Talks, Shows and Plenty of Travel

BY BOB JONES

This Denver Gem and Mineral Show featured a wonderful variety of fine Mexican mineral species.

August kicked off with the big East Coast Mineral Fossil and Gem Show in West Springfield, MA, where I gave three lectures. It was almost immediately followed by the educational Dallas Symposium where presenters provided a worldwide mineral report and brought up to date information about exciting and productive gem and mineral localities. Even I gave a talk here.

In mid-September, the superb gem and mineral shows in Denver were held. I hardly had time to unpack and pack again. It was truly a great summer. To recap …

The East Coast Show is always well attended in part because it offers a large wholesale show section. Only limited by space, the show features 45 of the major wholesale dealers who come from all over the world bringing literally tons of goods. On set up day the aisles are nearly blocked with palettes stacked with boxes of all sorts of gem and mineral specimens and mineral items. In the lapidary field, there are spheres, cabochons, carved animals, polished slabs, agates, rough rock, amethyst geodes, and even quartz wands. Add to that jewelry of all types, from beads to fine necklaces.

After walking the aisles in the wholesale section I was completely convinced that wholesale business is alive and well. In fact, the East Coast wholesale dealers have been asking for more and more space as business is so good. The show management listens and discussions have been held considering moving the wholesale section of the East Coast Show to a separate building. It is a matter of resolving logistics and estimating the impact of separating the retail and wholesale shows.