68 breezy & sunny
AGTA Show
A small portion of the AGTA Sow prior to opening.
Today we went to two of the largest wholesale shows in Tucson. The AGTA (American Gem Trade Association) show runs thru February 4th at the Tucson Convention Center. When this Gem Fair closes then the Convention Center is set up for the Big Show put on by the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society. I’ll visit the “Big Show” next weekend and blog about that.
AGTA is an organization of the professionals in the gem trade business and primarily features gems as you would find at high-end jewelry stores. I cannot even describe the mind numbing experience of viewing pile after pile of facetted gemstones, and hundreds of gemstone dealers from around the world. This show has the best reputation for quality, honesty, and integrity of any show in Tucson. We might have to pay more at this show, but you get the best stuff also. This show is on two floors of the Convention Center and allows no photography at all (This policy is strictly enforced by the many on sight members of the Tucson Police Department protecting the gazillion dollars worth of precious jewels.
Bonnie bought some very high end gemstone beads and I bought a few cabs for myself.
A view from the Tucson Convention Center of the GJX Show tent.
This was a legal picture of a JUMBO Quartz gem in a case at the AGTA Show.
A JUMBO Topaz at AGTA.
The GJX show is just across the street from the Tucson Convention Center held in an 110,000 square foot ultra-structure that is fully carpeted and climate controlled. There are several hundred vendors at the GJX show and it is again a wholesale show. The camera police are again out in force. This show has a little of everything from facetted gemstones to carvings to equipment for gemstone identification. We like the show’s separate little nook for the famous Idar Oberstein lapidary group from Germany. There is also side nooks for the Brazilians and Asian gem trade people.
We picked up a few items and got out of there after walking around for several hours. This tent is massive!
Bumblebee Jasper
I promised yesterday I would tell you about the Bumblebee Jasper from Indonesia. My research indicates that it is totally legit and a real rock from a volcanic region on one of the Indonesian Islands. The unusual yellow coloration is caused by sulfer. I’m eager to make some jewelry out of it.
I have no idea where we will be tomorrow, but be assured you will go with us (adhoc) via our blog.
There seems to be some unusual things that happened on the text in this blog. I’ll figure it out by the next blog.