This content was first published on IGR – Italian Gemological Review no. 15 in 2022. The information provided here is therefore current as of the original publication date.
Martì Valoso’s debut work, “My First 40 Carats” (original title: “I miei primi 40 carati”), is the kind of book you might not expect: an autobiographical novel that opens the door to the gemstone world to both the uninitiated and those who are often unaware of the whole story in the background, being they deeply involved in the trade as their daily business.
At a certain point during their lifetime, a gem trader, a geologist, a simple enthusiast, happen to have the genuine desire to move to where these shining precious materials called gems are searched for, mined, cut, processed and traded. Eventually, some people turn what was supposed to be just a dream into their own job, as Martì Valoso did, although he wouldn’t exactly define it that way and you’ll find out why, when scrolling through the pages of this little pocket volume published (currently only in Italian) by dei Merangoli.
Tanzania, Colombia, Minas Gerais, Zambia are such picturesque places when we mention them in the trade, yet these places can also present countless dangers when unwisely approached by travelers uncomfortable with the unexpected. Not coincidentally, Martì Valoso’s novel gripping initial paragraph sounds very much like a thriller and plunges the reader into a situation of danger – both perceived and real – each of us may sooner or later may stumble into.
What we are dealing with is not specifically a technical text but one of true gemological (autobiographical) fiction. Reading flows faster than ever, along a journey that will be itinerant, across many continents, the places where gemstones are mined and produced (from Africa to South America, from the United States to Russia). We learn oddities, such as: why do Brazilian favela dwellers hate the number 20? Martì gets us into the thick of the business, not hesitating to show us, for example, how gem traders come up with the most daring solutions to get through customs controls. He explains the most unlikely places where money and gems can be hidden. In short, through this breathtaking tale we get a clear view of all the issues at stake, the behind-the-scenes stories in which those who are engaged in the world of gemstones are involved.
Martì Valoso represents the adventurous side that every gem dealer can identify himself with. Basically, his gems are merely a pretext for traveling relentlessly, responding to customers’ requests, and looking for the big deal that comes once in a lifetime and that perhaps will provide an unexpected reward. The strangest and most sincere friends can be found through multifaceted characters involving surprising discoveries. This tale is a journey full of adventures, and all of them are experienced naturally and authentically. Around the gemstones a gallery of portraits and landscapes springs up in a road trip narrative that will certainly capture the attention of those who are familiar with this world. But not only them.
“I miei primi 40 carati” (“My First 40 Carats”)
Martì Valoso
Published in Rome (Italy) by dei Merangoli Editrice in 2021.
198 pages, softcover format available.
ISBN: 978-8898981748
Available, in Italian language, at online and physical Italian bookstores for the price of 15 €.
Article by Domenico Angelino, published on IGR – Rivista Italiana di Gemmologia #15, Autumn 2022
