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Attending the Tucson Gem Show in February 2012? Then you do not want to miss renowned author and lecturer The Tucson Gem Show The legendary annual gem show in Tucson, Arizona is arguably the largest and most important colored gemstone event in the world. Here one finds everything—natural colored gemstones, diamonds, cultured pearls, designer and estate jewelry, crystals and fossils. When a new gemstone is discovered (such as tsavorite in the 1970s), you'll see it first in Tucson; if a deposit is found in a new place (such as sapphire in Madagascar), you'll see it first in Tucson; if a gemstone in discovered in a new color (such as the neon shades of Paraiba tourmaline or luscious shades of "Mandarin" garnet), you'll see it first in Tucson! But you'll also find every new synthetic and every new treatment in Tucson, often without disclosure. Old and new, good or bad, hot or not, it's in Tucson. But all of this just adds to the excitement and the thrill of the hunt.... There is nowhere else in the world that attracts so many gemstone buyers and sellers at the same time, in the same city. And it truly takes over the city. Some of the "shows" are open only to the jewelry trade, but many are open to collectors and hobbyists, too. And one of the biggest attractions is the educational programs offered here during this time. One of the most prestigious shows—the AGTA GemFair™—takes place in 2012 from January 31–February 5. While the show itself is open only to the jewelry trade, the seminars and educational programs are available to all. GemStone Press, a leading publisher of books on gems and jewelry, will feature author and lecturer Antoinette Matlins during the AGTA GemFair™. Ms. Matlins will be giving two free workshops – one on Thursday, February 2nd and the second on Friday, February 3rd (times and room location to come). Her classes will be held at the Tucson Convention Center. The workshops are created to help buyers—especially retailers, designers, and those with no gemology or technical background—learn easy ways to quickly spot synthetics, imitations, fracture-filled diamonds, Moissanite, and much more. The class is limited to 50 participants so come early to “reserve” your seat! Gem ID—Parts I and II (hands-on) (3 hour extended session) Antoinette Matlins, GemStone Press Basic-Advanced. (Part I not required to benefit from Part II. Part II is not required to complete Part 1). Class size is limited. (First-come, first-served, limited attendance). These two non-technical, 3 hour workshops demonstrate how to use simple, portable instruments to quickly and easily identify colored gemstones typically seen in the jewelry market, detect treatments, and spot many fakes and synthetics. Techniques to screen for HPHT-treated diamonds and surface-coated diamonds and gemstones are also covered. Even gemologists can benefit from time-saving tips. Increase confidence when buying away from your store, office, or in the field. Jewelry and parcels of gemstones and diamonds often contain imitations, synthetics and improperly identified gemstones (such as red spinel being identified as ruby). No one wants to inadvertently buy a synthetic, imitation or common gemstone incorrectly identified as something more valuable. At the same time, some of the rarest and most valuable gems are discovered in old pieces, sometimes overlooked or mistakenly sold as synthetics because they look "too good to be true"! Knowing one from the other is often easy to determine, but many are intimidated by scientific terms and sophisticated sounding instruments. But most gemstones can be identified easily, and separated from look-a-likes, if you know how. Learn how easy it is to use some of the most important gem identification tools, including the refractometer, and how useful they can be in helping you avoid costly mistakes or discover valuable treasures. This hands-on, non-technical seminar will provide beginners with skills to identify many gemstones and spot fakes that commonly appear in antique and estate pieces. Gems, jewelry and instruments will be provided for use during the workshop. No gemology, science, or technical aptitude needed. This seminar is for beginners but also offers a good brush-up on practical techniques for advanced students and professionals. |
