prickly, but we are brave. In this episode, I artsplain why the National Gallery of Canada and its new director, Jean-François Bélisle, need to get out of their offices and into Canadian communities to connect with artists on the ground. If only our national arts institutions would support Canadian artists instead of generating bold yet meaningless policy rhetoric.

I marvel at how the recent National Gallery Annual Public Meeting, held on September 8th in Fredericton, has absolutely zero mention of any kind online. These show notes are the very first mention of the annual meeting online. Do you know how incredibly rare and unusual that is?

Why, in this day and age of smartphones, where there are at least 10 pictures or social media posts about everything, is there nothing online about this annual meeting? No social media posts, no news stories (local or national), no photos, no reviews, no transcripts, no video on the National Gallery’s site. Nothing. Not a single mention anywhere. We looked hard.

What that means is the National Gallery’s Annual Public Meeting had zero organic reach. Zero. Nobody was interested enough to post a single photograph or comment about it. That is telling.

These institutions serve what purpose exactly?

Did you know we create custom precious metal fine jewelry pieces for corporate awards, trophies, and fundraising prizes?

https://tribe.ca

Send an email to alexd@cannabisgoldsmith.com to get on our mailing list or to commission custom jewelry products from TRIBE.

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Upper Canada.

©2025 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark

There were too many natural diamond necklaces at the Golden Globe Awards and here's why. Two magnificent women get my Worst and Best Jewelry at the Show Awards. It was was all in the coordinating. The impending natural diamond fire sale...

Mentioned:

Gillian Anderson

https://www.instagram.com/gilliana/

Keri Russell

https://kerirussellweb.com/the-81st-golden-globe-awards-update/

Frank Fleming

https://www.instagram.com/flfstyle2/

See what we make:

A first look at the Baby Unicorn Horn that will become a pendant:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1E_3oROV-w/

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

©2024 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

86-year-old pioneer woman Helen, David Lynch, and Kara Swisher are my spirit animals

Mentors, spirit animals, guides: do they even have to know you are using them for inspiration? Here's how to pick the right mentors or spirit guides to help you realize your art.

Mentioned:

David Lynch: The Art Life (2016)

https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1487321369/

Kara Swisher's book is out in February:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Burn-Book/Kara-Swisher/9781982163891

See what we make:

A first look at the Baby Unicorn Horn that will become a pendant:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1E_3oROV-w/

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

©2024 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

Here are my New Year's Resolutions. You can hold me to them. The big one - I am going to raise the funds needed for the gear to digitize the TRIBE MAGAZINE photographic archive, to protect it for the future. AND, amazing new jewelry products for stage or self are coming in 2024. Bigger pieces, more color, bolder.

See what we make:

A first look at the Baby Unicorn Horn that will become a pendant:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1E_3oROV-w/

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

©2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

Yes? Or maybe you just had to step outside for a break from the food & family. I'm in the Studio today, designing a "joint rolling" themed man broach which I hope to make in Sterling Silver, BC Jade, and 18K Yellow Gold. Destination unknown, more of an art piece, but perfect for the Met Gala or a music award show.

See what we make:

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

©2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

Nobody knows your designs better than you, so use that deep knowledge to sell your products. On the bench: we are making a large Cornicello pendant out of a rare Baby Unicorn Horn which you can see in process on our Insta page @tribedotca. There's nothing like this jewelry piece and it'll be an ideal pendant to rock on a big stage or at the Met Gala.

Happy Holidays to you all!

See what we make:

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

©2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

What is an artist studio? Why do you need one? How do you build your first studio? You'll know after listening to this episode.

See what we make:

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

©2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

This simple trick will unlock your creativity. Use my secret artist brain hack to get new creative ideas and break through creative blocks. It's free, and it works.

See what we make:

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

©2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

Creating visual imagery for your luxury products for marketing or social media web content. How to communicate with non-visual people. Over-enthusiasm. Finding reindeer. Other topics.

TRIBE DOGBUDS - Precious metal Cannabis Bud Charms for dogs, reindeer, belt, or key fob:

https://tribe.ca/dogbuds

See what we make:

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

©2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

I've been thinking how important the Technics 1200 turntable is to humanity. Dust covered, drink soaked, barfed on, even Playa gooed, they rarely complain. Yet they created DJ Culture, Hip Hop Culture, and they deserve our respect.

They need to be adorned. We are going to do that.

TRIBE DJ Collection:

https://tribe.ca/dj

See what we make:

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

©2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

The Technics trademark is owned by Panasonic and we have no relationship or affiliation with them.

I love visiting maker fairs and shows just before Christmas, especially for the granny-baked cookies, cakes and pies. But I also go to find suppliers for our product designs. It's pastries AND market research.

Are you a buyer or a seller at your local fair?

See what we make:

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

©2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

The USA has shot itself in the face. I have never seen brand destruction like this before. They are doing absolutely everything they can to drive away their friends and customers.

We in Canada are buying Canadian and non-USA products. Customers around the world will soon avoid purchasing USA made products on principal alone, and this presents business opportunities for us outside America, if we can figure out how to trade with each other.

TRIBE - Custom precious metal jewelry pieces for corporate awards, trophies, and fundraising prizes.
https://tribe.ca

Send an email to alexd@cannabisgoldsmith.com to get on our mailing list or to commission custom jewelry products from TRIBE.

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Upper Canada.
©2025 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark

Cannabis accessories need to grow up. Their design is mired in the past, and there is so much room for improvement.

Mentioned:

Tribe 24K Gold Emperor Nail / Pendant

https://tribe.ca/emperor

Notice:

A Coffee Table Book on High End Cannabis Accessories is coming in 2024:

We are publishing a coffee table book on very high end cannabis accessories in 2024. If you are a maker and would like to be included in the book, the first step is drop me an email with a photograph of what you make. Get on this fast.

See what we make:

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

©2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

Artists are sensitive. We pick up everything. War, even in distant lands, can overload us and shut us down, or we can take that energy and convert it into Art.

See what I make:

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

(c)2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

Where do Pinky Rings come from and where are they going?

Plus, I talk about the after effects of the eye surgery.

Mentioned - Trophy Ring For A Master Grower sealing ring:

https://tribe.ca/trophy-ring-for-a-master-grower/

***

Sponsored by tribe, the World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler.

Custom made is always better.

See what we make at https://tribe.ca

Product of Canada

This podcast is produced by tribe communications inc. in the 1000 Islands area of Ontario Canada.

(c) tribe 2023

(R) tribe is a registered trademark

Facing the prospect of eye surgery can be a daunting experience for any visual artist or designer. Join me on this special episode recorded just before and after my cataract surgery. Gain valuable insights into what the operation entails and how to navigate the experience as a creative professional.

***

Sponsored by tribe, the World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler.

Custom made is always better.

See what we make at https://tribe.ca

Product of Canada

This podcast is produced by tribe communications inc. in the 1000 Islands area of Ontario Canada.

(c) tribe 2023

(R) tribe is a registered trademark

Technology products are taps, not jewelry. In this show, we explore the longevity of products, and how far people will go to recycle gold.

See what we make:

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

(c)2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

Mentioned:

Prof G:

https://www.profgalloway.com/

The first ever style review of a tech conference!

Tech is the new Hollywood, so why not?

A deep, comprehensive analysis of the jewelry pieces worn at the main event, by CNBC Senior Tech & Media Journalist Julia Boorstin, and X /Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino. There's a lot going on here. You will be surprised.

BONUS! I offer jewelry wearing tips to the Verge's Nilay Patel and Platformer's Casey Newton that will take their tech conferencing to the next level :)

***

See what we make:

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

(c)2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

***

Mentioned:

CODE 2023

https://voxmediaevents.com/code2023Apply

THe Verge

https://www.theverge.com/

Harry Winston

https://www.harrywinston.com/en

Anine Bing

https://www.aninebing.com

Midlife is hard. You start questioning everything and looking inside for answers. It can be painful if the answers don't come. Art can help, and in this episode I'll offer some suggestions on how to use Art to make the rest of your life better.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Artist Stacey Case

https://applesandart.ca/artist/stacey-case/

OCAD University (Ontario College of Art & Design)

https://www.ocadu.ca/

Recommended Reading:

Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer: The Artistry, Joy, and Career of Storytelling by J. Michael Straczynski

Let us make you something magnificent:

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

(c)2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

Dear Mark:

Instagram is not what it used to be and you need to make it safer before we will buy any advertising on your platform.

Sincerely,

alexd

CEO/tribe

Gatekeepers control the free flow of information on the Internet for their own benefit, not yours or mine.

If you are a Canadian business and choose to post your content on Meta products, they now suppress the discovery of your content, which is the complete opposite of virality, in order to drive you to buy advertising on the platform.

They've convinced users over time that our posted content 'could' go viral. It won't, but a lot of us still feel it might. This Meta brainwashing is exactly what drives smaller businesses to buy ads on the Insta slot machine wheel. The 'hope' of creating virality for your content on the platform with advertising is a false hope.

Does gambling like this sound like a smart marketing plan for any business or artist?

We can choose not to design or produce content for Mark Zuckerberg, until he stops filling his platform with toxic commercial content that causes teens to cut themselves, to kill themselves. We can choose to kick Zuckerberg to the curb and this is what I will be doing here at tribe.

In Canada, small and medium sized business and artists have a larger problem and an even worse gatekeeper: our own government. The Canadian government's new media control law C-18 has triggered Meta to block Canadian online content at scale, so even if a Canadian content provider buy ads on the platform, there is really no guarantee the ads will ever be seen in Canada, or anywhere else.

In this podcast I explain why virality doesn't exist on Instagram or any Meta product anymore, and why it isn't wise to use Instagram or any Meta product as your single marketing channel. Produce content for yourself and your customers, not for Instagram or Mark Zuckerberg.

Media Mentioned:

Pivot Podcast: https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/show/pivot

Prof G Podcast: https://profgmedia.com/the-pod/

Prof Michael Geist: https://www.michaelgeist.ca/blog/

Painting with John: https://www.hbo.com/painting-with-john

Books Mentioned:

Rings For The Finger by George Frederick Kunz (1917)

Complete Metalsmith: Professional Edition by Tim McCreight

Practical Casting by Tim McCreight

The Cannabis Goldsmith - A Show About Jewelry, is an Art & Design podcast produced by tribe communications inc. in the 1000 Islands area of Ontario, Canada.

Tribe is a member of the Canadian Jewellers Association and an Authorized User of Canada's National Precious Metals Mark.

(c) tribe 2023

(R) tribe is a registered trademark

It's September and that means Sapphires!

In this episode I talk about using Sapphires in jewelry design and my own experience finding an exquisite Fancy Sapphire on a treasure hunt in the Indian Ocean.

Mentioned:

GIA information on Sapphire:

https://www.gia.edu/sapphire

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

(c)2023 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

Photographing shiny objects like jewelry is hard. Giving the photographs a brand vibe is even harder. Your brand's public facing photography needs to match your own brand, not Shopify's, or whoever designed your web site.

Some good and bad examples of jewelry photography online:

Buccellati is still using real photography on their site and it is quite good. The vibe here is quiet professionalism, tradition and high quality jewelry.

https://www.buccellati.com/

Georg Jensen is using real photography on their site but some of it's so poorly executed it's odd looking. Or perhaps the photoshop post production team did that. Both the jewelry and the models look somehow off in many of these photographs.

https://www.georgjensen.com/en-us/jewelry/new-arrivals

My goal is crisp accurate photography against dark backgrounds to minimize distraction and maximize visual richness.

See photography of our own jewelry at https://tribe.ca

Note that any trademarks mentioned here are owned by the respective brands. The opinions here are my own as a photographer and jewelry designer.

The Cannabis Goldsmith is produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Canada. TRIBE is a registered trademark.

There are ridiculous estimates of the value of Taylor Swift's engagement ring out there on the mainstream media. Here's what it is really worth. We reverse engineer the construction of the ring to find we can make you an exact replica with a lab grown diamond for $50K, delivered.

I explore where the real value lies in the engagement ring, and how the football player boyfriend did OK with his ring choice (if it was his decision) . I explore how he could have sought out a named stone to take the ring to a higher level.

TRIBE - Custom precious metal jewelry pieces for awards, trophies, and fundraising prizes.

https://tribe.ca

Send an email to alexd@cannabisgoldsmith.com to get on our mailing list or to commission custom jewelry products from TRIBE.

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Upper Canada.

©2025 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark

Anxiety and Imagination are closely related. Our huge artist and designer imaginations predispose us to anxiety. But the answer to anxiety may be in our own art, and by producing our art we can tame anxiety.

In this episode I describe how I deal with my own anxiety, where I think it came from, and how I manage it with art, design, or physical activity.

Mentioned:

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

(c)2023 TRIBE. TRIBE is a registered trademark.

What is luxury anyway? Is luxury real? Or is it just a word invented by ad men to sell you more expensive products? Let's get to the root of luxury, so we can identify true luxury, in any category.

Mentioned:

Suzanne Belperron

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/jewelry-and-watches/a27888020/suzanne-belperron-behind-the-scenes-sothebys/

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

TRIBE is a registered trademark.

(c)2023 TRIBE

It's my company's 30th Anniversary!

On August 15, 1993 I launched TRIBE as a monthly magazine about DJ Culture and Electronic Music in Canada. TRIBE grew and later became the bible of a massive rave and house music scene, sewing the seeds for Canada's hip hop and house music landscape as it exists today.

In this episode I go back to 1993 and describe what Toronto was like, why I launched TRIBE, how we did it, what the brand has become, and how we turned into a luxury jeweler.

What an adventure and an immense honor and joy to have shared dance floors in the dark under dripping ceilings with you all.

TRIBE - The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler

https://tribe.ca

TRIBE MAGAZINE legacy forum

https://tribemagazine.com

©2023 tribe communications inc.

TRIBE is a Registered Trademark

This week, DJ David Morales was in London and wanted to go shopping in the Cartier store on Bond Street. Cartier wouldn't let him in, even though he's a customer and was even wearing one of their expensive bracelets at the time. He posted about this on his Instagram, which is how it came to my attention. Where do I even start...

I think Cartier’s treatment of David Morales was unacceptable and unprofessional. They should not judge their customers by their appearance or clothing, but by their character and loyalty. They should not alienate their existing customers or potential customers by creating a hostile and elitist atmosphere. They should respect and value everyone who walks into their store, regardless of their style or background.

How does David feel about their products now, I wonder?

David, please email me and we'll make you a high jewelry piece that is totally magnificent and more relevant to you as a person, as a human being.

xo

alexd

CEO/tribe

DJ David Morales at Cartier on Bond Street Insta Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CvkH93Vtpwg

My photograph of David Morales at the launch of Stereo Bar in Montreal, Canada, 1998, TRIBE MAGAZINE: https://tribe.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web-T56-1998_DSC3733.jpg

De La Soul - A Roller Skating Jam Called Saturdays 6 A.M. David Morales Mix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lso_-lNkwrk

Our designs: https://tribe.ca

Here's a bracelet we call Seed Viking: https://www.instagram.com/p/CnoxPtZu4Qd/

Here's a DJ inspired design by TRIBE. A 1200 Strobe Pattern on A Sterling Silver Shoe Bar, cast directly from one of our own well-used Technics 1200 platters in the workshop. Yes, we have 1200's in the design workshop. The shoe bar is also available in 14K and 18K golds: https://www.instagram.com/p/CXKKrbkAOC8/

The Cannabis Goldsmith is produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC.. TRIBE is a registered trademark. We are proudly Canadian and a Member of the Canadian Jewelers Association.

Are you trapped in meaningless social media whirlpools when you should be marketing your art or designs? Does social medial have any real value for an artist or designer, or does it just feel that way?

See our amazing jewelry designs at https://tribe.ca

We are the World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler.

Wear The Plant,

alexd

xo

There are 3 plants left now and they are in full veg! I consider tuning and focusing the brand's marketing channels to connect with new customers in new ways.

See what we do at https://tribe.ca

Tribe is the world's luxury cannabis jeweler.

Proudly Canadian :)

How jewelry designers use lasers.

Christmas in July!

Completing 2 new adjustable ring designs for the holiday season, chilling with bunnies, vacuum pumps, other topics.

TRIBE is the world's luxury cannabis jeweler.

See what we do at:

https://tribe.ca

The cannabis goldsmith podcast is produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada.

Exploring the design process around our new, adjustable, cannabis leaf rings that will soon be available for custom order for Christmas in Sterling Silver, 14K or 18K Yellow Golds.

I talk about the challenges of capturing the features of delicate new live cannabis leaves to transmute into fine precious metal rings for the Christmas Season.

See what we do at https://tribe.ca

The Cannabis Goldsmith is produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Canada. All rights reserved.

Are synthetic diamonds for real? Find out in this episode.

Great info on synthetic diamonds and how they're made:

https://www.gia.edu/hpht-and-cvd-diamond-growth-processes#item-0

CVD grown 50.25 "Shirpa" diamond:

https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/igi-largest-multi-colored-lab-grown/

What I make:

TRIBE is the world's luxury cannabis jeweler! See our precious metal jewelry made from live cannabis plants at https://tribe.ca

Diamonds may be forever but time is coming for them, hard.

Machines are making diamonds at over 50 carats now, without AI! Sanctions against Russian diamonds will be coming in January, but can you even distinguish Russian diamonds from other diamonds? Will Spacecode save us?

Read:

U.S. Crackdown on Russian Diamonds Expected to Start Jan 1

https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/u-s-crackdown-russian-diamonds/

The 50.25 carat manufactured diamond, named “Shirpa”

https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/igi-largest-multi-colored-lab-grown/

Diamond prices drop further, and Botswana, a country where 20% of their effective GDP comes from mining natural diamonds, is in deep trouble.

Over 25 international post offices are refusing to ship packages to the United States and this will cause problems for artists trying to reach US customers. It's time to say goodbye to America and look for domestic and new international markets. I explain how I am thinking about this for TRIBE and our products.

TRIBE - Bringing Sterling Silver Trophy Belt Buckles Into The Modern World

https://tribe.ca

Send an email to alexd@cannabisgoldsmith.com to get on our mailing list or to commission custom jewelry products from TRIBE.

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Upper Canada.

©2025 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark

Dealing with artists can be a challenge, whether it's your partner, your boss or your 4 year old.

Want us to make you a magnificent piece of jewelry?

https://tribe.ca/

Worth Watching: Forced Perspective: The Art and Life of Derek Hess (2015)

Failure is the most important part of anything! Failure IS an option!

This episode is about how to have a successful relationship with failure so you can fail your way to success.

See our amazing jewelry products cast in precious metals from live cannabis plants at https://tribe.ca

This podcast, and all our products, are proudly Made in Canada.

In this episode I talk about what podcasting means and how we are using it to create a different kind of culture/art show in the podcast-o-sphere.

Topics include: How to start your own podcast, learn how to podcast in 10 minutes flat, podcast gear essentials. I describe what's happening with a plant in the ground here in Canada and how it might be good for this year's jewelry designs.

See what we do at https://tribe.ca

I went to Ottawa and got inspired in the Hall of Remembrance. I talk abut how design inspiration can come from anywhere, and does.

See what I design at https://tribe.ca

What are magazines anyway? What is publishing?

See what we do at TRIBE, we're the World's Luxury Cannabis Jewelers.

See what we do at https://tribe.ca

In this episode I talk about the 'vibe' of jewelry and discuss using organic materials like tusk in jewelry design.

See what we do at https://tribe.ca

Thanks for listening!

alexd

Why does that official photograph of King Charles III and Queen Camilla look so strange?

In this episode we talk about The Great Star of Africa, the bling of Empire, the massive diamond in the Sovereign Scepter with Cross in the crown jewels.

See what we do at https://tribe.ca

Want tribe to make you something amazing mind blowing?

Reach out alexd@cannabisgoldsmith.com

© 2023 TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC.

TRIBE is a registered trademark

I design from my own life experience.

You’ve probably heard the story of TRIBE. How we launched in 1993 as a DJ culture magazine and rocked it for well over a decade, giving birth to Canada's electronic music scene.

But before that, I was a club and after hours party DJ. From 1979-1986, that time when Disco was fading and House music was rising.

I’ve been at hip hop street jams, underground raves, parties in actual warehouses with water dripping from the ceiling like stalactites, underground parking garages, massive 100,000 person events, kitchen parties, boat parties and field parties in hidden meadows.

So when it came to creating a line of luxury jewelry and accessories for DJs, I knew exactly what to do!

In this episode, I share how we transform the idea of the iconic Technics 1200 turntable into rings, bracelets and shoe bling (Shoe Bars). I also introduce our new Sterling Silver Turntable Ingots, functional precious metal assets for your decks.

Can you feel it?

Links

The World's Luxury Cannabis Jeweler https://tribe.ca

Some photographs I shot back in the day so you can feel the vibe of this episode https://tribe.ca/legacy

Go see DJ Mark Farina when he's playing in your town https://djmarkfarina.net/

*waves at Eggbert*

Gemstones have physical and perhaps even spiritual characteristics. Here's an overview of how jewelry designers consider gemstones and how we think about them at Tribe. Well go into deep detail about individual gemstone types in future episodes of the Cannabis Goldsmith. This will get you started.

Recommended Reading about gemstones. I suggest you buy both books.

Science:

Gemstones of the World: Newly Revised Fifth Edition by Walter Schumann

Excellent data and great photography. I am still using my 3rd edition. A good handbook to have at home or in the workshop.

Not Science:

Love Is in the Earth: A Kaleidoscope of Crystals by Melody

This is the bible for crystal healers, but be warned, there are no photographs in this book. Use Schumann's book for photographs.

Visit us online to see what we do at https://tribe.ca

Thanks for listening,

alexd

The Cannabis Goldsmith is produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in the Thousand Islands area of Ontario, Canada.

Silver.

Why do people hate it? Why do people love it? Why do people plate it?

I will explain it all in the Silver episode.

Notes:

Photographs I talk about on the episode are located on our homepage at https://tribe.ca . No filters are used in the photographs to change color. A single lighting position was used with a clean, white-balanced light. Note how different silver can look, depending on surface detail in the design and finish. But, the angle that light strikes it can change silver's appearance too. All this is what makes it so versatile for jewelry design and for wearing :)

It's Episode 10! Can you believe it? It's like I've been talking to you for 5 hours!

xo alexd

Middlemen suck, especially for artists. Here's why.

TRIBE - Bringing Sterling Silver Trophy Belt Buckles Into The Modern World

https://tribe.ca

Send an email to alexd@cannabisgoldsmith.com to get on our mailing list or to commission custom jewelry products from TRIBE.

The Cannabis Goldsmith is an Art & Design podcast produced by TRIBE COMMUNICATIONS INC. in Ontario, Upper Canada.

©2025 TRIBE

TRIBE is a registered trademark

Charms and Charm Bracelets. What are they about anyway? How long have they been around? Why are they no longer as popular as they once were? What's the scoop on Charm Bracelets?

I theorize on the possible origins of this important type of jewelry and attempt to bring a high end Cannabis Charm Bracelet into the modern world.

Recommended Reading:

Charms and Charm Bracelets: The Complete Guide by Joanne Schwartz, Photography by Robert N. Schwartz

Check out my designs at https://tribe.ca

Watch out for Cave Tigers!

alexd

What is quality and why does it matter?

How social media dilutes quality, how scale reduces quality in physical objects but increases quality in digital objects, and other topics.

Visit us online at https://tribe.ca

Follow us on Insta @tribedotca

https://instagram.com/tribedotca

Next week let's talk about charm bracelets! For dudes!

Wear the Plant,

alexd

In this episode of the Cannabis Goldsmith I describe what it's like to collaborate with the cannabis plant to produce precious metal high jewelry products, how we come up with our jewelry designs and how we work with the plant to create new design directions. I talk about What it's like to break a path in a new industry.

I talk about how we separated our design work from the precious metal casting itself, which still happens in the workshop in the jewelry district in downtown Toronto.

The tribe design studio in the Thousand Islands is a skunkworks for skunk design. We model plants in waxes and plastic resins, sculpt designs with traditional tools and industrial lasers. We grow 4 plants, year-round, which is legal in Canada. They are our master design models for the products we create.

Lately we've run experiments feeding the plants special nutrients to increase the thickness and detail in the leaves, to improve the live casting in the final precious metal products. The results are spectacular.

See them at:

https://tribe.ca

Wear the plant

alexd