Many Faceted

Adventures in Tucson: the AGTA GemFair

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Entrance to the AGTA GemFair Tucson
AGTA GemFair welcomes you!

Even just one weekend in Tucson is too much adventure for one post, so first I’ll tell you about the AGTA GemFair, and show what bits I was allowed to photograph. The AGTA GemFair was my first stop in Tucson, and I spent the most time there, overall. It was a kaleidoscope of fine gems and finished jewelry, and (in my experience) very friendly people. I spent as much time chatting and networking as I did oggling!

The show floor, as seen from the Galleria
Just before the show opens...

I got to the show at around 9:30 am, Saturday the 4th, checked in, received my guidebook and fluorescent orange tote bag, and spent the time before show opening looking over the Galleria booths (societies, schools, and information-type things) and eyeing the GIA “Mega Gems” display (see last post.) I had some very good conversations that morning! I also strolled through the Designer Pavilion and admired some of the AGTA Spectrum Award winners. (What can I say? Not all modern jewelry is to my taste. I like my jewelry wearable, I guess….)

The Hooker Emerald, part of the National Gem Collection, visits courtesy of the Smithsonian Institute
The Hooker Emerald visits Tucson

One of my first stops on the show floor (and the only part I could take pictures of) was the Smithsonian Institution’s gem display. As I haven’t yet been to see the National Gem Collection in Washington, DC, this was my first in-person look at the Hooker Emerald. A 75.47-carat Colombian emerald (over an inch square, by my guess), the Hooker Emerald “was once the property of Abdul Hamid II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1876-1909), who according to legend, wore it in his belt buckle.” (Description from the Smithsonian Institution.) AWESOME.

Peridot, 100.15 carats, Pakistan
Peridot, 100.15 carats

I also enjoyed seeing some new donations to the National Gem Collection, including a faceted, extraterrestrial peridot (donated by Palladot); a gorgeous, 100.15 carat terrestrial peridot from Pakistan; and a colorful 43.52 carat sphene (titanite). I came back to this booth a few times. (And back upstairs to the Mega Gems display; the contents are exactly what it sounds like. Big stuff.)

I made a beeline for the Pala Gems booth, particularly to see this amazing bi-color topaz, but also to look around. I adore Pala’s website, and it was a treat to see some of those stones in person.

43.52 carat sphene (titanite)
43.52 carat sphene

I saw a lot of amazing opal: fantastic arrays of Ethiopian opals, lovely fire opals from Nevada (not so fiery, but a warm, sunny glow), and boulder opal from Australia. Some sellers had mined and cut the material themselves. It was a pleasure to talk to them; enthusiastic about their wares, and eager to share their knowledge. I was told before I went to Tucson that I could trust anything I bought at AGTA GemFair. I definitely felt that to be the case. Sellers were open about stone origins and treatments, and I think I learned a lot! I met some terrific people that day.

Among the terrific people I met was AGTA CEO Doug Hucker, who is also one of the first confirmed readers I’ve had here at Many Faceted (besides friends and family.) Hi, Doug! It’s a neat, and still pretty new experience for me, to meet someone who reads my online ramblings. I bet readership would go up if I rambled more often. Still working on a regular posting schedule.

It’s been nearly three weeks and I still feel I have a ton of experiences to sift through, mentally, all from that first day at AGTA. (Yes folks, we’re still on Saturday; haven’t even touched Sunday yet. Stay tuned!) So while I sift, and prepare the next segment of my Tucson adventures, I leave you with a faceted quartz the size of a football (okay, maybe not quite that big. But BIG.)

Note on photos: click to enlarge. If you got all the way down here without clicking on anything, please know that I would never deprive you of jumbo-size gem images. That’s mean.

Quartz, 21,299 carats
Quartz, 21,299 carats. Yes, you read that right. It's a big'un.

Kunzite

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Kunzite, 531 carats, courtesy of GIA
Kunzite, 531 carats; seen at GIA "Mega-Gem" display at AGTA GemFair Tucson

Just a teaser Tucson post: my favorite giant gem from the GIA display at AGTA GemFair Tucson this weekend. Kunzite is a pink variety of spodumene, named after U.S. mineralogist G. F. Kunz, who first described the gem in 1902. (Sadly this picture lacks scale — bad geologist! — but the gem looked to be over two inches in diameter. Very nice!)

Joining the AGTA

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AGTA lapel pin
Yes, it's my official AGTA lapel pin!

I feel funny having a “Joining the…” post two posts after a “Joining the…” post, but it’s my own fault for not getting the rest of my GIA museum photos processed and uploaded. (By the way, I should tell you all about my GIA visit and labs, before I go there again, a month from today. Eheh.) ANNNYYYWAYYY….

So I’m going to Tucson in February, after my lab. Yes, TUCSON!!! (Just for the weekend.)

This all started when I noticed that my Gem ID lab in Carlsbad (January 30 – February 3) coincides with the first week of Tucson’s rock-n-gem show extravaganza, including the AGTA Gem Fair. (39 shows spanning three-ish weeks. Intense.) At first, I only thought as far as, “what sucky timing, that’s the week I’m in lab!” Then someone asked how far Tucson was from Carlsbad. The gears, they turned. Flights and lodging arrangements came together. And suddenly, I was going straight from lab, to the airport, to Tucson. TUCSON!!!

My first purpose in going to Tucson is networking opportunities, and as such, I want to go to two wholesale shows: AGTA Gem Fair and GJX. Since I could join AGTA as a student member now (and thereby qualify for pre-registration), I sent off my check and proof of enrollment in early December. (Lest I forget, my second purpose is to oggle as many gems and minerals as humanly possible, without uh… bankrupting myself. Eheh.)

My box of swag, brochures, DVDs and goodies from AGTA
Look at all these goodies!!

So I’ve been waiting for what I thought would be a small packet from AGTA: a letter, a membership card or whatever, maybe a pamphlet. Instead, today, I got a BOX OF FUN. What you see here is numerous information booklets; the latest issue of their magazine, Prism; two DVDs of AGTA Gem Fair seminars (from 2010 and 2011); the AGTA Source Directory (members), including wholesale suppliers, retailers, appraisers, and a student section (thats-a ME! Or it will be, next time it’s published.) Also, an AGTA lapel pin, a membership certificate, a pretty postcard, and two window clings (I put it up, with my GIA Alumni cling, in my home-office window. That way, people driving down my street can see how awesome I am. Or something. Awesome is probably not the word that applies here.)

I’m amazed at what my AGTA membership entails, and all the benefits I’ll get from it! Admission to the AGTA Gem Fair in February seems like a bonus, compared to what I’ve already received.