Wednesday, September 17, 2014

#GemShow #Denver - Day Two - All About The #Prospectors

Got to the Coliseum just in time to dodge raindrops on the way in...I had chosen the Coliseum because I really wanted to cover the featured stars from the Prospectors Show on the Weather Channel...



I wasn't prepared for all of the amazing booths on the upper level...everything from Crystal Soaps to one of my favorite Sun Stone dealers and some gorgeous finished jewelry.

But - back on track - I headed downstairs to the main floor.  The Prospectors area was right at the bottom of the stairs and it was great to see that several cast members participated.



The Bussey boys were manning the the first section...with Amanda and Travis next and a fun inclusion was a small table for the Bad Boys of Cripple Creek...and at the end a booth filled with stunning gems and jewelry manned by Dwayne and Marsha Hall.

The customers had Dwayne hopping almost the entire time I was there...he had some really stunning gems!
If you haven't heard of the Bad Boys of Cripple Creek Mining, Inc., from their website:

"Bad Boys of Cripple Creek Mining Company is located in beautiful and historic Cripple Creek, Colorado. Originally established for gold mining in 1890, we produce a very unique type of natural turquoise for sale, in both rough and polished products.

Unlike many other mines and products, our turquoise is NEVER stabilized! It is much harder than other infamous turquoise locations worldwide. Our turquoise runs between 6. 7 and 7. 7 on the mohs scale of hardness, and is not dyed or treated in any way. It will scratch glass!"

Selection of goods from the Bad Boys of Cripple Creek, Inc.




















Travis and Amanda had several exciting new finds in their booth see just a few below:

Hematite coated Smokey Quartz Crystals
More on this one coming later...

100% Colorado with the color of a Burma Peridot

Introducing "The Green Scream"
Next it was off to the Marriott for the last day of the Fine Mineral Show and in keeping with the day's theme a talk by Joe Dorris...

Joe Dorris with Show Promoter Dave Waismann

Stunning photos brought us right into the mine with the Dorris family...

Fabulous Specimens in the Pinnacle 5 room at the Fine Mineral Show



















Thursday, September 11, 2014

#Denver #GemShow - Day One! The Premiere Denver Fine Mineral Show



The Fine Mineral Show at the Westward Look Resort is probably the most impressive show in Tucson and one of the major reasons for that is the show management - Dave and Kathy Waisman are true gems.  

So could they pull it off here?  Well - to quote my Geologist friend, Roni..."We have a Westward Look in Denver!"



First up Evan Jones' Unique Minerals room....an expert in Arizona Minerals, Evan's room was awash in Azurite Blue!






Then a quick stop in the Pala Minerals room - and a great surprise both Bill and Will Larson were in....we got shots of some fabulous Quartz specimens and picked up a fun display idea!




We loved this idea of using Halite as risers for smaller pieces.
We wandered the show a little bit and my phone - which is now my camera started crashing and turning itself off - first day!  I guess photographing that massive JCK Las Vegas show was more than it wanted to do!

The lovely Brett and Allyce Kosnar allowed us to charge up in their room....oh did I mention that the Fine Mineral Show is a "hotel" show?  That means that the vendors are set up in the rooms at the gorgeous Denver Marriott West - so you walk down the hallways and there are vendor displays on both sides.

Where were we - ahhh - charging up in the Kosnar Gems room.  These are two incredibly talented artists...they work magic with gemstones....









































The speaker for the day was Brian Kosnar, Mineral Classics - yes - Brett's big brother.  For their first Denver Show, the Fine Mineral Show featured an expert speaker each day.       
                        
Today Brian talked about the big three mining regions of the San Juan Mountains, I never realized just how entrenched the Kosnar family is in the local mining industry....five generations in mining and mine ownership made for great information and wonderful stories.


Then it was back to the show!

In the Bergmann Minerals room we found this Amethyst beauty and I just fell in love with the way that Tourmaline sits in that Quartz....



...and finally, Valere Berlage's room was a vision in blues - from the magnificent Shattuckite that greeted you at the door to the lovely Azurites and associated minerals....and the young lady in the room was elegant and welcoming.  There were two exceptionally impressive pieces that came with their pedigree...






































Wednesday, September 10, 2014

#GemShow #EZGuide - 2014 Denver...the Fall Show!

Seasoned Gem Show Veteran 
Attends Her First Denver Fall Show


You may know me, I write the Tucson Gem Show blog, I cover the massive JCK Show in Las Vegas, so you know I have experience walking the shows.

This week in Denver has kicked my butt!  

Sorry to be so graphic but a quick trip out from sea-level to the mile -high city...is wreaking havoc with this old body.  Thankfully the city (and surrounding areas) couldn't be more welcoming and vibrant!

...and it was doubly exciting for my first Denver Show to coincide with The Fine Mineral Show's first Denver Show!

But my Denver experience started several months ago in Tucson when Amanda Adkins Anderson agreed to let me interview her for the Denver EZ-Guide.  Amanda and her husband Travis Anderson star in the Weather Channel Reality Show "Prospectors" which will start airing Season 2, with a premiere on October 27 .


So - for the next few days you are going to be hearing from me....I will try to give you my famous "fly on the wall" view of the shows of Denver, Colorado - the second largest Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show in the country.

The plans were made and on September 6th I hit the road - the drive from Cali to Colorado was gorgeous! As I neared my destination the sky opened up!  Almost from the minute I crossed into Colorado to the freeway off ramp where I'm staying there were showers and thunder storms off and on the entire way.

I pulled in at 4:30pm, just in time to make our dinner date with Amanda & Travis...WHEW!

Hop on board!  You can follow along here or on Facebook!

Gem Show EZ-Guides on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GemShowEZGuides





EZGuide - WOW! Fall is a Busy Show Season!

IN THE USA....




Tucson Fall Gem Show /
Tucson, Arizona USA


Venues: 3 gem, mineral, fossil and jewelry show locations

Show Dates: September 4 - 7, 2014
Hours and admission requirements vary for each show

Contact: Click on the show names in the left column of this page for contact information for individual shows.

What you will find at the show: Tucson is known in the gem and mineral world for its incredible February shows, but the town also hosts a few great gem and jewelry shows in September, as well. 




Denver Gem & Mineral Showcase /

Denver, Colorado, USA


Venues: 10 gem, mineral, fossil and jewelry show locations

Show Dates: September 5 - 14, 2014
Hours and admission requirements vary for each show

Contact: Click on the show names in the left column of this page for contact information for individual shows.

What you will find at the show: Anchored by the Denver Gem & Mineral Society's annual "main show" at the Denver Mart, ten separate gem, mineral, fossil, bead and jewelry shows feature nearly 800 vendors and exhibitors, each displaying and selling their gem and mineral treasures, precious gems and stones, and lapidary products and services. Mineral shows not to be missed are the Colorado Mineral & Fossil Show; Denver Coliseum Mineral, Fossil & Gem Show; Denver Expo Gem Show; JG&M Expo Denver; and the Denver Coliseum Mineral, Fossil & Gem Show now has the highest concentration of fossil dealers and dinosaurs anywhere. This citywide showcase is bested in vendor numbers in the U.S. only by Tucson's 4,000+ vendors in February.


West Coast Gem & MIneral Show /

Santa Ana, California USA


Venue: Holiday Inn-Orange County Airport
2726 S. Grand Ave.
Santa Ana, California USA

Dates:
 November 7 - 9, 2014 and May 16 - 18, 2014
Show Hours: Friday and Saturday 10 am - 6 pm, Sunday 10 am - 5 pm
Admission: Free admission and parking, open to the public

Contact: 
Martin Zinn Expositions
Email: mzexpos@gmail.com
Website: www.mzexpos.com 

What you will find at the show:
 The West Coast Shows feature 80 local, national, and international vendors specializing in minerals, fossils, gems, decorator items. Some jewelry and bead dealers are also included. A separate wholesale section is available for the trade.


IN EUROPE...


Euromineralexpo - Turin International Mineral Show Turin, Italy


Show Venue: 1° Padiglione Lingotto-International Exhibition Center
Via Nizza, 294, Turin, 10126
Province of Turin, Italy

Show Date: October 3 - 5, 2014
Hours: 9 am - 7pm
Admission: Open to the public

Contact: Bologna Mineral Service S.r.l.
Phone: 39 334 5409922

What you'll find at the show:  This great event is celebrating its 42nd year in 2013. Visitors come annually from all over the globe for Italy's largest mineral show to see and purchase from the fabulous displays of minerals, fossils, precious stones, gems, jewelry and accessories. A segment of the exhibition features minerals on loan from Italian museums and private collections — some of the region's finest specimens, including exceptional pink flourite over smoky quartz, bright sulphurs, and aragonite on calcite. The size and upbeat nature of the Turin show attracts an eclectic array of 300+ international gem and mineral dealers exhibiting throughout nearly 6,000 linear feet of show space.

Munich Show /

Munich, Bavaria, Germany


Show Venue: Munich Trade Fair Centre/Entrance EAST
Am Messeturm 4 81829
Munich, Bayern, Germany

Show Date: October 24 - 26 2014
Friday: Friday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm (Trade visitors only/registration required), Saturday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm (Public day), Sunday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm (Public day)
Admission: Open to the public. Check website for entry costs.


Contact: Patricia Hainz, Münchner Mineralientage Fachmesse GmbH
Phone: +49 (0) 89 - 6134711
Email: service@munichshow.com
Website: www.munichshow.com/en/the-munich-show

What you will find at the show: The Münich Show celebrates its 50th anniversary with the 2013 show! What started with 20 tables in 1964 has become Europe's largest and leading show for minerals, gems and fossils, with over 1,200 exhibitors from 65 countries and 40,000 visitors each year. Four separate halls host four different worlds: Mineralworld, the biggest part of the show; Gemworld, a highly interesting and rapidly growing European marketplace for precious and semi-precious stones; Fossilworld, where dealers, collectors and scientists meet and trade high-end fossils; and Stoneworld, featuring art and objects made of rare stones. We welcome you to this year's jubilee show!

ExpoMIner Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain


Show Venue: Hall 1. Montjuic, Exhibition Centre
Avinguda Reina María Cristina s / n 08004
Barcelona, Spain
Show Date: November 14 - 16, 2014
Hours: 10 am – 8pm
Admission: Open to the public
Contact: Marta Lorenzo, Fira de BarcelonaPhone: 34-93-233-2000Email: expominer@firabarcelona.comWebsite: www.expominer.com

What you will find at the show: ExpoMiner Barcelona showcases an exceptional variety of minerals, fossils, precious stones and jewels to more than 10,000 collectors, professionals and enthusiasts. With the 35th editions, ExpoMiner Barcelona is one of the largest collections of minerals, fossils, jewellery and gems in southern Europe.


...AND IN CHINA!



Beijing International Mineral, Gem & Fossil Show /

Beijing, China


Show Venue:China International Exhibition Center (CIEC)
#6 North Road of East 3rd Ring
Beijing, China


Show Date: November 13 - 17, 2014
Hours: 9 pm- 5 pm
Admission: Free, open to the public, onsite registration with personal ID requested.


Show Hosts: Gem and Jewelry Association of China, and AAA Minerals International
Contact: Mr. Guanghua Liu and Miss. Qiu Ya
Phone: +86 13910724403 +86 10-65013126
Email: mineralsshow@gmail.com orstone@aaamineral.com
Website: www.chinamfshow.com/en

What you will find at the show: A wide range of minerals, fossils and gemstones from all over the world, including finished Jewelry, silver, jade and antique jewelry as well as accessories, display and packaging materials. The show is associated with the 14th China International Jewelry Fair. Totally, there are over 1000 dealers from over 60 countries around the world and the fair got over 110,000 visitors and buyers in 2013.