#TucsonGemShow - Meet The Authors at the Tucson Shows, Part Two

The first part of this post was about the authors signing at the "Author's Table" booth at the AGTA Gemfair....in this part we feature one author that, while signing at the AGTA Gemfair, is signing at a vendor's booth and another that is signing at his company booth at GJX.

First up Renee Newman --- this is a name known by most of our Industry as her books are used as textbooks in some Gemology Courses...and her prolific texts and updates keep the information current.

Ms. Newman will be a presenter, along with Jeff Mason for a Seminar titled "Detecting Jade Imitations and Treatments", Feb. 2nd at 9am in the Maricopa Room at the Tucson Convention Center.

Detecting Jade Imitations and Treatments
MARICOPA ROOM	9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Jeff Mason, G.G., Mason-Kay, Inc., www.masonkay.com Renée Newman GG, Author: Exotic Gems, Vol 4: How to Identify, Evaluate & Select Jade & Abalone Pearls
Beginning - Intermediate - Advanced
Basic and advanced techniques for detecting jadeite and nephrite treatments, imitations & look-a-likes, including visual, tactile and audible methods.

You can meet Renee Newman and have her sign a book for you following the presentation, or a little after 10am, in the NAJA (National Association of Jewelry Appraisers) Booth on the Galleria Level at the Tucson Convention Center.

She will have the latest updates to two of her books.  The new 6th Edition of her "Pearl Buying Guide", which will be make its debut in Tucson and of the new 3rd Edition of the "Gemstone Buying Guide", which is a new book for Tucson, but was released last July. 

..and as always she will also offer a wide selection of her other books.

The Second Author has become well known for stunning coffee table books filled with photos of gems and the countries they come from....Vladyslav Yavorskyy.

In his latest tomb, Gemstones, Terra Connoisseur,  Yavorskyy takes on the entire field and what a masterful job he does of it!

The author of the groundbreaking Terra Spinel in 2010 and Terra Garnet in 2014 has revealed a new statement on the world of Gems and Art. Terra Connoisseur is a sensational experience – celebrating the most beautiful, durable and valuable natural creations on the planet.

Over 2000 original photographs, of both faceted and rough gems, the colors and sparkle of the gems strikingly natural and tangible.   Then to add over 50 mineral specimens, jewelry and historical artifacts makes this book a visual Tour de Force!


He will be signing at his booth (# 417 & 517) at the 
GJX - Gem & Jewelry Exchange  411 W Congress St, Tucson 
from January 31st through February 5th 

...but get there early - if these sell out as quickly as his other books it will be gone soon!

#TucsonGemShow - Meet The Author - Book Signings at AGTA GemFair

Meet the Author for a Book Signing at the Tucson Gem Show

The Author:  Renee Newman

will be available to sign her latest book in the Exotic Gems series

Where: in the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers Booth 

Booth #G - 11 on the Galleria Level at the AGTA GemFair

When:  February 7th at 10:30am

To order or for more information:   http://reneenewman.com/exotic3.htm

Ms. Newman will sign immediately following her Presentation at AGTA GemFair

Friday, February 7th, from 9:00 am – 10:00 am 

Tourmaline: Colors, Names, Nicknames and Cutting Advice

Renée Newman and John Bradshaw, Coast-to-Coast Rarestones Int'l. 

Graham Room - Intermediate – Advanced. 

No other gemstone offers buyers a wider variety of colors than tourmaline. 

In addition to being found in every color of the rainbow as well as brown, black, white and colorless, tourmaline may also be multicolored in one stone. Author and gemologist Renée Newman discusses the different varieties of tourmaline and shows how designers and jewelers are using them to create dazzling jewelry for their customers. She also indicates trade names and addresses nomenclature issues involving rubellite, indicolite, chrome tourmaline and Paraiba tourmaline. Gem cutter John Bradshaw shows the steps involved in transforming a Mt. Mica, Maine tourmaline crystal into an attractive faceted gem, and he provides practical advice on cutting tourmaline and selecting rough.

Meet the Author for a Book Signing during the Tucson Gem Show.

The Author: Vladyslav Yavorskyy

will be available to sign his book Terra Garnet

Where: in the Jewelers Ethics Association Booth 

Booth #14 on the Galleria Level at the AGTA GemFair

When:  February 4-6th from 4pm - 5pm

To order or for more information:

http://www.garnetbook.com

Garnet is at the same time, one of the most common and one of the rarest gems in the world.

Red Garnet is found on almost every continent- but that isn't the story with the green garnets. 

A set of closely related minerals that form a group, resulting in gemstones in almost every color.

In "Terra Garnet", Vladyslav Yavorskyy celebrates this humble gem 

with the same reverence he showed Spinel in his last book "Terra Spinel"

Lush, vividly covered, thick pages with a silken hand, this glorious book is filled 

cover to cover with illustration and photographs in full color.

Terra Garnet is available at the author's website and through the Jewelers Ethics Association.  

Meet The Author - Book Signings at the Tucson Gem Show

NAJA (National Association of Jewelry Appraisers), 

Booth #11 in the Galleria

at the AGTA Gemfair, 

will host three "Meet The Author" opportunities:

Feburary 6th - 11AM
PEARLS
Elisabeth Strack, FGA

February 8th - 2 PM

World Hallmark Vol. I
Danusia Niklewicz & Lindy Matula

February 8th - 10:30am Gold, Platinum, Palladium, Silver and other Jewelry Metals

Renee Newman will be signing books following her AGTA presentation.

Her Exotic Gems Series will be available along with most of her library.

DEBUT!  Her newest book "Gold, Platinum, Palladium, Silver & Other Jewelry Metals" will be introduced at the Tucson Gem Show.

________________________________________________

David Epstein - For those of you who want to have your copy of "The Gem Merchant" signed, there will be three signing opportunities in Tucson:

Tues. Feb. 5th 10:00-12:00International Pavilion of the GJX, Booth 3010
Friday Feb. 8th 11:00-12:00
AGTA Booth #9 Upstairs
Sat. Feb. 9th 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM 
JEA Reception at the DoubleTree Hotel
__________________________________________________

Antoinette Matlins has updated editions that will be available at the Tucson Shows as well as her general library:

At the AGA Tucson Conference - Wednesday, February 6, 2013
At the AGTA GemFair following each of her scheduled Seminars
...and following her seminars at the GLDA Show.

I know that I want a copy of the updated FIFTH edition of "Gem Identification Made Easy" which will be introduced in Tucson!

__________________________________________________

Dr. Marco Campos-Venuti's new volume on Agates & Jaspers will be available in the "Gems In Gems" booth at the Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show in the Riverpark Inn - Room 113

"Genesis and Classification of Agates and Jaspers: 
  a New Theory"
  by Dr. Marco Campos-Venuti,
This book contains the explanation of the many questions about the formation of Agate, Jasper and Chalcedony, the formation of concentric bands in agates, the origin of connective channel, the growth of mosses and plumes, the conditions necessary for the formation of horizontal banding, the formation oforbs in jaspers, the genesis of orbicular jaspers, the thunder egg formation. The bood also explains other themes as morphology of the bands, stratigraphy of a banded agate, influence of climatic conditions, types of agate depending on host rock, chemical disequilibrium between jasper and chalcedony. 
All the subject are investigated with a great number of pictures (more than 400) and diagrams making it easy to understand.
__________________________________________________

Bob Jones' new book will be available at the Rock & Gem booth at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show.

The Frugal Collector, Vol. 1
Rock & Gem senior consulting editor Bob Jones’ latest book, The Frugal Collector, Volume I, is now available for purchase. Read about a host of popular collector minerals that will fit the average collector’s budget and their classic sources, and enjoy anecdotes about Bob’s personal experiences over his 70+ years of collecting.
__________________________________________________

Announcing the first hard cover book, to cover the art of Paula Crevoshay..."Garden of Light".   A documentary of Paula's first one woman show to open at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in April 2013.  

The book will preview at the AGTA show in Tucson, booth # 1617. 
There will be signed copies available.

Renee Newman Debuts New Book At AGTA GemFair...

Today at AGTA GemFair, Renee Newman debuted the newest edition of her Exotic Gems series at the NAJA booth.

Also available were her other guides - I picked up a copy of "The Pearl Buying Guide" for one our roommates - it always feels special to have an autographed copy of a good reference.

Introducing - Exotic Gems Vol. 2

In words that everyone can understand Renee Newman walks you through the chemical, physical and optical qualities and then she takes you to the mines, shows you what it takes to cut some of these exotics and then finishes up with some of the most gorgeous photos of faceted gems, carved gems and gems in jewelry...and she even talks about the Metaphysical Lore of the gem.

The popularity of the television shopping networks has opened up a new era in gems in jewelry - there was a day when some faceted gems and beads on the market today were considered to soft for jewelry and they were only available as specimens for mineral collectors - those days are gone and this series gives us the information we need to make decisions about using these materials in jewelry and for those looking to purchase them.

With over 400 photos - this book is worth buying just for the "eye candy" value - delightful to see such a great range from bridge to fine jewelry - cutters to carvers. 

The new book will be available through the normal resources and the NAJA by the end of the month...Volume One is up at Amazon  and Barnes & Noble now.

Meet The Author...Book Signings at the NAJA Booth!

Bantering Bartering Buying--The GemFair 2010 Experience

Guest post by my favorite gem writer...Diana Jarrett, GG RMV Member NAJA

More upbeat than last year's dismal fair, the AGTA GemFair and its sister the Gem and Jewelry Expo (GJX) in Tucson saw the kind of action that made vendors hopeful for the first time in months this February. AGTA reported a 7% increase in attendance over last year.

One exhibitor graded his Tucson experience C+ against last year's F-. Ok, then, that's a good sign. All parties would agree however, that buyers were spending this time around.

Where big money was not tossed around, some money was, as buyers thought of ways to stretch their dollar.

Vendors were prepared for bargain shoppers and came ready to deliver. One of the most obvious signs that buyers wanted more mileage for their buck were the alternative metals that offered a hedge against the gold price shock that many retailers are struggling with. Titanium, clay metals, and proprietary blackened metals were offered in innovative designs, especially at the couture section.

Photo: Specialty metals with Titanium in Mokume Gane process make for a mesmerizing metal choice in this diamond studded pendant. First Place Contemporary Metal Jewelry Under $1,000 JCK Jewelers Choice Awards 2010. Photo Courtesy: Luis Valderrama-Spectore Corporation/Edward Mirell.

Buyers also found more goods-for-the-gelt by snapping up exotic gemstones. But the name leaves some buyers a bit off balance. What stones actually warrant the exotic designation anyway? They can be new stones that have just found their way to the trading floor and all those unusual types of organic materials that green-grabbers are going ga-ga for at the moment.

Photo: Ammolite is finding enthusiastic buyers. The blue coloring is especially collectible. Photo: Courtesy: Solid Gold Jewellery

So Ammolite, a colorful natural material derived from fossilized ammonite shells of the Northwest were hot buys. Also newly mined stones, including the mysterious Evergreen Quartz that Out of Our Mines sold were exotic. What's in those crystal quartz cabs that create interesting forest green patterns inside? Stay tuned, they are working on it.

Photo: Evergreen Quartz cabochon is a new find. Photo Courtesy: Out of Our Mines

Bangkok's Freaking Cat gems are another source for the odd-ball, exotic and unpronounceable gemstones that make designers look light years ahead of the curve. What was their most dwindling supply? Fordite. Yes, the ultimate green gemstone. The banded colors on this 'rough' material are actually umpteen layers of Ford Motor Corp. car paint colors from the 1970s that landed in --uh--a landfill we think. Anyway, Freaking Cat told us that last year about 400 pounds of the material was available, this year he could not get his hands on bupkus. Like all one source only gems--when it's gone it's gone and this stuff has become highly sought after and is about to become extinct.

Renee Newman saw first hand the interest being paid to exotic gems. This was the ideal time for her to debut her hot off her own presses Exotic Gems Volume 1 which is the primer for deciphering exotic gems and arming retailers with a lexicon for conveying their unique traits when selling these lovelies. But consumers should grab this reference guide too. It explains what to look for when buying these uncommon stones and it is profusely illustrated.

Pearls in newer varieties fared well at the fair. More freshwater selections were available in yummy pastel colors this year. Chinese freshwater pearls are avidly collected owing to their extremely high luster. And South Seas pearl seller Yokozuma drew a crowd with their luminous South Seas multicolor pastel strands priced at $1,300.

Photo: Multicolor natural color pearl strand in 18 inch length with white gold and diamond toggle clasp. Photo Courtesy: Baggins Inc., Los Angeles.

Los Angeles based Baggins Inc., is a perennial Tucson favorite where buyers return for pure luxe. The deep toned multi-color strands are assembled with expert attention paid to the details of matching shape, luster, and size; no small feat when you are working with natural organic material. But they do a stunning job of all that plus finessing the symmetry and balance in every strand. The result? Perfection plus. Their 18 inch natural color strands are tastefully finished with an18K white gold and pave` diamond clasp at an SRP of $14,000.

Did somebody say turquoise? I think it was Pantone; the color trend forecasters who help us plan our style-conscious future--one year at a time. Vendors brought a boat load of turquoise strands, and beads, mostly in the Kingman and Sleeping Beauty varieties. Pretty stuff--tight graining makes for smooth finishes and a high gloss, free of any sort of veining or matrix.

Colorful diamonds were a crowd pleaser this year. Just how many years back was it when diamonds were scarce at Tucson? Not any more. Prominently positioned aisles resplendent with both natural and enhanced colored diamonds seemed to be a natural for the Tucson experience. Blackies were still snapped up, mostly because of their attractive prices. Yellow diamonds were called for because so much fuss has stirred up about them in auctions this past year.

In a word--restocking. The buyers were there to stock inventory creatively by bargain shopping and exotic stone scouring to entice buy-shy customers who've let jewelry collecting take a really really back seat for a while. It was a very good sign in the desert at Tucson.

♦ You can follow more from Diana Jarrett in the many publications that she writes for and on her Color-n-Ice Blog