Friday, October 30, 2009

Matlins Talks Ruby on Good Morning America - Nov. 3rd


Antoinette Matlins to Appear on
ABC’s Good Morning America

Tune in to Good Morning America on Tuesday,

November 3, when internationally respected gem

and jewelry expert, author and lecturer Antoinette

Matlins will expose the truth about controversial

ruby composites being sold across the country.

Is that a natural ruby you purchased or is it a

composite?
Learn more about what composites are and how to identify them.


...this is sure to be information you need to make your buying trip to the Tucson Gem Show a success! composite, enhanced, fissure-filled...this and more are covered in Ms. Matlin's informative Free Seminar at the AGTA GemFair.

Gem ID – Parts I and II hands-on (3 hour extended session, ends at 4:00)
Antoinette Matlins, Gemstone Press (Graham room)
Basic-Advanced. (Part I not required to benefit from Part II. Part II is not required to complete Part 1). These non-technical, half-day workshops demonstrate how to use simple, portable instruments to quickly and easily identify colored gemstones typically seen in the jewelry market, and detect many treatments, and spot many fakes and synthetics. Techniques to screen for HPHT-treated diamonds and surface-coated diamonds and gemstones are also covered. Even gemologists can benefit from time-saving tips. These techniques and tools will reduce risk and increase confidence when buying away from your store, office, or in the field. Class size limited. (First-come, first-served, limited attendance.)

Always a great source for information:

The key to avoiding costly mistakes and recognizing profitable opportunities is knowing both what to look for and what to look out for.

Monday, October 19, 2009

AGTA GemFair Seminars...Overview


Some difficult choices to make here...it is good to see that some of my favorite seminars are being offered again this year:

Gem ID – Parts I and II hands-on (3 hour extended session, ends at 4:00)
Antoinette Matlins, Gemstone Press (Graham room)
Basic-Advanced. (Part I not required to benefit from Part II. Part II is not required to complete Part 1). These non-technical, half-day workshops demonstrate how to use simple, portable instruments to quickly and easily identify colored gemstones typically seen in the jewelry market, and detect many treatments, and spot many fakes and synthetics. Techniques to screen for HPHT-treated diamonds and surface-coated diamonds and gemstones are also covered. Even gemologists can benefit from time-saving tips. These techniques and tools will reduce risk and increase confidence when buying away from your store, office, or in the field.
Class size limited. (First-come, first-served, limited attendance).
Every one who buys gems in Tucson should take this seminar - it is an extended session so it does take up quite a big chunk of your time - but the hands on experience you gain will make you a smarter buyer.

Spinel: A Royal Gem
Edward Boehm, JOEB Enterprises (Greenlee room)
Basic - Intermediate. Spinels come in diverse colors from romatic origins. Their durability and high dispersion add to their allure. Graduate Geologist Edward Boehm leads a stunning visual tour through time and space as he explores famous spinels and explores the historic and current sources for spinel, such as Burma, Sri Lank, Tanzania, and Tajikistan. Using images from his own travels to the mines, including his most recent trip to Tanzania, Boehm enlivens the story of this gem which is currently holding great consumer attention
Each year Ed Boehm takes you on a journey to a new, exotic location to discover some of the latest finds...in 2009 it was Winza Ruby and in 2010 we look at Spinel.

Developments in the Chinese Pearl Industry
Elisabeth Strack, Gemmologisches Institut Hamburg (Mohave room)
Intermediate – Advanced. It is getting more and more difficult for jewelers to keep track of developments in the cultured pearl industry. Traditional producing countries like Japan are losing ground and newly producing countries like Vietnam are on the rise. In addition to producing Akoyas, China produces not only fresh water cultured pearls of all varieties, with and without a nucleus, with and without second and third harvests, but also tries its luck with South Sea cultured pearls. The traditional South Sea countries concentrate their efforts on quality but some producers undermine such efforts. It is getting increasingly more difficult, even for an expert, to distinguish the different types of pearls with the naked eye and evaluate them. Only a systematic approach will help. If eye-visible criteria are not enough, certain testing methods have to be applied which will be presented in this lecture. The lecture will also make reference to artificial coloration and treatments as they often add to the confusion of origin. Methods of detection will be presented.
Elizabeth Strack's Pearls Seminars are always amazing - filled with current first hand information - good to see they didn't schedule her on the last day of the show this year!

...along with these standards there is a whole crop of new subjects:

Colored Gemstone Wardrobe, Fashion Informed
Hedda Schupak (Maricopa room)
Basic - Intermediate. Astute retailers understand that fashion-forward clients need two services from their personal jeweler. The first service is assistance in planning a core jewelry wardrobe which articulates the client’s personal style. The second service is assistance in complementing the core jewelry wardrobe with fashionable jewelry pieces which are sensitive to the colors, themes, and economies of each fashion season. In this session with fashion and style expert Hedda Schupak, learn how to help your customers develop a colored gemstone wardrobe that is fashion informed.
Hedda Shupak, contributing editor of JCK Magazine brings us into the world of Fashion.

Books for Gem Lovers!
John Koivula, Ron Ringsrud, Richard W. Wise (Mohave room)
Basic - Intermediate. Authors of recent new and revised Gem Books discuss their works.
John Koivula:
Photo Atlas of Inclusions in Gemstones: Vol III and Geologica-Earth’s Dynamic Forces
Ronald Ringsrud:
Emeralds A Passionate Guide The Emeralds, The People, Their Secrets
Richard W. Wise:
The French Blue

...and if you are a reader like me you will be excited about this assembly of noted authors in the Gem & Jewelry Industry.

Internet Marketing to Drive Local Traffic
Brad Simon, www.internet4jewelers.com (Graham room)

Use Social Media to Sell Design
Cindy Edelstein, Jewelers Resource Bureau (Maricopa room)

Brad Simon (http://internet4jewelers.com) and Cindy Edelstein (http://jewelersresource.com) are both doing seminars on online marketing - Brad looks at your optimizing your website to attract local traffic and Cindy introduces you to the "Brave New World" of Social Media.

More seminar info at: http://agta.org/tradeshows/gft-seminars.html

I am getting more excited as each announcement is made - I hope that you are making plans to see the Tucson Gem Show in 2010 and if you can't go to Tucson - that you join me.

I have set up a separate Twitter account and site that I can post to and you can talk to me while I am in Tucson (yes - I will still be posting daily wrap ups on my blog).

On Twitter you can follow @TucsonGemShow

...and get the quickest updates at:

http://twubs.com/TucsonGemShow

If Facebook is your preferred platform my page can be accessed at:

http://facebook.com/TucsonGemShow

AGTA GemFair Seminars..

Friday, October 16, 2009

JOGS Announces First Jewelry Design Contest


October 16th - UPDATE (via @JOGSShow on Twitter)

"Our contest rules have changed :/ All entries must use organic materials. Shells, Pearls, Amber, Coral, Wood, basically anything that grows."



Do you love to design and create jewelry? J.O.G.S. is having their first ever jewelry design competition and it's time to enter! To enter is free and the rewards are amazing! The winner of the J.O.G.S. Jewelry Design Competiton 2010 will recieve a Blue Ribbon Champion Winners Certificate, J.O.G.S. Trophy, VIP hotel stay during the J.O.G.S. Show, and their very own booth at the 2010 J.O.G.S. Show!


How to Get Started

1.) Read the rules and guidelines

2.) Register your entry in the contest

3.) Find out if you won in Janurary!


Deadline

The deadline to enter the competition is 11:59PM(PST) on December 18, 2009. The winner of the competition will be announced in Janurary.

Questions? Comments? Talk to us at: contest@jogsshow.com

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Catalog In Motion 2010 - This is where I will be...



OK - it looks like I will once again be spending a lot of time at the Rio Grande "Catalog In Motion"

WHY????


First - because you see all the great products that Rio sells along with, in some cases, the people that make them! Imagine getting an overview on the Hydraulic Press from Phil Poirier or Dave Reynolds - the folks that build the press!

A year ago I took the 2 day workshop with Dave you can find it on my blog at Day 1 and Day 2.








Second - the FREE Seminars - Here are just some of the highlights:

Shaping Metal With Hammers with Bill Fretz

Argentium® Silver: Past, Present and Future with Peter Johns (Peter Johns is Technical Director for Argentium® International Ltd.)

Soldering Secrets with Blaine Lewis

Wax Carving with Kate Wolf

Pavé Setting with Brad Simon

Marketing in a Changing World with Marlene Richey

Innovative Techniques with the Hydraulic Press with G. Phil Poirier


...talk about learning at the feet of masters in the field! a complete list of Seminars is available.






Third - the incredible Class Schedule - includes training in/on the following:

Hydraulic Forming Enameling

Metal Forming Soldering

Chain Maille Metal Clay

Microfold Brake Glass

Stone Setting Wax

Rolling Mill Flex Shaft

...hopefully the details will be posted soon!

Catalog In Motion 2010 - Rio Announces Dates and Seminars!



Save the Date!

February 5–8, 2010

Learn it: Get the inside scoop from trusted jewelry experts.

Love it: Have fun with new tools, equipment and opportunities.

Live it: Bring your ideas to life.

Friday-Sunday, 9am to 6pm
and Monday, 9am to 4pm at the
Tucson East Hilton during the
Tucson Gem & Mineral Show

ONLINE REGISTRATION OPENS ON NOVEMBER 11, 2009 AT 10:00am MST.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Blue Cap Productions Announces Two NEW Mineral Events for 2010 Tucson Gem Show

Four Mineral Art Masters.
Two Amazing Mineral Events.
One Special Tucson.


MinArtMain

BlueCap Productions has teamed up with Fine Minerals International to present one of the most unique programsto ever hit a Tucson show.

For the first time in history we have brought together some of the most talented and respected mineral artists in the world for two special events that is sure to be the talk of the show.

Eberhard Equit, Hildegard Könighofer, Wendell Wilson, Susan Robinson and many more artists will enjoy a long overdue spotlight in the mineral collecting community.

WESTWARD LOOK MINERAL SHOW
The Westward Look Mineral Show will be the host of anunprecedented night of mineral artistry during theirEE_tSunday Evening Programon February 7, 2010.

At the 6:30P cocktail hour, there will be a Mineral Artists' Gallery in the Sonoran Ballroom with a select number of fine mineral artists displaying their work and being on hand to discuss their paintings.

The list of attending artists is growing and to-date includes:
  • Chris Hughes
  • Steve Sorrel
  • Gail Spann
  • Brandy Naugle
wilsonImmediately after the Mineral Artists' Gallery, Wendell Wilsonwill moderate an special artist panel consisting of himself,Eberhard Equit, Hildegard Könighofer and Susan Robinson. This is the first time in history that these Master Artists have taken the stage together and is sure to be one of themust-attend events of Tucson.

TUCSON GEM AND MINERAL SHOWTM
Then, from February 11 - 14 at the Tucson Convention Center, the TGMS' Tucson Gem and Mineral Show(TM) will be the location for a never-before-seen exhibit ofEberhard, Hildegard, Wendell and Susan's work.

SR_silverOn the main floor of theconvention center will beover 40 feet of specialdisplay cases FILLED with the original paintings of these Master Artists and, with many of the paintings,the actual mineral specimen that was the inspiration for these images. Never beforehave these paintings been displayed on a scale like this and it's quite likely that they'll never be seen like this again.

And, if you happened to miss the Westward Look Sunday Evening Program, these four artists will be on hand tochat with you and answer any questions you may have.

RobinsonGathering these paintings has been a MONUMENTAL task as tracking down some of these paintings has been an exercise in detective sleuthing. Owners and collectors of these fantastic paintings have all banded together to bring you themost complete and impressive collection offine mineral paintings that Tucson, and quite possibly the world, has ever seen.

This is history in the making so be a part of history by visiting the Mineral Artists' Show at the 2010 Tucson show.

We'll see you there!!

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