2011 Spectrum Awards - Part 2

Todd Reed was the big winner
in 2011 winning his category
and the coveted Best of Show

Moving on to Part Two of the Spectrum Awards Editor's Day Event...

In this video you see the real value in participating in competitions and challenges - especially in this particular competition.

Todd's Winning Design

The contacts that are made and the important people that see your work are the Editors of some of the most prestigious magazines - in Jewelry; JCK - in Luxury; Town & Country - in Fashion; ELLE, Marie Clare, and more...

Has this started your creative juices?  Come on...this could be your "golden" opportunity!



Photo Credit: Todd Reed from the AGTA Facebook page - Jewelry Photo by Robert Weldon for the AGTA Spectrum Awards page

2011 Spectrum Awards - Part 1

The buzz is building and people are talking Tucson already...


Can you feel the shift in the mood...the Industry is feeling hopeful!   What a wonderful feeling!  I am getting excited for Tucson myself! 


The American Gem Trade Assoc. (AGTA) has released videos from Editors's Day 2011 - where editors from the best in the Fashion Industry mix with Judges and view the Spectrum and Cutting Edge Award entries.

What's Hot In Tucson 2011 - Order Now!

Well, the wait is finally over - the 2011 edition of What's Hot In Tucson is available!!!


From BlueCap CEO & Videographer, Bryan Swoboda's Announcement:

This is our fifth year covering the Tucson show and every year it gets better and better. Dave Wilber, having finally overcome many of the physical ailments that have been plaguing him, returns as our knowledgable and locquciousShow Host.Bob Jonesalso returns as our Co-Host and together we blast throughthree weeks of the biggest mineral show in the world to bring you the hottest minerals under the sun.

We start our adventure at the Hotel City Tucson Center (which we still refer to as theInnSuites) where we check in with a hand full of dealers showing off specimens ranging from the truly spectacular to the rare oddities.

Then we're off to the newly developed, and quickly growing, Pueblo Inn Gem & Mineral Show. This is their second year where they've created an International Fine Mineral Sectionand it's one of the more fun and eclectic stops in our journey.

Next, we stop off at the Fine Minerals Internationalshow where we get a sneak peek at their gallery-like showroombefore it opens to the public. One of the biggest thrills of the entire show is when masterpieceafter masterpiece comes out of the safe for our private viewing. It's almost Wonka-esque.

The next stop is up at theWestward Look Mineral Show (aka Fine Mineral Show: Tucson) filled with some of thefinest dealers on the planet. This is what I consider a mineral time machine - you arrive on a Friday and before you know it, it's Monday and you have no idea where the time has gone!!!

Our whirlwind adventure ends at the grand-daddy show of them all - TheTGMS Showat the Tucson Convention Center (or as everyone refers to it - The Main Show). This is the show that started them all and it never disappoints. Display case after display case is filled with specimens, oddities, treasures and more all interwoven among the dealer booths and ice cream stands (ok, there may be only one ice cream stand but I must have visited it a dozen times over the weekend).

In all, it'sthree long weeks in Tucson seeing and filming minerals every single day. We've taken those 504 hours of time and, for your convenience, distilled it and compressed it down to only 4 hours on 2 DVDs!!! How nice.

And last but not least, for the past five years everyone has been asking about a certain thing that we FINALLY added as a surprise ending. Want to know what it is? Buy the DVD and keep watching through the closing credits. If Dave doesn't kill me, I'm hoping to make this a new feature for all future What's Hot In Tucsonepisodes so voice your support!!!!

Remembering Tucson: Bathrobe Couple, or...Only in Tucson!

Anyone who has been reading this blog knows that the Tucson Gem Show is held annually across the entire city of Tucson.  Most shows are held in various hotels and vendors show in their rooms.

So imagine this...I have just finished viewing a room of stunning minerals at the Fine Mineral Show at the Westward Look Resort, probably the highest of high end Mineral Shows.  I was waiting for friends and a lovely couple walks up asking if it is OK to look?  They weren't sure if you had to pay to go in or what.  Of Course I said feel free...did I mention that this couple was in Terry Robes and had just stepped out of the Jacuzzi? 



We soon drew a crowd of people- it was such a great reminder that we are after all at a Resort Hotel.  Most people book their room at the Westward Look for the views and ability to relax a short distance from the hustle & bustle that is downtown Tucson during the shows.

So they enjoyed the show - relaxed in comfort!  
 
Photo Credit: Gail Spann - from the Gail Spann's Version of a Tucson Show Report 2011 

Stunning Tucson Sunset...

Just a quick post of this beauty - I am going through my photos and will be posting more photos - more vendors - more shows from the Tucson Gem Show!

This was taken by Ann Marie from the window of her flight home!  Good Bye Tucson...see you in 2012!

AGTA's Gem Jammin' Donates $5,000 to Jewelers For Children

AGTA's GemJammin' Tucson 2011 Raises Over $5k for JFC

Thursday night 3 February 2011 saw the return of  AGTA's GemJammin',  a gathering of the jewelry industry's best musicians,  benefiting Jewelers For Children. Gerry Manning,  Jack Malinowski and Marty Hurwitz coordinated the effort  on behalf of AGTA and also contributed musically.  There were many notable performances that kept the crowd at The Hut all night long. Thanks to sponsors Instore Magazine, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, Stuller and Swarovski Gems, AGTA will contribute over $5,000 to Jewelers For Children.

Brilliant Hues - Lowe Associates at GJX!

There aren't enough adjectives in the English language to describe the row after row of beautiful gem rough and faceted gems in the Lowe Associates booth!  I am kicking myself for not taking a photo of the gigantic (that's a technical measurement) Color Change Garnet cut by Dave Perry!

Robert Lowe brings gems straight from the source...Brazilian gems, and he can tell you the mine source. So - when words don't work I can only let the pictures tell the story.

Contact Info:
Robert P. Lowe Jr.
Lowe Associates - Brasil
Gemstones, Rough, Specimens
Tucson - Feb 1 - 6, 2011 - GJX booth # 205
e-mail: USA  robertplowejr (at) juno.com 
e-mail: Brasil robertplowejr (at) uol.com.br

Watermelon Tourmaline Slices

Imperial Topaz in faceting grade to collector grade

Cacoxinite - some dealers call it Super7 

Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?
Tourmaline bullets cut by the genius faceter, Steve Franzen

Don't you just love Quartz with stuff in it?

Glorious 11+ carat Pink Tourmaline