Advice and Safety
A catch all category for safety advice, particularly about minerals but sometimes current events – Coronavirus, especially.
Removing rust from your jewellery making tools
The UK is a fairly humid, wet country, and we have many jewellers and other craftsmen and craftswomen who work in sheds or home workshops. A question was asked in the Society of British Jewellers facebook group recently by a lady whose tools have gone rusty due to a...
Pyrite rot: What is it and how can it be stopped?
Pyrite is a mineral common to many mineral collections and to collectors - otherwise known as 'iron pyrite' or 'fools gold', due to an occasional superficial appearance to gold. The unusual crystal formations of many Pyrite specimens make it a really popular...
Fake Foredom Motors / Flexible Shaft tools
A warning to jewellers - fake Foredom motors This issue has come up a few times in the past, but has raised its head a little more of recent. I'm sure a lot of people are aware, but Chinese fakes of Foredom motors/flexible shaft tools are very common - to the extent...
Fakes, scams, and tricks: (Some) Gemstone certificates of authenticity
I get questions fairly often asking if I provide a certificate of authenticity with the items I sell.I don't, and its largely due to a personal belief that the majority of the time they aren't worth having. In the assorted mineral, crystal, fossil, and gemstone...
Dangerous Minerals: ‘Swiss Opal’
Yeah, I know. I know. Sometimes you just want me to shut up and let you have nice things. I was offered some 'Swiss green Opal' by a seller I've dealt with a few times based out of Jaipur, India. I was already buying a few items so figured I'd take a look...
Dangerous Minerals: Bumblebee Jasper
'Bumblebee Jasper' / 'Mustard Jasper' An attractive orange, white, and black mineral - the contrasts of this piece make it a popular eye-catcher. However, it has a dark secret. First of all, this material is not a form of Jasper at all. Dripping acids onto the surface...
Coronavirus
Please note that until further notice, orders from Albion Fire and Ice will only be dispatched twice weekly. Orders can still be placed and your items will be reserved, but they will not be shipped until either Tuesday or Friday. I recommend washing your hands after...
DON’T put crystals in your water (or your vagina…)
Please... don't put crystals in your water. Or your vagina. Okay, so, weird post. I originally wrote this in 2019 and never got around to publishing it. It was intended to address two growing fads that I'm really not comfortable with supplying crystals for (and never...