#TucsonGemShow #TBT Tucson 2015 - a few of my favorite things....

One of my most favorite thing is the new format of the Tucson EZ-Guide: 

A unique new engagement ring from Lord at the JCK Show:

This flirty earring featuring brushed metal as the gem from Sophia By Design:

The fabulous woman owned and operated Porini Gems:

Alishan never disappoints...loved his mask like pendants:

I always look forward to the latest beasties from ZORAB:

Over at the To Bead True Blue Show - Hot Cakes ROCKED!

I loved the glittery necklaces from Firefly Designs:

The raw gems of Jewelry by Kia:

...and these crazy man-made beads that seemed to have a light within!

In the big tent - GJX - Jefferey Bergman had these amazing sapphires along with his incredible collection of Trapiche Sapphire:

Rob Lowe had gorgeous bi-color and watermelon Tourmaline:

I shared a table with a woman who through this gem to me and asked if I knew what it was (FYI - it was the size of my thumb!): 

At AGTA my first stop is always PrimaGemsUSA:

Zoisite

Mint Tourmaline that turns pink in black light

The incredible Chi of Galatea tells us about the Momento Pearl

A NEW Leslie Weinberg Design

Erica Courtney Earrings and Csarite Ring

One of the newest shows...the new Glass only show! 

The Pueblo Show at the Riverpark is definitely a favorite...John Dyer's booth in the tent:

Marco with Gems In Gems:

Maury and Aisha introducing the featured speakers at the Mineral Lecture Series:

...and what a fun and educational series it is....

The always inspiring Aisha Jan of Rocksaholics

It is always a fun evening but bundle up!

 Just a little bit of the stunning Aquamarine that Rocksaholics brought to the show:

...at the Gem Mall

I got to meet my Facebook friend Ajay!

 Over at the Tucson City Center Hotel (InnSuites), Dinosaurs roamed the earth:

 Museum quality skeletons filled rooms:

Upstairs above the lobby is a designer showroom that will amaze you:

 At one of the Special Events for the Fine Mineral Show at the Westward Look, I met the incomparable cutter Victor Tuzlukov

...at the show:

A small sampling of the museum quality pieces this show attracts....

#TucsonGemShow GIA Heats Up 2016 Tucson Shows... Not-to-Miss Opportunities

From a Press Release by GIA

GIA Heats Up 2016 Tucson with Not-to-Miss Opportunities

Lab service, exhibits, alumni event, lab classes, seminars and more

GIA will offer a variety of activities at the upcoming 2016 Tucson shows – from a show service laboratory and not-to-miss alumni party to exhibitions and seminars – that will enrich the visitor experience. The Institute will have a presence at the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) GemFair™, Feb. 2-7, and the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show (TGMS), Feb. 11-14, both taking place at the Tucson Convention Center.

More information is available on the GIA website at http://www.gia.edu/gem-event-2016-agta-gem-fair-tucson. GIA highlights at the 2016 Tucson shows include:

GIA Show Service Laboratory at AGTA GemFair
Show attendees and exhibitors will have convenient access to gem identification and country-of-origin services through the GIA Show Service Laboratory. GIA will accept gemstones onsite at the AGTA GemFair in the Onyx Suite Mondaythrough Saturday, Feb. 1-6 from 9 a.m. to 5p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Free GIA Seminar
On Friday, Feb. 5 from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Mojave Room, GIA’s Distinguished Research Fellow Dr. James Shigley will provide a free seminar on “The Latest News from GIA Research.” This will include an update on the Institute’s latest research on diamonds, colored stones and other timely topics of interest.

GIA Education
GIA will offer one fee-based lab class and two fee-based lecture/labs during the AGTA GemFair™. Pre-registration is required; call GIA admissions at (800) 421 7250 ext. 4001 to register for the seminars, and visit GIA’s website to register for the lab.

Diamond Grading Lab ClassMonday through Friday, Feb. 1-5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The lab class will teach how to grade diamonds consistently and accurately using a modern gem microscope and a jeweler’s loupe. Participants study GIA’s Diamond Grading System; explore time-saving shortcuts to determine a variety of grading factors; and are introduced to methods for reading a GIA Diamond Grading Report. Participants must pass a two-stone practical test to complete the class successfully.

Identifying Gemstone Treatments SeminarSaturday, Feb. 6, 9 to 11 a.m.

A dynamic presentation and a hands-on lab led by GIA instructors will introduce participants to the various treatment processes used in the gemstone market, as well as treatment identification of commercially important gemstones used in jewelry.

Identifying Diamond Treatments SeminarSaturday, Feb. 6, 1 to 3 p.m.

A dynamic presentation and hands-on lab led by GIA instructors will present information on the nature and treatment of diamonds, including laser-drilled, fracture-filled, HPHT, irradiation and multiple treatment processes.

GIA Museum Exhibits
GIA’s museum exhibit “Striking Gold!” will help brighten the AGTA GemFair, Feb. 2-7. A number of transparent yellow gem species and varieties on the market, including sapphire, citrine, topaz and more unusual, collector gem minerals will be on view. At TGMS, Feb. 11-14, the museum will feature an exhibition “Mother Nature Sings the Blues,” featuring blue gems and jewelry to coincide with the show’s “Shades of Blue: Minerals of the World” theme.

GIA Library Exhibit
GIA’s library will feature some of its most venerated books in mineralogy and gemology at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, Feb. 11-14. “Providing Access in a Digital World” will give visitors insight into the library’s recent digitization project. In 2015, the Institute embarked on an extenstive project to make many of its rare and historically significant books available online to the public.

Party at the GIA Gem Mine: Arctic Blast
The GIA Alumni Association will have a “blast” in Tucson during its annual auction, dinner and dance party on Friday, Feb. 5 from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at the Marriott University Park Hotel. Ticket prices are $55 prior to Jan. 15; $65 after and at the door. GIA alumni, students and industry friends can click here to purchase tickets.

GIA at the CAD/CAM Pavilion
GIA’s Jewelry Manufacturing Arts program is at the forefront of jewelry design education – from 3D printer rapid protoyping and casting to prefinishing, setting and buffing. Throughout the AGTA GemFair, GIA experts will answer questions and discuss a variety of relevant topics, including CAD/CAM, zero-shrinkage from CAD file to photopolymer models to rough castings, jewelry engineering priorities, jewelry design concepts, 3D scanning of gemstones and importing content into CAD files for use in making jewelry, and Quality Assurance Benchmarking criteria when CAD modeling. The ongoing series will take place in the AGTA CAD Design Studio, booth 450 in the Gem Hall.






For more details about the Institute’s offerings at the AGTA GemFair™, visit GIA’s website.



About GIAAn independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight in the early 1950s and in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which, today, is recognized by virtually every professional jeweler in the world.

Through research, education, gemological laboratory services, and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science, and professionalism. Visit www.gia.edu.

#TucsonGemShow ANNOUNCING - Lineup Change at Tucson Mineral Lecture Series 2016 #PuebloGemandMineralShow #PuebloShow

Important Announcement 

LINE UP CHANGE  

Tucson Mineral Lecture Series 2016

On behalf of the Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show, Tucson Arizona USA, hosts of the Tucson Mineral Lecture Series 2016, it gives us great pleasure to announce:

The world renowned Peter Lyckberg of Göteborg, Sweden 

will be the first guest speaker on February 2nd 2016

Subject: " Gem and Crystal Treasures of Afghanistan and Pakistan "

He will be replacing Dr.Raquel Alonso Perez, who had to cancel her participation due to unforeseen circumstances.

Peter Lyckberg found plumbomicrolite at Högsbo, a mineral new to Sweden. In the coming years he found, explored many mineral, ore and pegmatite deposits, first in Scandinavia, followed by the rest of Europe, USA, South America, Asia, Africa and Australia-Oceania.

Consultant for the Swedish Geological Survey regarding 40 ancient deposits of silver, gold, Mn deposits in Dalsland and Värmland counties where he had spent summers locating them in the deep forests...drilling, mining and publishing took place later based on his original exploration and information. In 1977 and 1981 he published his first reports on pegmatite deposits and found giant topaz crystals to 80 kg, large beryl to 1 m, schorl tourmaline crystals to 3 m long in Sweden.

Peter studied Civil engineering at the Chalmers University of Technology which included research work during some years at the Yxsjöberg Scheelite-Cu deposit, and extensive studies of the Malmberget Magnetite deposit in N Sweden where some unique pockets of gem quality golden calcite was discovered. In 1997 he started research with two other Universities but at the end of the year moved from Sweden.

His geological studies continued in various parts of the world including the gem deposits of California, Maine, Minas Gerais and NE Brazil, Namibia, Madagascar, Norway, Finland, Ukraine, Russia, Pakistan and some 45 other countries. In total around 2500 developed mines and quarries were visited and many more undeveloped deposits and veins. Peter has been an active lecturer since 1985 leading many field expeditions and been a long time member of the editorial board of several mineralogical journals including Mineralien Welt. His lectures have been conducted primarily in Swedish, Norwegian, English, German, French and Russian languages.

A new father, Peter was the first non local to explore the mines at high altitude in the Haramosh Mountains, Pakistan where aquamarine, topaz, schorl is mined for specimens of exceptional beauty. He has been advisor in the study and development-mining of many gem deposits and in engineering fields, it was, for instance, he who suggested a large scale operation in Braldu Valley Pakistan where later the finest aquamarine group was found on matrix now in the MIM Museum in Lebanon.

His achievements and contributions to the world of gems and minerals if listed here will require several pages.

We know you will enjoy and be enlightened by his presentation .

#TucsonGemShow Fine Mineral Shows Announces Special Events for Westward Look Show

Fine Mineral Shows announces their special events for this year's 15th Annual Westward Look Show (February 5-8):

Saturday "Collector Day", February 6th

 in the lobby of the Westward Look Resort 

from 10am to 4pm 

with Featured Collector, Evan Jones 

Evan will be in the lobby to meet and "talk rocks" in his Arizona collection at this annual event.

The Sunday, February 7th, 

Evening Program this year will be Three Photographers: 

Joaquim Callen, Mark Mauthner and Tom Spann presenting: 

"Capturing the Minerals" 

in the Sonoran Ballroom of the Westward Look Resort.  

social time begins at 6:30pm 

the presentation is at 7:30pm. 

Everyone is welcome!

#AGTA #SpectrumAward Winners - Best of... Category

As you may know, the AGTA Spectrum Award winners have their winning pieces on display at the AGTA GemFair Tucson...so stop in to see these beauties close up!

Best of Show and 1st Place Carving Allen Kleiman A. Kleiman & Co. San Francisco, CA Suite of Paraiba Tourmalines (58.07 ctw.) Nautilus shell carvings .
	Best Use of Color Classical Bella Campbell Campbellian Morristown, NJ 18K yellow gold earrings featuring blue-green Tourmalines (17.05 ctw.)  accented with Emeralds (4.14 ctw.).
	Best Use of Pearls Classical Naomi Sarna Naomi Sarna Designs New York, NY Strand of freshwater baroque cultured Pearls with 18K white gold and Diamonds  and a freshwater baroque cultured Pearl pendant.
	Best Use of Platinum and Color Evening Wear Andrew Costen Costen Catbalue Vancouver, BC Platinum "Symphony of Colour" bracelet featuring a 3.85 ct. green Tourmaline, a 4.88 ct. yellow Zircon, a 4.68 ct. Indicolite Tourmaline and a 3.52 ct. Rubellite Tourmaline accented with Diamonds (.70 ctw.).
	Best Use of Silver and Color Evening Wear William Travis Kukovich William Travis Jewelry Chapel Hill, NC Oxidized silver and mixed gold pendant  featuring a 4.74 ct. brown Diamond accented with rose cut Diamonds (.40 ctw.).
	Editors' Choice Business/Day Wear Eclat Jewels Eclat Jewels, Inc. New York, NY 18K yellow gold and enamel cuff featuring a 105 ct. Aquamarine accented with Diamonds.
	Fashion Forward Evening Wear Brian Cook Nature's Geometry Tucson, AZ 24K yellow gold "Wheel of Light" numinous pendant featuring an 825 ct. Quartz,  Paraiba Tourmaline, Hauyn, Ruby, Spessartite Garnet, golden Rutilated Quartz and Fire Agate beads.

#AGS American Gem Society and Jewelers Mutual Promote “Sharing the Rough” #Documentary

A very select few were able to view this glorious documentary in Tucson that follows a gem from mine to market - now more should be able to see it in their area...just received a Press Release from company representatives

American Gem Society and Jewelers Mutual 

Take “Sharing the Rough” Documentary 

on Cross-Country Tour

The American Gem Society (AGS) announces a unique collaboration with Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company (JM) in bringing Orin Mazzoni’s new documentary film, “Sharing The Rough,” to the public across the country in a series of exclusive screenings beginning early September 2015. 

This unique and evocative film documents the never-before-captured journey of a colored gemstone as it travels from mine to market, while also sensitively exploring the challenges and opportunities of an emerging mining economy in East Africa. Co-hosted by the AGS, JM and local AGS Guilds, the private and public screenings are spanning from the East to West Coasts starting in September and running through the winter. Each screening will be followed by a Q&A session with a “Sharing the Rough” team member. Additional screening dates are available and can be scheduled by contacting local AGS Guild leadership.

"We are excited to make this inspiring film available for viewing in local markets around the country,” says Ruth Batson, CEO of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories. “The film features the designer, Mark Schneider, as well as the cutter, Roger Dery, both members of the AGS. Having access to the rich, visual imagery of the mine-to-market journey of a gemstone is sure to inspire consumers and gemologists alike, revitalizing our genuine affection and admiration for Mother Nature’s most highly acclaimed treasures.”

The 85 minute film has won a number of awards at film festivals around the globe and creatively explores the stories of individual artisans throughout the supply chain, from miners to cutters to jewelry designers. The director, Orin Mazzoni, himself hails from a third generation family jewelry business, and they are also long-standing AGS members. “Sharing the Rough” is his feature directorial debut, and has proved to be a perfect melding of his two passions: gemology and filmmaking.

“The film truly embodies our mutual passion for jewelry,” said Trina Woldt, Chief Marketing Officer at Jewelers Mutual of the collaboration with AGS and Mazzoni. “History is important to jewelry owners and the story behind the jewelry is what makes no two pieces alike. Those who see Orin’s film will look at their jewelry in a whole new light.”

For more information regarding “Sharing The Rough” or the screening schedule, visit www.sharingtherough.com. 

Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show Announces Schedule for Mineral Lecture Series 2016

This just in from Aisha Jan, "UPDATE!  Last minute change to the lineup for the Tucson Mineral Lecture Series 2016"

Well Aisha it looks like another program of interesting information - See you there!

To be held on the evenings of ...
Tuesday February 2nd & Friday February 5th 2016

In the courtyard of The International Fine Mineral Building at the Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show, located at the Riverpark Inn Tucson, Arizona. USA.

List of Guest Speakers:

Peter Lyckberg

World renowned expert on minerals...from Sweden

Alan D. Hart FGA DGA , Curator
Natural History Museum, 
London. United Kingdom

Dr. Cristiano Ferraris, Curator 
Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France.

Federico Barlocher, 

Mogok. Myanmar.

Reception (refreshments served): 6.30 pm-7.30 pm.

1st Guest Speaker: 7.45 pm-8.25 pm
2nd Guest Speaker: 8.35 pm-9.20 pm

Door Prize Drawings: 9.30 pm-9.45 pm

HOSTED BY THE PUEBLO GEM & MINERAL SHOW