TUCSON Gem Fair 2010 - now in full swing !

Here is a listing of the larger shows taking place during TUCSON GEM FAIR 2010 with links to many of the individual shows. But remember there are many additional vendors and dealers at most of the motels around town and in special locations set up for street vendors.

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The main Tucson Gem, Fossil and Mineral Show, ™ sponsored by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, is held at Tucson Convention Center Exhibition Hall and the Arena. An estimated 240 retail dealers share the Exhibition Hall and the Arena areas of the Tucson Convention Center with a variety of mineral, fossil, jewelry, and lapidary crafts. Tickets are available at the door of the Tucson Convention Center (Ticket Office 520-321-1000) and all Tucson Convention Center outlets after January 15, 2009. Admission is $8.25 plus a $0.75 Tucson Convention Center ticket tax. Tickets will be available at the door (cash only) of the Tucson Convention Center (TCC) from February 12 -15, 2010. The 2010 Gem Ride Guide will be available after January 24, 2010.

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Globe-X Gem Show – Days Inn, (222 S. Freeway Ave.), 200 dealers of gems, minerals, fossils, mostly direct-import merchandise from around the world, including gem stones, decorator minerals, polished minerals, rough minerals, beads, opals, fossils, amber, crystals, Arizona minerals, septarians and carvings,8:30 am – 6:30 pm, http://jewelryshowguide.com/ or http://www.daysinntucson.com
Rapa River Gem & Mineral Show – a wide variety of many unique and unusual products from all parts of various countries, 520-743-0866 or www.rapariver.com or www.tucsonshowguide.com
1820 Oracle Wholesale Mineral Show – TopGem Warehouse, minerals, 520-622-6633 or www.topgem.com
Tucson Showplace – quality dealers who are a direct source for the material they sell, offering rough rock, minerals, designer cabochons, jewelry, and copper, 262-377-4804 or www.tucsonshowplace.net
African Art Village – (1134 S. Farmington Rd., 85713), approx. 100 African exhibitors showcasing African masks, beads, statues and various other African artifacts from countries throughout Africa, 8 am – 6 pm, 520-869-7895 or http://jewelryshowguide.com/
January 29 - February 9: J.O.G.S. Gem & Jewelry Show, Tucson Expo Center, 3750 E. Irvington Rd. www.jogsshow.com.
January 30 - February 13: Arizona Mineral & Fossil Show. 505-867-0425. www.mzexpos.com. Held at Quality Inn Benson Hwy, 1025 E. Benson Hwy; Hotel Tucson City Center Conference Suite Resort (Formerly InnSuites City Center), 475 N. Granada Ave.; Mineral & Fossil Marketplace, 1333 N. Oracle Rd.; and the Ramada Limited Hotel, 665 N. Freeway Ave.
January 30 - February 14: Tucson Electric Park Gem & Mineral Show, Tucson Electric Park, 2500 E. Ajo Way. 520-883-6447. TEPGEMSHOW@CS.COM.
January 31 - February 5: To Bead True Blue, Doubletree Hotel Tucson at Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way. 530-284-2244. www.tobeadtrueblue.com.
February 2 - February 7: AGTA GemFair Tucson, Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. (Granada Ave Entrance). 520-622-8877. www.agta.org
February 3 - February 8; 17th Whole Bead Show, The Windmill Inn, St. Philip's Plaza, 4250 N. Campbell Ave. 530-265-2544 Fax: 530-265-2776. www.wholebead.com
February 4 - February 8: The Best Bead Show, Kino Veteran's Memorial Community Center, 2805 E. Ajo Way. 610-909-2674. www.bestbeadshow.com
February 5 - February 8: Rio Grande Catalog in Motion Jewelry Equipment Showcase, Hilton Tucson East, 7600 East Broadway, 505-839-3247. www.riogrande.com
February 6 - February 8: The Tucson Bead Show, Doubletree Hotel Tucson at Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way. Contact: Anna Johnson, 530-274-2222. www.thetucsonbeadshow.com.

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TUCSON GEM FAIR 2010 !

Well the big one is here ! Yep, at the end of this week Tucson Gem Fair 2010 gets under way. Something for everyone -- gemstones - beads - minerals - fossils - you name it and if it is related in any way to gems, minerals or fossils, you can probably find it at one of the more than 40 shows that take palce over the next 3 weeks.

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One can be overwelmed by the amount of gems and beads present.

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Please bear with us for the next several weeks as we may not be able to update the web-site until return and get everything identified and catalogued. If you try calling, we have found in the past that cell-phones do not always get a good signal inside the metal buildings, so please wait a bit and try again at a later time.

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If you want to check on a particular show, or see if your favorite Vendor is present, check out the Tucson Show Guide at http://www.colored-stone.com/tsg/.

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AGTA Seminars for Tucson Gem Fest 2010

The Tucson Gem Fest 2010 in coming the last week of Jan and first two weeks of Feb 2010. Each year the AGTA runs many seminars for visitors to the show. Below is a listing of this years Seminars. BUT, you have to sign up early because the size of the Seminar is limited by the seating of the room being used. Once that limit has been met, no addition persons will be allowed in. Some Seminars are Entry until Full. The FREE Seminars run from Wed the 3rd thru Sat the 6th. Live demonstrations run from Tue Feb 2nd thru Sun Feb 7th. There are also several fee based classes presented by the GIA.

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WEDNESDAY 9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
Best Buys in Tucson
Options When You Buy Over the Counter
Visual Display of Color)
Internet Marketing to Drive Local Traffic
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WEDNESDAY 1:00 – 2:00 P.M.
Navigating Counter Space in Colored Gem Sales
Creating Demand for Cultured Pearls
Training Your Staff
Understanding and Using Color Trends
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WEDNESDAY 6:30 – 7:30 P.M.
Yoga for Jewelers experience. 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
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THURSDAY 9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
Developments in the Chinese Pearl Industry
Colored Gemstone Wardrobe, Fashion Informed
Personal Jewelry Insurance: Service Beyond the Sale
Meet JVC’s All-Star Federal Regulators at a Jewelry Town Hall Meeting
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THURSDAY 1:00 – 2:00 P.M.
Books for Gem Lovers!
Use Social Media to Sell Design
The Andes to the Pantanal – The Story of Bolivia’s Gem Ametrine
Hand-Held Instruments
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THURSDAY 6:30 – 7:30 P.M.
Yoga for Jewelers
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FRIDAY 9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
Intriguing Gem Stories
Considering CAD-CAM
Strategies for Driving Sales Performance
Capitalizing on Color
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FRIDAY 1:00 – 2:00 P.M.
Country-of-Origin and Gemological Updates
Why On-Premises Services Benefit Retailers
Gem ID – Parts I and II hands-on (3 hour extended session, ends at 4:00)
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SATURDAY 9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
GIA Research Update
Improve Your Return on Effort with Color
Platinum Bridal – The “Bright Spot”
GIA Pearls Update hands-on (2 hour extended session, ends at 11:00)
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SATURDAY 1:00 – 2:00 P.M.
HPHT Enhanced Colorless, Pink and Yellow Diamonds
The Lost World of the New York Jewelry Industry: 1914-1941
Gem ID – Parts I and II hands-on (3 hour extended session, ends at 4:00)
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GIA Class & Seminar Descriptions (Fee Based Seminars and Classes)
Gem Identification Lab
Monday – Friday Feb 1-5, 2010 - 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuition: $1,350 + $45 book fee = $1,395 Total
To enroll, call 800-421-7250 ext. 4001 or visit www.gia.edu
Pearls
Saturday - Feb 6, 2010 - 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Tuition: $145.00
To enroll, call 800-421-7250 ext. 4001 or visit www.gia.edu.
Gemstone Treatment Update
Saturday - Feb 6, 2010 - 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Tuition: $145.00
To enroll, call 800-421-7250 ext. 4001 or visit www.gia.edu.
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Full explanations and other courses that may be added can be seen at
http://www.agta.org/tradeshows/gft-seminars.html
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