NFT archaeology just keeps digging up new projects, previously forgotten and lost in the not-so-old but rich blockchain history. It also means that we keep finding out the “firsts” in every NFT sub-genre. In this article, we are going to discuss the first gems NFTs on the blockchain (highly likely). Meet BlockMark Gems on the Ethereum blockchain.
Website: https://gems.blockmarktech.com/
OpenSea: https://opensea.io/collection/blockmarkgems
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlockMarkGems
Discord: https://discord.gg/hEpu2bS
Contract: https://etherscan.io/address/0xb62b330a1b1ed55feb93296f89ea7679c4e0c36c
Whitepaper: https://gems.blockmarktech.com/static/BlockMark%20Gems%20Ruby%20Paper%202019.pdf
BlockMark Gems project began in late 2018 under CryptoR0x contract v1 in October. The second iteration R0x v2 contract deployed on Dec 20, 2018. The final form and contract for the present iteration BlockMark Gems deployed on Feb 01, 2019, on the Ethereum mainnet.
It’s a pure ERC 721 standard token. For some perspective, it was launched 66 days before the first on-chain generative art AutoGlyphs (contract deployment: April 08, 2019). The contract isn’t capped and gems can still be created by remixing two or more gems. However, the scarcity lies in the old Gen 0 gems minted between February 2019 and May 2020 – 575 initial gems.
All Gen 0 gems were minted using a random number generator to determine their type, cut, carat, clarity, and origin. No further Gen 0s can be minted. So, the old gems are precious and you can remix them. Two Gen 0 gems would create a Gen 1 gem, Gen 1 gems mixed with other gems would yield Gen 2 gems. However, the gems used in the remixing see their carats reduced and lose quality. Once they reach 1 carat, they can’t be used further for remixing.
BlockMark Gems Characteristics
BlockMark Gems Types
There are 10 possible gem types – 4 precious and 6 semi-precious
Diamond (precious gem) 1 in 100
Ruby (precious gem) 3 in 100
Sapphire (precious gem) 3 in 100
Emerald (precious gem) 3 in 100
Lapis Lazuli (semi-precious rock) 10 in 100
Amethyst (semi-precious gem) 10 in 100
Aquamarine (Beryl) (semi-precious gem) 10 in 100
Garnet (semi-precious gem) 20 in 100
Opal (semi-precious gem) 20 in 100
Topaz (semi-precious gem) 20 in 100
Gems Cuts, Clarity, Carat Sizes And Origin
There are 8 Gem cuts possible namely: Cubic, Extended Octa, Octahedral, Cylindrical, Dodeca, Broad, Triclinic and Lozenge. The Gems clarity can range from 0 to 10 – the lower the better of course.
There are 10 Gem carat sizes:
1 / 2 / 5 / 7 / 10 / 25 / 30 / 50 / 75 and 100 carat
These gems are said to originate from the following places (10 in total): Mererani, Tanzania / Ilakaka, Madagascar / High Atlas, Morocco / Hiddenite, US / Rainbow Ridge, US / Blue Ridge Mine, US / Steinkaulenberg, Germany / Badakhshan, Afghanistan / Coober Pedy, Australia / Malvern Hills, UK.
BlockMark Gems Purpose And Meaning
The whitepaper has the answer “BlockMark Gems help you to win at life. Like real baubles and bling, by owning and displaying BlockMark Gems, your status amongst peers, as with all Veblen goods, will rise in accordance with the scarcity, price, number and size of the Gems and Crown Jewels you own. Gems can be displayed as Crown Jewels, played in Crown Battles, kept in wallets, put up for sale in the Gem Marketplace or displayed in a Gems Display Cabinet”
