I had good fun today, and the evening date with Bonnie was also great. The movie had some Michigan connections as the gemstone was cut in Royal Oak. We met many others in the gem trade from around the country. We were wined and dined and treated like we were something. We enjoyed it and any time I can learn new things, I’m happy. This movie followed a beautiful Tsavorite Garnet from the mine to a piece of finished jewelry. The day ended at JCK with the world premiere of the new documentary film, Shaping the Rough. The book has great pictures and loads of information on these Jaspers. So I was happy to find a new book of that name by Hans Gamma and Lauritz A Jensen. I have confusion sometimes identifying Picture Jaspers from the Northwest, I showed you a piece in an earlier blog that Jeff Anderson had, and am hopeful mine will also be good stuff. On the way back to the RV I stopped at the Tucson Showplace and bought some Purple Passion Agate from the Gem Shop. Finding good Datolite always makes my day. The colorful Datolites are becoming scarce as waste piles are rapidly being crushed for road fill. I was able to find a couple Datolites with wonderful color from the Keweenaw Peninsula. One was the Logan Sapphire, at 42.3 cts, the largest mounted gemstone in the National Gem Collection! It is surrounded by diamonds, and mined in Sri Lanka. Again, the quest for old material made my day.Ī couple of special gemstone pieces were on display from Smithsonian. I think it is solid and pink with an amethyst tinge. I will attempt to take a picture of the piece I purchased.

Not just any Rhodochrosite, but Rhodochrosite from Inakuraisi Mine in Hokkaido, Japan, a mine that I last saw Rhodocrosite from many years ago. As I was strolling the show and sort of doing the fast scan, what should my eyes behold but four small pieces of Rhodochrosite. I do keep an eye out for a hidden bargain though. Faceted Gems are not my forte, so I usually just skim this monster show. After parking at the Marriott Starr Pass, and checking out a very small JCK show, I took the shuttle bus to the AGTA (America Gem Trade association) Show at the Tucson Convention Center, and also the GJX (Gem & Jewelry Exchange) across the street from the Convention Center.ĪGTA is a serious gem trade show with high-end gemstones everywhere. AGTA Show at the Tucson Convention CenterĪ couple big wholesale shows were on my agenda today.

Tucson expo center in tucson