From the upper lobby looking down to the show floor before the show opens. Hundreds of jewelry stores and gem sellers.
When I first started coming to Tucson I kept thinking,”I’d sure like to see what is in those wholesale shows.” This included the AGTA show at the Tucson Convention Center, GJX show across the street from the convention center, the GLW show and the Holidome show which was actually in the Holidome. At that time I did not have a business license, but came to the shows because I was a rock hound.
Giant GJX Tent across the street from the beautifully landscaped Tucson Convention Center. GJX is a wholesale show requiring business credentials.
“A” Mountain (Sentinel Peak) looms over Tucson. In a previous blog you can these shows in a picture I took from just under the “A”.
The AGTA (America Got Trade Association) show is, for obvious reasons, the most secure show in the city.
Gem Trade related booths in the main hall above the Trade Show.
I picked up a good tip as to how I might secure our show tent in future art show on the Lake Superior Shoreline….Outside the center in the food truck area.
Parking at the the Tucson Convention Center is $9 but worth it to men(Parking is a business expense isn’t it? You can park remotely and take a free shuttle in also, if you prefer, or park for around $5 in a parking ramp nearby.
But now that I can get into all these wholesale trade shows, they don’t interest me. The AGTA show is comprised of hundreds of jewelry store suppliers, and direct importers of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, topaz, sapphires, opals, and pearls. This is the stuff you see in every jewelry store, and that is not what we sell. Bonnie accuses me of running (!) through the show, but the heaps of sparkly clear stones don’t interest me. I find a couple of vendors that have beautiful cabochons or Koroit opal like we told you about yesterday. Hugo referred us to see his dad Rod Griffin at the AGTA show which we did.
This was such fine Bumblebee (not Jasper) I decided to make the pendant immediately!
Frogs sold as Ox Bone are not carved, but bone is crushed, mixed with resin, and molded. I still like them. The underside is as shown and the top frogs appear to be had painted.
In the GJX tent the products are similar with a higher emphasis on finished jewelry. I located some beautiful old stock Bumblebee Jasper and a couple pieces of Yellow Delaware Mine Datolite. The Delaware Mine rock pile has been hauled away to be road gravel, so we can’t expect to find more of that in the Keweenaw. Gary Wison lives in Tucson, but also has a shop in Downtown Traverse City. Wirewrappers and silversmiths flock to his booth to purchase the colorful and unusual Casbochons he has. I am always facinated by the feeding frenzy at his booth. Since I cut most of my cabs (unlike the majority of wire wrappers) I don’t need to purchase a lot of finished cabochons; but I will not turn down an exceptional cab if I see it.
The prices have to reflect the costs of being in these top-drawer shows, so if you are just browsing around some of the other shows, you may find bargains better than you would get at these wholesale shows.
Fine Koroit Boulder Opal. Sorry, I really have a reflection issue with the Ironstone matrix.
Photos are not allowed in these wholesale shows. No one wants other people copying their jewelry or targeting for carrying high priced stones.
Back years ago I used to see piles of loose gemstones on tables, and buyers with optivisors sorting and selection. This policy of just pouring piles of gems on tables has ceased, but the gem dealers still allow buyers to sit and pick from trays and trays of high-end jewels.
Today I continued my search for things I didn’t know I needed. The Holidome tent and GLW comprise 4 big tents. I bought a few rose gold chains to enhance our beautiful stone pendants.
I really think we are finished with the Wholesale shows. The next week will be going back to other shows already visited to find the hidden treasures. The temps are expected to be mid-80’s this weekend, so to my Northern friends I say “stay cool” whilst I bake.