Tony Briggs
Tony Briggs is an Australian actor, writer and producer. He was a former track and field athlete. He may be best known for creating the stage play The Sapphires telling the real story of an Aboriginal singing group, including his mother and aunt, who toured Vietnam during the war.
Who are the original sapphires?
Who are the real sapphires? LAUREL ROBINSON, Beverly Briggs and Naomi Mayers are the three original members of the Sapphires, the first popular Aboriginal all-female group. The movie, based on the band's true story, was the most successful Australian film of 2012. Click to see full answer.
Is sapphires a true story?
Sep 05, 2012 · From left to right: Lois Peeler, Naomi Mayers, Laurel Robinson and Beverley Briggs. Image credit: Hopscotch Films. LAUREL ROBINSON, Beverly Briggs and Naomi Mayers are the three original members of the Sapphires, the first popular Aboriginal all-female group. The movie, based on the band’s true story, was the most successful Australian film of 2012.
What is a natural sapphire?
He is brother to two of the original Sapphires, Beverly Briggs and Naomi Mayers, and cousin to the remaining two Sapphires, Lois Peeler and Laurel Robinson. Cedric recalled fond memories of his sisters and cousins always singing at Cummeragunja mission where they grew up. He also witnessed the first-ever mass strike of Aboriginal people in ...
What are the different types of sapphires?
Natural sapphires are formed in nature over several thousands of years and are extracted through intense mining processes. These sapphires are made of the mineral corundum and gem quality stones are relatively rare. However, finding untreated natural sapphires is difficult.
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Is The Sapphires a real group?
The Sapphires is based on the true story of an Aboriginal girl group from the same family who left Australia to sing soul music for US troops during the Vietnam war.Nov 6, 2012
Who are the four sapphires?
The Sapphires is about four Yorta Yorta Indigenous Australian women, Gail (Deborah Mailman), Julie (Jessica Mauboy), Kay (Shari Sebbens) and Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), who are discovered by a talent scout (Chris O'Dowd), and form a music group named The Sapphires, travelling to Vietnam in 1968 to sing for troops during ...
What language does Kay speak in The Sapphires?
VietnameseHowever, in an important scene in the film, a connection is made when Kay speaks Yorta-Yorta to ask the Vietnamese people who have stopped their car for permission to pass through their country.
Where are the real Sapphires now?
The three original members – Laurel, Beverly and Naomi – now work at the Aboriginal Medical Service, in Sydney's suburb of Redfern, where Naomi is chief executive.Sep 5, 2012
Are sapphires PG?
The Sapphires is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sexuality, a scene of war violence, some language, thematic elements and smoking.Jul 17, 2017
How true is The Sapphires movie?
A new film, The Sapphires, is loosely based on their story. Its plot might seem improbable, but Tony Briggs, who wrote the screenplay, knows just how true it is: One of the original, real-life Sapphires is his mother, Laurel Robinson.Mar 23, 2013
Why was Kay taken away in The Sapphires?
So when Julie, the most talented and ambitious but perhaps the most naive of the sisters, suggests they all collaborate to audition to perform for the US troops in Vietnam, they all agree, they deciding to include their cousin Kay, who was part of the stolen generation that was taken away by the white authorities to ...
Is there a book about The Sapphires?
The Sapphires is about an Aboriginal all girl vocal group finding success in 1968 Australia. They become the Sapphires made up of Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, Deborah Mailman and Miranda Tapsell under the leadership of Chris O'Dowd and go to Vietnam to sing to the troops.
What are typical sapphire imitations?
Common blue sapphire imitations include glass, cubic zirconia, and blue spinel. Sometimes, tanzanite is passed off as sapphire, although it’s a val...
Are sapphire treatments common?
Yes, almost every sapphire on the market is heat treated or thermally enhanced. This is an accepted treatment for these stones.
What percentage of sapphires are heat treated?
An estimate is 95% of all sapphires are heat treated.
Are unheated sapphires more valuable?
Yes, because it means the color and transparency of the stone is completely natural. However, it depends on the quality of the sapphire.
How can you tell a lab-created sapphire?
Short answer – it’s very difficult to. Only a gemologist with special tools can ensure that the sapphire is lab-created or natural.
Do lab-created sapphires look different?
No, they’re made of corundum as well and are very similar to natural sapphires. However, a sapphire with no inclusions (when viewed under a magnifi...
Who wrote the Sapphires?
Not only is The Sapphires a story of youth, courage, love, family and soul music; it is also based on the lives of my aunties and written by my cousin Tony Briggs. There were 500 tickets distributed via the local Aboriginal Foundation and Narrandera Library, and still people arrived on the night in hope of spare seats.
Where was the Sapphires movie screened?
Seats filled left, right and centre as people of all ages came to enjoy the film at the local CRC Church theatre.
Where are sapphires found?
Natural sapphires are found in the ground or in the water. Synthetic sapphires are created in a lab.
How to tell if a sapphire is real?
To determine if a sapphire is real, hold it up to your mouth and breathe on it so it fogs up. Then, count how long it takes for the fog to fade. If it takes longer than 1-2 seconds, the stone probably isn't a real sapphire. You can also tell if a sapphire is real by shining a light on it.
What to ask a jeweler about sapphires?
Ask the jeweler if the gem is natural. If you are considering buying a sapphire from a jeweler, you should always ask whether the gem is natural or synthetic . The FTC requires that jeweler’s disclose information about any gems that they sell.
How to get sapphires to fog up?
2. Perform the breath test. Take your sapphire and breathe on it to fog it up. Count how long it takes for the fog to start fading and how long until the fog is totally gone. Natural gems should clear up in just one or two seconds, but created sapphires may take closer to five seconds to clear up.
Why is it important to have sapphires certified?
If you have an old family sapphire that you are sure is natural and valuable, it is good to have it certified to ensure that you get the best value if you sell it. A certified sapphire will be easier to sell for a good price. Jewelers are not qualified to tell you if a sapphire is real or not.
How to inspect sapphires?
Look for flaws and inclusions. Use a jeweler’s magnifying glass, at least 10x magnification, to inspect the sapphire closely. Natural sapphires form with tiny bits of other matter in them, so look for small specks and blemishes. These flaws are a good indication that a sapphire is real.
Is a sapphire real?
Since they are glass, tiny air bubbles remain in them after they form. If you see any bubbles inside of the sapphire then it is not real. Be sure to turn the sapphire over and inspect it from every angle. It’s possible that air bubbles will only be visible from one angle.
How to tell if sapphire is real?
Try the Breath Test. This is a basic test, but it can give you an indication as to the integrity of your sapphire. Take your sapphire and breath on it slowly and deeply. Then check to see how long it takes for the fog to evaporate. If the sapphire is real, the fog should disappear very quickly, in about a second or two.
How are sapphires formed?
Natural sapphire. Natural sapphires are formed in nature over several thousands of years and are extracted through intense mining processes. These sapphires are made of the mineral corundum and gem quality stones are relatively rare.
What is imitation sapphire?
Imitation sapphires. An imitation sapphire is a stone that looks very much like a sapphire but is different in every other way. These are often less durable and much less valuable. Some common substances used in place of sapphires are blue colored glass, cubic zirconia and blue spinel.
What is the hardness of sapphire?
Sapphire is one of the most durable gemstones used for jewelry, second to only diamonds. It has a hardness rating of 9 on the Mohs scale. This means that any substance with an equal or lower hardness rating cannot scratch a sapphire. Glass is only 5.5, spinel is 7.5-8 and cubic zirconia is 8. If you’re sapphire shows scratches or nicks, ...
How long does it take for a sapphire to evaporate?
This is because sapphires are naturally good at conducting heat. A fake stone will take about 5 seconds or more to evaporate.
How are blue sapphires made?
Lab-created blue sapphire. Synthetic sapphires are created by humans in labs using advanced technological processes. They are identical chemically, structurally and optically to natural rubies. These can be created within a matter of weeks and are more affordable than their natural counterparts.
How to tell if a sapphire is composite?
Also check if there are any thready white interconnecting lines within the stone. This could be an indication of composite sapphire.
What Makes Our Sapphires Special?
Our sapphires are sourced directly from mines across the world and treated naturally to bring out their intrinsic beauty.
How to Choose Your Sapphire
Choosing the right sapphire starts with educating yourself. Get started with the resources below.