Tucson Trip Review – Day 1

Leaving the deep freeze of south Texas, arriving only to find Tucson is just as frigid in weather! It didn’t keep us from our mission; to hunt through shows, vendors and dig through boxes and tons of product hand picking all our new inventory stock for the coming year. We bundled up and hit the indoor shows first, hoping that in the next few days the weather would lighten up (we were granted our wish!) and get a little warmer to attend some of the outdoor shows. Here’s the first review of our trip to Tucson, the shows we attended and some of our finds.

As a reminder our disclosure/disclaimer: As a reviewer of the products, shows or vendors attended in Tucson is solely that of our experiences and opinions. We were in no way compensated or paid to review or provide feedback, comment or opinions for the Tucson shows we attended. With that out of the way, here’s our review of our recent Tucson trip.

Day 1: Due to high winds and freezing temperatures, we opted for indoor shows and started the day after arrival at JOGS International Gem & Jewelry Show (JOGS). This show has in the past always been a venue representing minerals, rocks, beads, jewelry products and finished products from all over the work; specifically their well known Amber vendors, which appeared (to me) to be a little thin in vendors than in past years. The area of Southwestern jewelry also seemed to be a little thin in the vendors, but big on finished jewelry.

Pros: If you are in the market for finished jewelry, there was plenty of it from all over, mostly overseas. The quality varied from vendor to vendor as well as pricing; you could find some products for less than $100 up to over $1000’s. If cost is no object, then sterling silver at many vendors was just the ticket; but buyer beware that the sterling silver is an overlay and not solid, I had a hard time finding the required .925 mark on most of the jewelry, though the vendors claimed it to be sterling silver. Overall, there are lots of selection but mostly in the finished jewelry products; leaving anyone who is looking for raw materials a little in the wind. This year did have a few more vendors offering displays, boxes, etc. which was nice to see.

Cons: Way too much finished jewelry (although this show usually has a lot), not enough in the way of raw materials for minerals, fossils, natural stones, or beading stock. There lacked the many large and interesting displays such as the famous meteorite from last year that this show is also known for. Some of the vendors appeared to be either packed together so close that we didn’t even get to some because we couldn’t; or strung out too much that one didn’t know where it stopped and another began. There wasn’t enough variety and too many overseas vendors offering less than quality products across the board.

Overall: JOGS is a good place to start but is quickly becoming ‘just another show’ in the arena of overseas vendors with inferior products. The cost of goods was higher than last year and many vendors were not willing to give discounts unless the buyer was purchasing in large volumes, both monetary and stock. Navigating the hall mazes we did manage to find several great finds here at JOGS; a sterling silver ring with a center stone of Mexican Fire Opal with very brilliant red, large ceramic Mexican beads, several faceted and non-faceted odd shaped pendants, quite a few of the pewter spacers and metal beads….just to name a few of the things we picked up here. I’ll continue to watch this show, but I don’t know whether or not I will keep in to my ‘must see’ list of shows in the future, since it was missing several of my big vendors that I do business.

We had several hours left in the day and decided to head over and check out Gem Mall. This is a huge wholesale only show with 2 very large tents full of vendors and their products. We only got through the first tent, so I’ll be reviewing this one later on this week as an entire show.

Stay tuned for more reviews of our Tucson trip and Adventure!!

Designs Fit For Your Valentine

The end of January and just around the corner is Valentine’s Day. We have new designs that are sweet delicious, bold and classy, sassy and trendy; give the gift of nature’s treasures. These new designs feature pendant hearts of glass, red coral, onyx, cloisonné beads, ivoryite and peppermint jasper and much more!

(Left:  Heart of Glass, Red Coral, Onyx Set)

Coral: Diplomacy, quieting emotions, visualization.

Onyx: Self-control, decision making, intuition, recognition of personal strengths.

Jaspers: Protection, nurturing, joy, awareness; balancing of physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies.

Smoky Quartz: Dissolving emotional blockage, clearing the mind, cooperation, personal pride, joy in living, attentiveness to the moment, protection.

(Right:  Peachy Jasper accented w/Silver, Smoky Quartz Set)

  

Shop often for the best selection, we are adding new designs weekly at Timeless Designs Ruby Lane!

 

(Above:  Artistic Jasper, Rasberry Quartz Set)

(Right:  Arizona Ivoryite, Peppermint Jasper Set)

Tucson World’s Largest Treasure Hunt

Well, at least in the United States it is the world’s largest treasure hunt and the much anticipated ‘Biggest Show’ is about to begin. Starting January 29 and running through February 13, 2011 is the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show.

For two weeks international buyers and sellers migrate across the globe to Tucson, Arizona for a feast of shows hosted across the small town; venues include convention centers, ball parks and empty lots, resorts, hotels and motels and multiple places along the frontage road that runs along east and west of Interstate 10. It accounts for more than 40 sites around the town to thousands of participants and attendees.

There is always something to tantalize the imagination; minerals, fossils, gemstones, jewelry, museum and private collections on display, and lots of beading materials. Many shows are open to the public, but be sure to check the show website for details because many of them are wholesale only and require business credentials to attend.

Check these websites for listings and information on shows:

 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show 2011

A – Z Guide to Tucson Gem & Mineral Show 2011

Jewelry Show Guide

We’ll be highlighting several shows over the next few weeks, as we trek our way across Tucson hunting for our next inventory of treasures for the coming season!

 

To see our artisan crafted creations from the treasures we find in Tucson, browse our collections online at Timeless Designs Ruby Lane!

The Snakeskin of Serpentine

Named for the snakeskin it is said to resemble, serpentine has been used in jewelry for thousands of years; mainly because it is suitable for carving and polishes to an attractive gleam. It is sometimes confused with jadette or nephrite, because of its similar coloration, and is sometimes been known as “Korean jade” or “new jade’, although it is softer and scratches more easily than jade.

The term serpentine encompasses a group of related minerals that are distributed across the globe. It is a secondary mineral formed from minerals such as olivine (known as gem peridot) and orthophroxene. It occurs in igneous rocks containing these minerals but typically in serpentinites, which have been formed by the serpentine minerals, the antigorites and the chrysotiles.

Legend says that is was used by the ancient Romans as a protective stone against the powers of darkness. According to the legend, beakers made from serpentine would shatter if they came into contact with poison. In the Middle Ages, medicine was kept in serpentine containers because this increased its healing powers and made it last longer.

As in ancient civilizations of America, serpentine was considered a guardian of vital energy and a protector of the soul against invisible powers. The stone is said to even out mood swings and calms the wearer in stressful, hectic situations; it is a protective stone that is said to bring peace.

This new design features a large oblong serpentine pendant in deep rich green with slivers of silver. The bail contains hand twisted charms in metallic and clear faceted crystals; Arizona ivoryite, more crystals and sterling silver spacers and toggle complete the set.

 

Browse our artisan crafted jewelry, featuring some of nature’s finest treasures!

*Research from various websites, mineral-stone-crystal books.

Andean Opal Rare Stone of Color

Andean opal is a lovely blue-green translucent opal found in the Andes Mountains near San Patricio, Peru. It has been used by native South Americans for more than a thousand years and is well known in the semi-precious stone trade. Copper may be the essential trace element that causes its soft distinctive color. The pink opal derives its color from trace amounts of included organic compounds known as quinones. These opals range from opaque to translucent, and depending on how the stone is cut, the color will either be clear or show the stone’s matrix and inclusions. (Like agates, some Peruvian opals show the scenic fern-like dendritic inclusions.)

Peruvian opal is also known as Andean opal. Opal was formed many millions of years ago, when a combination of silica and water flowed into cracks and spaces in the ground. This then gradually hardened and solidified to become opal. Opals contain water, which makes them very sensitive to heat. They are soft and can be cracked or chipped easily.

Traditionally pink Peruvian opal is a stone of love and gentleness. It brings energies of gentle love and kindness to both romantic relationships and relationships of other kinds. As with other opals, it also brings inspiration, imagination and creativity. It can help release inhibitions and brings happy dreams. It also eases the process of change.

 

This new design features round pink Peruvian opals, some charmed at the base to form a bail over a beautiful Murano glass heart pendant in black and pink. The strands are crafted of onyx, pink faceted crystals and more pink opals.



Browse our collection of finely artisan crafted jewelry, available to purchase at our online shop!

Chic Stylish Designs in Shades of Red

A chic, trendy, elegant, and bold design….that is what’s new at our online shop in artisan crafted custom jewelry featuring the color RED!

Heart of mine in Murano glass deep red pendant with black marks; accented with lots of hand turned crystals of red and black.

Trendy stylish statement in red sponge coral pendant that is accented with cloisonné and lampwork beads, red coral (dyed) and extended with long chain.

Bold elegant red (dyed) coral with all faceted onyx in shapes of square and rounds.

Browse and shop our collections of artisan crafted jewelry, from natures earthy treasures!

Rockhound’s Paradise – Quartzsite

If you are into rocks, minerals, fossils, and just all around rockhound than Quartzsite is the place for you! Every year in January, in a sleepy little town just 20 miles east of the Colorado River on I-10, sits a the town of Quartzsite, Arizona. It has been know since the 1960s as the rockhound’s paradise, coming from far and wide across the globe. It has become the mecca to over a million visitors (mostly in RVs) each year during the January through February months; some would say it’s the pre-show to the epic Tucson Gem & Mineral Show in February.

The show is host to over 2,000 vendors specializing in rocks, gems, minerals, fossils and everything else imaginable; creating one of the world's largest open air flea markets in Quartzsite. Eight major gem and mineral shows as well as vendors of raw and handcrafted merchandise peddle their wares to snowbirds, collectors and enthusiasts, making Quartzsite the place to be the first two months of each year.

Historically, a small mining boom revitalized the town as Quartzsite in 1897 and it remained thus until 1965, when the Pow Wow Rock, Gem & Mineral Show began the rockhound winter migration to Quartzsite each year. These days, the population can swell to almost a million during January and February as rockhounders, jewelers and vendors, mostly in thousands of RVs, attend the eight major gem and mineral shows.

Enjoy and have fun at Quartzsite list of shows below.

Show 2011
January 01 - February 28, 2011 Desert Gardens -Gem & Mineral
January 07 - January 16, 2011 Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show
January 08 - January 23, 2011 Main Event
January 21 - January 30, 2011 Tyson Wells Sell-A-Rama
January 22 - January 30, 2011 Sports, Vacation & RV Show
February 2 -February 6. 2011 Hobby Craft & Gem Show
February 4 - February 13, 2011 Tyson Wells Arts & Craft Fair


The next stop……the “Big Show” Tucson Gem & Mineral Show!!