I have been familiar with this magazine for a number of years. I was introduced to rock hounding by my grandfather when I was about 12 years old and he was a subscriber. As I got older I subscribed to the magazine myself and have been a subscriber more or less continuously since I was about 23. The hobby is a legacy that my grandfather left me long after he passed on. My Rock & Gem is a monthly reminder of that legacy. This should give you a little insight about my Epinions ID as well.

I will try to go over some of the regular features of this magazine and give a few details of them.

Craftsman of the Month
This is always at the front of the magazine, the page after the table of contents. It basically shows a project that a reader has completed and submitted. The article tells a little about the craftsperson but mostly about the processes involved in creating the item shown. There is a wide variety in this article as far as the types of crafts selected. It is a great source for ideas for projects of my own. I have always wanted to be creative, and talented, enough to make my way on to this page.

Field Trips
There is usually one article about a field trip in each issue. I love this section as they detail where, what, when and how. If you need to ask why, then the trip is not for you! They describe the collecting area pretty well, giving basic directions on getting to the site and geological features of the area. What material is collected is generally very well covered with thorough descriptions and several pictures. They definitely include information on the best time to collect in that particular area. Best of all they give you information on tools needed to collect the material in question. Most importantly, you are informed of any special permission that you would need to obtain in order to collect in the given area. The part of these that I find most fascinating is when they feature a site I have collected at. Seeing if they tell about the secret path back into the canyons that require true four-wheel drive and nerves of steel or not.

Projects
Each issue also includes one or two projects. They tend to offer enough variety that anyone interested in a specific aspect of the hobby can find something to do in at least an issue or two. They don’t necessarily feature step by step instructions but they are thorough enough to understand. Again, this is an area of great inspiration for me.

Show Dates
This is by far the best feature of this magazine. Most of these gem shows don’t receive a lot of publicity and are sometimes very difficult to find information on. This section details all the shows that are submitted for the coming months, including show dates, times, location, admission fees, and contact information. It doesn’t seem like much to most people, but it is a great treat to know where all of these shows are.

Shop Talk
This is a monthly, one-page article on the lapidary’s workshop. The author is very well versed in the tools of the trade, care of the tools, shop safety and even materials knowledge. Safety is a frequent topic. I read this article religiously as there are aspects of this hobby that can be extremely dangerous. There is also useful information on tool care, homemade tools and maintenance.

Rock Science
Another of the monthly, one-page articles, that shed some light on an aspect of the hobby. This one features a wide variety of subjects, from the latest breakthroughs in science to the make up of a recent meteorite. They sometimes talk about a specific gem or mineral and its chemical structure. It makes for interesting reading.

Feature Articles
What would any magazine be without a feature article? Look what we put on the cover to make you buy our magazine! Rock & Gem follows through with fantastic articles on everything from fabricated gems to gem carving. Of course, they do have one featured stone about once a year or so that I just have to read all I can about. I am sure you have figured this one out already, the opal. I regularly read and reread the opal issue. Opal is my passion within the field. I enjoy many aspects of the hobby but opal cutting is definitely my favorite. Rock & Gem does not let me down either. They give me thoughtful, thorough articles from the experts.

Overall
This magazine definitely fills a niche. There are not many magazines out there like it. It is generally well written, always informative and usually has adequate photography. Would I recommend it to my friends? Yes, if they had any interest in the hobby. It is a good magazine for the hobbyist and a useful tool in developing your skills in the


Recommended: Yes