The Rockshop at Harties

Today I take you along on my early-morning walk through Guangzhou as I head from my hotel to the famous Liwan Plaza . I stayed at a 7 Days Inn, and like most newcomers to China I expected the city to already be buzzing… but I quickly discovered something interesting: China doesn’t wake up early. Shops stay open late, and the streets only start getting busy after 11 AM — which meant I stepped out into a surprisingly quiet city. On my way, I explore the walking street near Liwan and come across the beautiful bronze sculptures placed along the path. They capture daily life in old Guangzhou and add incredible character to the area. It feels like walking through an open-air museum. Then I enter Liwan Plaza , and honestly… I am blown away. Floor after floor, shop after shop, stacked with stock — jewellery, packaging, beads, displays, tools… everything you could imagine and more. It’s overwhelming in the best way possible. I eventually find the small shop I’ve been looking for: the one...

Join me as I take a slow, curious walk through one of Guangzhou ’s most authentic local markets in the heart of the Liwan district . The streets are old, cobbled, and alive with colour, sounds, and the smell of fresh produce. This is not the tourist version of China — this is real daily life. From stalls overflowing with incredible vegetables to traditional meat sellers preparing cuts on wooden blocks, this market has everything. I pass fishmongers splashing water over tanks filled with live crabs and fish, chickens with their feet and heads still on, and even a jet-black chicken — something you don’t often see in South Africa ! Eggs of every shape, size, and colour line the tables. People chat, bargain, laugh, and go about their day. Right there on the street, barbers cut hair under umbrellas, and on my second day I even sat down for a street beard trim — a uniquely Guangzhou experience I'll never forget. Walk with me through the Liwan market and see this vibrant worl...

Step with me into China’s Pearl Wholesale Paradise as we explore one of the busiest and most fascinating gemstone hubs in the world— Liwan, Guangzhou . In this video, I take you on a rare walk-through inside a massive pearl wholesaler’s warehouse , giving you an up-close look at the incredible volume, variety, and quality of pearls packed into just one store. Liwan is known globally as a powerhouse in the pearl trade, and today you’ll see exactly why. From endless rows of freshwater pearl strands to trays of perfectly matched round pearls, baroque pearls, rice pearls, button pearls , and more, this warehouse showcases the full spectrum of what China’s pearl industry has to offer. Whether you’re a jewelry maker, gemstone lover, reseller, or simply curious about where pearls come from, this behind-the-scenes tour is an eye-opening experience. As we move through the warehouse, I’ll show you the difference between commercial-grade , mid-grade , and high-grade pearls—and how pearl buye...

What a day it’s been here at Silver Hills Gems in Hartbeespoort! In this video, I take you behind the scenes of our shop and show you what really goes into the work we do every day. We start off by sorting rubies on a glass table – a fascinating process where you can see each stone’s unique color and clarity come to life. From there, we move on to something creative: mounting sapphire crystals and rubies on small mirror tiles . This little trick not only makes the stones look incredible but also gives them a beautiful reflective backdrop perfect for display or photography. Speaking of photography, I’ll also share a few quick tips on how to improve your gemstone photos for the internet – great for anyone selling or showcasing their pieces online. If you’d like me to make a more in-depth, step-by-step video on this topic, let me know in the comments! We wrap up the day by adding some stylish touches to the shop: putting up our new Casa de Fonte tiles (inspired by Macau) and revea...

Description: We recently acquired a massive double-terminated quartz crystal weighing an incredible 70 kilograms . Its natural beauty was already breathtaking, but I wanted to take it one step further and transform it into a true showpiece. So, I headed to the scrapyard to source some steel and came back with a pile of curved pipes. After plenty of cutting, welding, and fitting , we finally created a unique stand that perfectly supports the crystal. But we didn’t stop there—holes were drilled into the pipes, and we wired up a 20-watt LED spotlight at the back. The result? Absolutely electrifying ! This once raw crystal is now a high-end interior décor piece , complete with a convenient push switch on the floor. You can come and experience this masterpiece in person at Silver Hills Gems, 74 Scott Street, Hartbeespoort . While you’re here, enjoy a coffee on the deck and let the kids have fun digging for treasures in our gemstone scratch patch . ✨ Trust me, it’s worth the visit!

Great! Here's a rich, atmospheric video description for your YouTube channel episode where young Helmut visits Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines and listens to agate stories from dealers around the world. It blends documentary storytelling with a touch of childlike wonder and global perspective: Video Description: In this episode, we follow Helmut , a young agate enthusiast with an old soul, as he wanders through the legendary mineral show at Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines in France. Surrounded by a kaleidoscope of crystals, gemstones, and rock dealers from every continent, Helmut isn’t just hunting for the most beautiful agate—he’s listening for the stories hidden inside them. This is a journey not just across the stalls of a world-famous show, but across cultures, myths, and memories —all shared by passionate collectors and dealers who have spent decades with these stones. Helmut speaks to a Brazilian vendor who shares how thunder-eggs from Rio Grande do Sul are said to carry the heartbeat...