Wrapping Up JCK Las Vegas

From the GIA Newsletter:

Industry Analysis: Business Soft in Vegas, but Designers, Luxury Defy Trend
Business at the May 30-June 3 JCK Show in Las Vegas was soft, especially for sellers of loose diamonds and gemstones. Orders were stronger at the upscale shows that ran simultaneously, though exhibitors reported that many of their orders were provisional. Dealers at each of the shows noted that a number of important clients did not make the trip to Vegas, and some exhibitors, expecting a poor season, even cancelled their participation. As a result, traffic was down but buying did go on, albeit at a reduced level. In general, demand for finished jewelry was down 10% to 15% from last year, even more for commercial-quality loose diamonds and colored gemstones. Companies specializing in the very top end -- colorless diamonds over 5 ct, fancy-color diamonds and unheated corundum -- generally saw brisk business.

For more... http://snipurl.com/2eiq8 [app_e2ma_net]


...and from the Gemwise Blog by Richard Wise:

Welcome to Las Vegas, the only town that I know of where a jewelry show with 3,000 exhibitors can be hidden behind a bank of slot machines. Unlike Tucson where the sprawling gem shows take over half the town, the flagship JCK Show set up at the Venetian Hotel boasts 3100 exhibitors’ and 20,000 buyers and is virtually invisible in the glitz.

The jewelry industry gathers in Las Vegas the last week in May. AGTA, JCK, Luxury, Couture, the show list grows ever longer with each passing year. My wife and attended five shows in as many days and left out much of interest.

Ok so let’s get down to business, what is new in the gemworld.

For More... http://snipurl.com/2eiqd [gemwiseblogspotcom_blogspot_com]

For more from the JCK Show...

Blogging JCK Series
http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=21800
http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=21801
http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=21814

JCK Vegas Daily News
http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=21798
http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=21802
http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=21813

Shanu Singh Guliani's "Behind The Counter" Blog
http://www.jckonline.com/blog/1970000197.html

Bacilio Mendez is "Micro-Blogging My First Vegas" in his Style 360 Blog and on Twitter http://www.jckonline.com/blog/1940000194/post/1230027123.html

The jewelry industry’s future will depend in part on how much it “gives,” hip-hop mogul and philanthropist Russell Simmons told the audience at his keynote speech Friday morning. http://www.jckonline.com/article/CA6565856.html

The annual Saul Bell Design Awards were presented Saturday at an invitation-only gala and dinner at Postrio in the Venetian. http://www.jckonline.com/article/CA6565855.html

Today’s customer is changing, and what makes them loyal also is changing, said David Peters, Jewelers of America’s director of education, in a presentation on “Customer Loyalty” Thursday. http://www.jckonline.com/article/CA6565853.html

What is “experience marketing”? At a Thursday morning seminar, Holly Wesche Conn, of Wesche Jewelers in Melbourne, Fla., said it is “to consciously work to create a specific type of experience for the customers in your store.” Quoting marketing guru and best-selling author Jack Trout, Wesche Conn cautioned her audience, “Differentiate or die.” http://www.jckonline.com/article/CA6565850.html

JCK Las Vegas - The Show Around The Show!!!!

The JCK Las Vegas Show is in it’s 17th year and like the Tucson Show it has attracted the independent Gem & Jewelry shows we all know from the desert event. Wholesale and Retail shows are popping up at most of the hotels surrounding the Sands and Venetian Resorts.

A friend and Artisan Laura Roberts of Lorelilee Creations (http://lorelilee.tripod.com/) is in Las Vegas and will be our eyes & ears at the wholesale shows here reports on the G.L.D.A., To Bead True Blue and G&LW shows are excellent and give us an insight into the trends to come. Her report follows...

Photo by Webbaliah

G.L.D.A and To Bead True Blue @ The Mirage 5/26-5/29/08

Tuesday 5/27—went to walk the show for the first time. I was very excited because this was the first time that To Bead True Blue was there. Although I had been to Tucson, I had never managed to make it to the Manning House show and this was meant to be a version of it.

The first thing I noticed when I arrived was how empty it was. I had been to the G.L.D.A in 2007 and it had been crowded. There appeared to be the same amount of vendors as in ’07, but not nearly the same number of people shopping. As I walked the show, and spoke with various vendors, they concurred. Definitely fewer people, but it was only the second day and the vendors were hoping it would pick up.

On this day, my only goal was to walk the show, visit with vendors I already knew, check out news ones and of course check out the vendors from the Manning House show. I noticed on Tuesday that in the Grand Ballroom, there was about the same proportion of finished jewelry to beads as in ’07 (about 50/50). In the Grand Elegance Pavilion (a separate area) it was 99% finished jewelry and only 1 bead vendor. The Grand Elegance Pavilion has all the high end jewelers predominantly from Hong Kong. Really lovely things, but definitely for retail stores and not for a jewelry designer like me. The big trend I noticed in their finished pieces was multi-colored sapphires. Otherwise I didn’t really see any trends, unless you count the “Y” necklace coming back. (And for myself, I’d rather not!)

The To Bead True Blue show (Lalibella Blu Las Vegas) was in a small section of the large ballroom where the G.L.D.A main show is. There were some really wonderful vendors there, but like the other ones, it was also slow.

I left the show after a few hours, ready to shop on Wednesday!

Wed 5/28—the show was just as empty. And the all the vendors were unhappy, the traffic was way down and the spending was too. Bad news for the vendors, but good news for me and Neva (who was with me) because we got some smoking' deals.

As this was now the 3rd day of the show, with slow traffic, the vendors started to basically grab us as we walked by. Everyone wanted us to look at their items. And everyone was willing to deal.

The Most Seen Stones:
Kyanite--gorgeous deep blue faceted briolette and rondelles (same color as Ceylon sapphire) and quite expensive--slate to royal blue squares, circles, ovals, polished and on strands and much less expensive. In 2006 you couldn't find ANY Kyanite, now it's at nearly every gemstone booth. I'm thinking there must have been some new deposits of it found because I've never seen so much of it so cheap!

Apatite--possibly my favorite gemstone in the universe--lots of it in faceted rondelles, in all of the colors from pale green to deep dark blue. Also in LOTS of polished forms, nuggets, ovals, etc. The prices for anything that wasn't faceted were good, faceted stones were still pricey.

Round faceted jaspers and agates--I did not expect to see Poppy Jasper sparkle, but it does!

Tiny donuts and go-go donuts (4-5mm) CENTER DRILLED and strung on strands. Also kind of pricey, but cute.

Tiny briolette (1-3mm) of the usual suspects (topaz, ruby, etc) BUT also in Jaspers and Agates.

Red Tiger Eye from China with the most chatonancy of any tiger eye I've ever seen. That stuff glows! (I didn't buy any, I'm not sure why.)

Pearls--all kinds, all prices higher than I expected--the natural disasters in Asia are taking a toll on the pearl market.

Silver--Very high--Turkish Silver was 85 cents per gram. Bali Silver 80 cents per gram and Thai Silver was $1 or more per gram. Very painful!

Really HOT stones: Ammonite, Boulder Opal, Turquoise. Someone had a new Turquoise find from AZ, which was a pale light blue, almost like Larimar. I was tempted (it was fairly cheap) but I decided against it because no one would believe it was really Turquoise.

What I didn't see:
Pietersite--only one vendor claimed to have some Chinese Red but it had no chatonancy so I think they had it mislabeled.
Fluorite--there was some and a decent quality, but none faceted, just nuggets and rounds.
Moonstone--I didn't see to many faceted rondelles and the ones I did see were about twice as high as 2006.

What I saw too much of:
Aquamarine, blue and multi-colored--wide range of quality—also wide range of prices
Prehnite--wide range of color and quality—also wide range of prices

One last thing—there were several vendors I spoke to who were clearly upset by the attendance at the G.L.D.A. I suspect in ’09 it will be a very different show, especially if the economy doesn’t pick up.





Photo: Sarah Heston



5/30—G&LW—Bally’s Hotel
First day of the show and once again, slow. But vendor and attitude wise, a world of difference from the G.L.D.A. Some vendors from the G.L.D.A.—S.I.I. Findings, Pearl Concepts, Realm of the Goddess, and a few others. The GL&W show is about half the size of the GLDA, but its 80-90% beads with the rest being finished jewelry.

Some vendors that I remembered from last year weren’t at this show, according to Colored Stone they were either at the Whole Bead Show (also new to Vegas this year) or at the Bead Renaissance Show at Palace Station. Since as a rule I don’t go to mainly retail shows (unless I am desperate!) I won’t be reporting on those.

I’m guessing the vendors all had a chat about the G.L.D.A, because from the moment we (or any other shopper) walked in, the vendors immediately stopped you, tried to show you their wares and then started dropping their prices like crazy. Clearly, an air of desperation was here. I had a long chat with a vendor I know well (I won’t name names, because of what was discussed) and he basically told me that business was off 50% year to year at the G.L.D.A and that it almost wasn’t worth it to have done one show, let alone both. Then he proceeded to drop his prices significantly for silver by the gram to almost ’07 levels. Again, great for me, not so great for him.

Stones:
Again, a world of difference from G.L.D.A. In ’07 the GL&W had 5 or 6 faceted gemstone vendors with A grade product or better. This year there were only 2. Last year there were lots of people selling Jaspers and Agates as well as other items, this year there were only 2 big “rock” vendors. Most of the vendors had a smattering of everything, pearls, C grade gemstones, jaspers, etc.

Again, I saw a lot of Kyanite, Aquamarine and Prehnite. Lots of Turquoise as well, however, unlike the G.L.D.A, where the vendors knew where their Turquoise came from, most of this was “Chinese” (not Hubei or Manshann, just “Chinese” Turquoise) and more likely the bulk of it was dyed howlite. Nothing wrong with that, but it ain’t Turquoise.

Again, I only found one vendor with Fluorite (why is this getting so hard to find?) and it was expensive. I absolutely refuse to pay $15 a strand for blue nuggets that are only polished. It’s Fluorite!

I did however find one vendor with gorgeous Pietersite. Absolutely breathtaking in rounds, ovals, chicklets, and fat teardrop cuts. Bought a bunch of it.

Another stone that I saw at this show that I hadn’t seen at the other was Brazilian Blue Opal. I’m still not convinced it’s a real gemstone (Robyn—yes or no?) but it was pretty and fairly inexpensive. The vendor also had Peruvian blue opals, so clearly he did know the difference. But I saw a lot of this in many cuts.

There was one “rock” vendor who had tables of $3 strands and while over there I ran into the woman who owns my local bead store. She and I chatted for bit, especially as some of the $3 strands I was buying where the exact same strands I had bought from her, 5 years ago (when this was still a hobby, rather than a business) and I had paid $18 per strand! We both had a sense of humor about it—hey she should make a living and it’s not my hobby anymore! And I have to say, she gives me a 50% discount when I go in now, so . . .

Pearls—not as many pearl vendors as in ’07, but much better prices than the G.L.D.A. I saw some new styles (at least new to me) my favorite being a coin/keshi combination that was just gorgeous. However, the one color of pearl that was impossible to find (at both shows) was chocolate. I think the big companies (QVC/HSN/JTV) bought them all up, because no one had any. I was able to get copper, bronze, and champagne though. There was a large preponderance of “fashion” colors, which seemed to be selling really well, though I still can’t wrap my head around hot pink, orange, and neon blue pearls.

Thanks for listening! I’m sure there’s a lot of other information trapped in my mind. I just can’t dig it out right now!

Laura Roberts
Lorelilee Creations
http://lorelilee.tripod.com/

2008 JCK Las Vegas Show

This show is nothing like the Tucson show which embraces all aspects of the Jewelry and Gem Industry at the Las Vegas Show it is about the Jewelry Stores the educational programs are geared toward marketing sales and innovation....does this mean there are only “retailers” here? NO – there are some amazingly talented designers, jewelers and top of the line gem dealers.

I think that the following Press Release from JCK will give you an idea of the tone of the show...LUXE!!!! Take a minute and Google some of the Companies featured in the Grand Pavilion and definitely check out the Rising Star Award Winners!!!

THE TOP LUXURY BRANDS AND HIGH END DESIGNERS WILL BE PROMINENTLY SHOWCASED AT JCK LAS VEGAS 2008

100 Designer Companies; 8 Rising Stars and 60 Of The Finest High-End Jewelry Companies To Be Featured Along Fifth Avenue

NORWALK, CT February 6, 2008 – To make it easier for retailers to set appointments and peruse high-end designers and the hottest new talent, JCK Las Vegas is bringing the finest high-end jewelry companies closer together on the show floor. Fifth Avenue on Level 2 of the exhibit floor is already home to the Design Center, LUXURY Collection, and Prestige Promenade. For 2008, JCK has added the Grande Plaza Pavilion to the same area, bringing many of the shows high end brands together in one central location.

Retailers will find it much more manageable to navigate this high-end section of the 17th annual JCK Las Vegas, which will take place May 30 – June 3, 2008 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center and Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.

The Grande Plaza Pavilion
A reinvigorated Galleria, now known as the Grande Plaza Pavilion, will feature sixty of the finest companies in high-end jewelry offering the most exquisite designs. Exhibitors who have already signed on to be featured include Charles Wolf Couture, Inc, Floriani Astucci SRL, Gemveto Jewelry, Hammerman Brothers, Lazare Kaplan, Louis Fiessler & Co., Masriera-Bagues, Oscar Heyman & Brothers, Inc, Precious Gems Resources, Inc., Quadamas, Ramon Joiers, S.L., and The DeYoung Collection, to name a few.

“We thank Bob Hochberg of Hammerman Brothers and David Spivak of Charles Wolf Couture for spearheading this effort to bring these luxurious and upscale jewelry designers together in this new pavilion on the JCK Show floor,” said Dave Bonaparte, Group Vice President, JCK Events. “The Grande Plaza Pavilion will compliment the LUXURY Collection, Prestige Promenade and the Design Center giving retailers access to the best of the best in one easy to navigate location.” In addition, The Grande Plaza will offer a new unified look and will offer the retailers who visit several amenities including spacious, comfortable lounges and complimentary refreshments.

The Design Center
Jewelry retailers from around the world will have the opportunity to source 100 established and new designer companies who will showcase an assortment of designs and styles in The Design Center. In addition, eight talented designers have been selected as The Rising Stars, a unique group of companies who will make their jewelry trade show debut. The 2008 Rising Stars include: Amali (http://www.amalijewelry.com/), Gemra AG, Ginger Peachy, Jessica DiRubio Jewelry (http://www.belloredesigns.com/), Jetalia, Misha of New York (http://snipurl.com/2bupb [www_blueluxe_com] ), Nina Basharova (http://www.ninabasharova.com/), and Rebecca Overmann (http://www.rebeccaovermann.com).

“A jury of designers, magazine editors and PR consultants met in November and hand selected
these 100 designers and 8 Rising Stars. We encourage all retailers to make time to stop by and see many of the new designers exhibiting this year,” said Dave Bonaparte, Group Vice President, JCK Events. “We had an overwhelming response from companies wanting to exhibit in The Design Center and are so pleased to welcome back such prestigious designers as Alishan, Susan Sadler, Sugarman-Frantz, Robert Wander for Winc Creations, Jane Bohan Inc., and William Schraft Designs.”

On Sunday, June 1 at 2:30 pm, 50 retailers will be honored for their lasting excellence at selling designer jewelry during The Designer Retailer Awards and Ceremony. The top five retailers will receive special recognition. The list of Top 50 will be voted on by the members of the Design Center who will take into consideration the retailer’s ongoing success at marketing, displaying and selling designer jewelry.

The Design Center exhibitors will also be featured during the JCK Las Vegas Welcome Reception taking place on Friday, May 30 from 7:00 – 9:30 pm at the Caesars Palace. The Design Center exhibitors will have a designated area to showcase three pieces of jewelry, providing attendees with a sneak preview and sampling of the collections on display while enjoying cocktails and hor d’oeuvres with the JCK community.

This year’s sponsors of The Design Center are GZ Art and Design and Niche Magazine. GZ Art and Design will feature several German jewelry designers who will be making their debut at JCK Las Vegas. While meeting and doing business with all of the designers in this special area, retailers will be able to enjoy cappuccino and biscotti throughout the Show and at 4 pm each afternoon the Design Center Bar will offer its signature Orangetini. The Design Center Concierge desk can help make onsite appointments with Design Center exhibitors.
_____________________________________________________

Now in it’s 17th year the JCK Las Vegas show offered education sessions on the two days prior to the Opening! The education program covered: Hot Topics and Trends; JCK Style: Where Fashion Meets Jewelry; Business; Diamonds; Gemstones and Pearls; eBusiness; Jewelers Notebook: Practical Advice for Jewelers; and J-Biz: Jewelers of America Industry Insights.

“Over 2,000 industry professionals attended the JCK education sessions at our last event, and we hope to continue to provide more content and value for jewelers and retailers with a dynamic program that will both educate and stimulate,” said Dave Bonaparte, Group Vice President, JCK Events. “During the two days leading up to the Show, we invite the industry to gather for an opportunity to discuss the important topics facing the industry and understand the newest upcoming trends.”

Daily keynote addresses include:
Friday, May 30 at 8:30 am Hip Hop Mogul Russell Simmons who will kick off the
event with a discussion on how he built his mega-empire and continues to build his brand. Simmons will discuss the launch of Simmons Jewelry Company and his philanthropic endeavors including his Green Initiative Collection. The Green Initiative Collection raises funds for the non-profit Diamond Empowerment Fund which helps education projects in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource.
Saturday, May 31 a morning session: Jewelers of America will host an “Executive Roundtable Discussion: Business Relationships, Retailers and Suppliers.”
Saturday, May 31 an afternoon session with: Shane Decker of Ex-SELL-Ence will present “Where Have All the Stores Gone?”
Sunday, June 1: Carol Campbell of CRC Enterprises will discuss “How to Give Women the Jewelry Buying Experience They Want”
Monday, June 2: Martin Rapaport will give an overview of “The State of the Diamond Industry.”

Next Post...The Shows around the Show!!!!

Manning House...OOOOPPS!

Last night I was uploading the photos on my memory chip and realized that I forgot to write my piece on the Manning House! I don’t get it because it is my favorite venue and was probably the most fun I had at the Tucson Shows! So I am posting this with my most sincere apologies to Holly, Kerry and my good friends Marsha & Vlad!

I have said it before and will say it again – this venue is like an oasis in the desert – literally!

The Manning House is used for events, meetings and weddings...and is made up of large ballrooms, elegant and lush...giving the show an “over the top” feel. This works for this group of vendors...there are a lot of handmade focals – OOAK porcelains, metal, PMC, titanium, rubber, bone, etc...alongside some of the major vendors.

The Too Bead True Blue Show has been in this venue for several years – but starting next year this show will move. Unfortunately this made for a very tense show this year as vendors were under pressure trying to decide whether to stay with Manning House or move to a new venue with “Too Bead True Blue” ...a tough choice!

Holly Gage was in the Morning Star Ballroom – I have seen Holly’s posts on a number of forum’s (most recently the Orchid Digest) and her work is really organic and elegant! Her latest offering is Titanium Focal pieces - all OOAK and fabulous! You can see more Gage Designs at: http://www.hollygage.com/

Vintaj - this booth was fabulous! I have always been a huge fan of Vintaj but now I am even more in their court.

They had a huge – beautifully displayed booth and lots of project ideas....even a Designer (Mackie) whipping out original pieces...wouldn’t that be the “dream” job!

Kerry at CeltCraft Design

Kerry and her husband were charming and had a great display of all things Celtic - the pair are reinactors as well as owning a B&M store. Last year they made a decision to close the store and hit the road setting up at Art Shows, Jewelry & Gem Shows and Scottish Festivals!

I really loved her display – the boxes on the steel grid each contain a fun bead or focal and then across the top she has strung a design sample using the item. Check out her goods at: http://www.celtcraftdesigns.com/

Marsha Hedrick (wo)mans the booth...

The next stop was the Porcelain Fantasies booth – this is some of the most beautifully detailed work you will see. Marsha creates some of the most fancy and decorative porcelain miniatures available to doll house enthusiasts... Fairies, Fantasy Dolls, affordable hand painted porcelain dollhouse dishes, amazing miniature capodimonte style porcelain flower arrangements, and other doll house accessories in 1 inch scale and half inch scale.

As a Registered Native American her first jewelry pieces were Native American in style. Marsha recently expanded her work to include limited (these are individually made and glazed so no two are actually identical) edition Organics and Flowers that will give your work a very original look!

...and of course – the Snow Babies were a BIG hit! Check out Marsha’s work at:

http://amazingporcelain.com/

http://marshahedrick.com/

Sharing the booth with Marsha is Vlad of Golem Design Studio.

Vladislav Ivanov and Kremena Ivanov have been working as a team and a company since the year 2000, successfully dealing with several clients in the USA and Australia. Living in Bulgaria, on a crossroad between Europe and Asia they have developed eclectic interests and tastes, the beads and pendants cannot be associated with any specific national tradition or style, incorporating patterns from a variety of ancient and contemporary sources. http://golemstudio.com/

Following the show Marsha, Vlad and I got together over dinner at the local Red Lobster – Vlad is a vegetarian and begged for a seafood restaurant!

Last Day In Tucson! Bad Cold!

I wanted to add a post with photos of my Tucson Finds - but I am sick as a dog!

So I will post that later!



1:30 pm - A Hundred Laps and Counting - John Franke
John is one of my favorite speakers – he is knowledgeable in many areas and always willing to share. His expertise is such that he can give specific info to YOUR situation.

An award winning faceter, John Franke is well known in the cutting fraternity. Together John and his wife Barbara - also an award winning faceter - run the Facet Shoppe in Burley, WA. John says that by now he has somewhat more than a hundred polishing laps. Polishing, as we know, is among the most fiddly and frustrating of the lapidary processes; sometimes things work and don't work for reasons that seem arbitrary and inexplicable. Plus there are so many different types of polishing laps. Which is the right one? Which should you choose if you wanted the indispensable minimum? John will address some of those questions, navigate through the jungle of available laps and steer you to a brilliant final polish.





3:30 pm - Web Resources for the Jeweler Blogging, Social Networking or Website? The Internet offers so may options to hobbyist, lapidary and jeweler alike. But which will work best for your business? This session is all about resourcing - putting the Internet to work for you. Former jewelry business owner Robyn Hawk is now a freelance PR and marketing consultant.

Outline - Selling Options Online

Selling Sites:
Ebay.........Etsy.........Rubylane
...the Gallery Pages of some Guilds

Blogs – Web Logs
Business – usually links to a selling site
Can be used as a Newsletter or to Introduce New Products
Service - informative, educational
Social - personal info and opinions

Social Networks:
MySpace.............Facebook.............Multiply
Metalchasers......Deviant Art.........Yuwie

This genre started with the MySpace phenomena and just continues to grow there are at least a dozen of these Social Networking sites! Think they are just for kids? Go to MySpace.com and search jewelers or jewelry!



Just Getting Started? Most new Artisans let themselves get overwhelmed in learning HTML/Website Design when they are just starting out.


A good example of taking baby steps:

Turquoise Magpie started with an Ebay Store: turquoisemagpie.com

...then added a Customer Blog (turquoisemagpie.blogspot.com) to show their product in use and to toot the horns of their talented customers!

Then, with a loyal customer base behind her - the big leap to a website: magpiegemstones.com
...and a site for Szarka’s own jewelry – szarkas.com

Start small – build a customer base – see if the Art is just as much fun when you have to hold up the business end as well!

Want Some Other Views of Tucson?

Jewelry Television:
http://jewelrytelevision.typepad.com/jewelry_television/tucson/index.html

Local News:
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/76616.php
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=7853095&nav=14RT

Geology.com
http://geology.com/news/2008/more-photos-from-the-tucson-gem-and-mineral-show.shtml

Jewelry Artist
http://www.jewelryartistmagazine.com/feature/tucson08.cfm

Art Jewelry Collective
http://artjewelrycollective.blogspot.com/2008/02/trip-to-tucson-gem-and-mineral-show.html

These are really fun...
Fiber Addict:
http://fiberaddict.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html
My Neck Candy:
http://myneckcandy.blogspot.com/2008/02/feb-tucson-gem-show.html
Dawn and Jeff's Blog:
http://dawnandjeffsblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/tucson-gem-show.html
Benafia's Weblog:
http://benafia.wordpress.com/tag/tucson-gem-show/

...and for the best photos....
http://www.flickr.com/groups/azwonders/discuss/72157603660043668/#comment72157603888985746
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/2262117848/

http://community.livejournal.com/az_photo/119081.html