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Pearls Take the Spotlight with Special Guest Renée Newman

March 17, 2026 Program Meeting Starts at 7:00 p.m.

A 112-carat abalone pearl was found in Sonoma County, California in 1990 by the late Wes Rankin. After the pearl was appraised at $144,000 by John Latendresse, Wes decided to go into the natural pearl business and started the Pacific Coast Pearls company. Abalone fishing has been illegal in California since 2018, in order to save the dwindling population of abalone. However, it is still allowed in Baja California, Mexico during non-spawning months. Besides briefly discussing natural pearls from California and Mexico, Renée’s PowerPoint presentation will also include other topics such as:

  • The American pearl rush
  • The highest priced pearls
  • South Sea pearls that resemble Chinese freshwater baroque pearls and how to distinguish them
  • How Australia became the first country to produce cultured saltwater round pearls
  • How pearl oysters improve our atmosphere and the oceans.
    And more.

Renee Newman GG (GIA) is the author of 16 books on jewelry and gems. Her interest in pearls developed when she was an international tour director and visited Japan, China, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and French Polynesia. After obtaining her GG from GIA, she became a gemologist and jewelry control manager for the Josam Diamond Trading Corporation in downtown Los Angeles. Even though their focus was on diamonds, they realized that mounting diamonds with colored gems and pearls gave them a wider variety of jewelry to sell and higher profit margins. Armed with trade experience and gemological credentials, Newman decided to create books that helped readers visually evaluate the quality of gems. Since 1989, she has written fourteen books on gems and jewelry. Her latest book is Pearls: Their History, Sources, Types & Qualities. The books will be available for sale at the meeting for a discounted price. Bring cash or check. For more information about Renée and her books go to http://www.reneenewman.com. You can connect with her on Instagram @reneenewmangg and Facebook at www.facebook.com/renee.newman.

This program meeting takes place at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of The Santa Anita Church, 226 W. Colorado Blvd., Arcadia, CA 91007, on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Come join us! Doors open at 6:30, admission is free; open to the public. Enjoy refreshments while checking out the display table; bring a rock specimen you’d like identified. Buy a raffle ticket for a few bucks and try your luck at winning a cool rock specimen, slab, or otherwise. We hope to see you there!

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Program Meeting Tuesday, Feb. 17; 7:00 p.m.

Our planned speaker for February had to cancel but fear not — Pasadena Lapidary Society member Bill Walls will give a short talk about field trip findings and we will be watching a movie about a Selenite crystal cave in Mexico. Imagine a cave with massive crystals bigger than telephone poles! Check out this Wikipedia page to get an idea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Crystals

This program meeting takes place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of The Santa Anita Church, 226 W. Colorado Blvd., Arcadia, CA 91007. Admission is free; open to the public. Enjoy refreshments while checking out the display table. Bring a rock specimen you’d like identified – or maybe you have a special memory attached to one that you can share while you’re at the meeting. Hope to see you there!

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Altering Stones Subject of Tuesday, January 20 Meeting; 7:00 p.m.

PLS Vice President Barna Laszlo will lead a “show and tell”-style talk about depositing some coloring or filling agent into the pores of rocks in order to change how they look or improve their durability. The chemistry involved in these processes range from making a glue bond to using highly reactive compounds. Barna will show around several samples so that you can decide whether you like the results or not.

This program meeting takes place on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of The Santa Anita Church, 226 W. Colorado Blvd., Arcadia, CA 91007.

Come join us! Doors open at 6:30, admission is free; open to the public. Enjoy refreshments while checking out the display table; bring a rock specimen you’d like identified. We hope to see you there!

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Happy Holidays!

No program meeting for December


Pasadena Lapidary Society members will be attending our Christmas Party in lieu of a program meeting for December. We wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season and a very Happy 2026! Stay tuned for information on our January program meeting, which will be held Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

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PLS Takes a Look at the Sunstone Mining Fields of Oregon

Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

Photo credit: Craig Parrot
Front and side view of same stone showing the schiller in the sunstone (a shimmering effect caused by the reflections off the inclusions). The sunstone is considered a phenomenal gemstone.

Craig Parrott of RockaWilliam Minerals will be our special guest as he presents Sunstone Mining Fields of Oregon. In this talk, he’ll take you along for the journey from San Diego to the remote Sunstone mining fields of Oregon. You’ll learn exactly where to go and what to expect, from open-collecting areas to the fee-dig mines that produce facet-grade and cabochon material. He’ll share practical tips to make your trip safe, fun, and rewarding, covering everything from desert prep to identifying the best stones in the field. Craig will talk about costs, travel logistics, and what tools you’ll need to make the most of your time. He will also offer guidance on how to orient your rough for cutting, whether you’re aiming for sparkling faceted gems or rich, glowing cabochons. Come ready to experience the thrill of finding your own Oregon Sunstones!

BIENNIAL OFFICER ELECTIONS to be held at the November 18th meeting. During the business portion of our General Meeting, Pasadena Lapidary Society will be holding its biennial officer elections. These officers will serve for two years (2026-2027). If a PLS member would like to run for one of these offices or would like to nominate someone, please contact Curtis Kan as soon as possible. Nominations from the floor will also be taken at the meeting. Below is the slate of candidates we have for each office at this time:
President- David Lacy
Vice President- Barna Laszlo
Secretary- Sue Dekany
Treasurer- Phil Lahr
Federation Director- Sue Pang

This program meeting takes place on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of The Santa Anita Church, 226 W. Colorado Blvd., Arcadia, CA 91007.

Come join us! Doors open at 6:30, admission is free; open to the public. Enjoy refreshments while checking out the display table; bring a rock specimen you’d like identified. We hope to see you there!

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Tuesday, October 21 General Program Meeting Focuses on Minas Gerais, Brazil; 7:00 p.m.

PLS Member Paolo Sanchez Presents Findings From His June 2025 Expedition to This Mineral-Rich Area

Paolo doing field work in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

This month’s presentation by Pasadena Lapidary Society member Paolo Sanchez focuses on the famed mineral-rich districts of Minas Gerais, Brazil, following his June 2025 expedition to this region. Paolo spent two and a half weeks exploring gem- and lithium-rich pegmatites of grand proportions as part of his research to understand how the melting ancient ocean floor could contribute to making these deposits. This talk will touch upon historic gem mining in the area as well as an international rush for lithium and industrial minerals happening today, with a focus on the mining districts of Linopolis, Araçuai, and Diamantina.

Also, PLS Vice President Barna Laszlo will do a short talk on altering stones.

This month’s program meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room of The Santa Anita Church, 226 W. Colorado Blvd., Arcadia, CA 91007.

Come join us! Doors open at 6:30, admission is free; open to the public. Enjoy refreshments while checking out the display table; bring a rock specimen you’d like identified. We hope to see you there!

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“The Colorful Condor Agates of Argentina”, Subject of September Program Meeting

7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 16th, 2025

Our main speaker for the September program meeting will be Mary Pat Weber, geologist and mineral collector, who will present “The Colorful Condor Agates of Argentina”. She will present the amazing story of how these agates were discovered, lost, and re-discovered in a remote, inhospitable region high in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. Condor agates are colorful, tightly banded agates and patterned agates found in the mountains near San Rafael, in Mendoza Province, Argentina. This agate has become a popular stone among collectors and jewelry designers. Specimens of these beautiful agates from Mary Pat’s personal collection will be on display at the meeting.

Another Condor agate specimen. Photo provided by Condor Agate via Facebook.

There will also be a short talk at this meeting in the form of a recap of our members’ experiences at Camp Paradise, a CFMS-sponsored lapidary and jewelry camp. As a group, we attended every class offered this year. We learned new things and made beautiful projects. Camp Paradise offers two 1-week sessions each August for members of CFMS affiliated clubs such as Pasadena Lapidary Society. Come learn about this wonderful experience and make your plans for next year.

This program meeting takes place at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of The Santa Anita Church, 226 W. Colorado Blvd., Arcadia, CA 91007.

Admission is free; open to the public. Enjoy refreshments while checking out the display table; bring a rock specimen you’d like identified. See you there!

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Tony Swatton, Master Blacksmith and Gemcutter to Present at PLS August Program Meeting

Tony Swatton, creating art from fire.

Meeting starts Tuesday, August 19th at 7:00 p.m.

Tony Swatton is a self-taught blacksmith, gemcutter and armorer with over 35 years’ experience. Known for crafting historically accurate and fantasy-inspired weapons and armor, his work has appeared in films and TV series like Pirates of the Caribbean, Thor, and The Mandalorian. Swatton is also the creator of the popular YouTube series Man at Arms, where he recreates famous pop-culture weapons. He has conducted demonstrations and classes worldwide, sharing his expertise in blacksmithing and bladesmithing. His Burbank business, The Sword and Stone, is highly regarded in the industry for its craftsmanship and innovation.

This program meeting takes place on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of The Santa Anita Church, 226 W. Colorado Blvd., Arcadia, CA 91007. Admission is free; open to the public. Enjoy refreshments while checking out the display table. Bring a rock specimen you’d like identified – or maybe you have a special memory attached to one that you can share while you’re at the meeting. Hope to see you there!

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Pasadena Lapidary Society Members Win Big at Annual CFMS Show

Sue Dekany with her CFMS awards


Pasadena Lapidary Society members Sue Dekany and Sandie & Tony Fender walked away with key awards at the annual CFMS (California Federation of Mineralogical Societies) Show and Convention held this year in Lancaster on May 10-11.

Sue Dekany, PLS Secretary, had been working toward entering a competitive case in late 2024.  Then came the Eaton Fire, and Sue’s accumulated work was trashed.  Out of the ashes, however, Sue thought the remnants would make an interesting educational display.  Boy, was she right!  Over Mother’s Day weekend she set up her Novice-Educational-General Concept-General Audience display showing her rocks that had been cooked in the Eaton Fire, submitted the case competitively in the Novice category of the CFMS show and the result: a Double Win with ‘Best of Show’ and the ‘President’s Award’.  (Sue’s exhibit will be on display again September 20-21 at our annual show in Arcadia.)  Sue’s observations from her rock collection debris: many rocks were massively oxidized (pyrite, some jaspers, onyx and serpentine), every bit of metal lost its protective polish, obsidian fractured in a spiral, but otherwise looked normal, quartz crystals and fluorite turned white and brittle, and amazingly an apatite cabochon survived, looking the same as before the fire.

Sandie and Tony Fender share the CFMS Golden Bear award

PLS members Sandie and Tony Fender were presented with the illustrious Golden Bear Award, given only to recipients in recognition of outstanding service to the CFMS.  Tony and Sandie are both retired educators and lifelong rockhounds.  Over the years they have dedicated much of their time and efforts to holding various positions in the CFMS and are members of several gem and mineral clubs in Southern California.  They’re also avid square dancers! The Pasadena Lapidary Society is beaming with pride over these wins. 

The California Federation of Mineralogical Societies represents over 100 gem and rockhound clubs statewide, as well as a few clubs in Nevada and Arizona.  Visit cfmsinc.org for further information.

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July 15, 2025 MEMBERS ONLY Meeting

Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.

The July 2025 Pasadena Lapidary Society meeting will be closed to non-members this month as we celebrate the Summer, another year’s anniversary, and confer over our annual Gem and Mineral show coming in September.

The August meeting will be business as usual and open to visitors. Stay tuned for program information for the August 19th meeting.