I think everyone in the jewelry trade no matter how big or small should go at least one time. It’s a fellowship of people in the jewelry trade world wide and you can get some deals there too if you look hard enough.

The Tuscon Gem and Mineral Show is anyone and everyone interested in the jewelry making and selling process world wide. But i must say the last few years things are changing. Like so many extravaganzas the big guys eat the little guys till one day there are only big corporate companies and all the little guys have been moved out.

The parts, findings, and generally speaking the small things you need for jewelry making is fast being replaced by expensive finished jewelry. Which I love to look at by the way! Let’s face it with booth fees from $1000 to $5000 it is not a cheap show to work so you have to sell constantly and make new customers or financially it wont work for anyone.

I think the jury is still out on Tuscon’s future because the future of the Tuscon Gem and Mineral Show is the future of the jewelry making industry in general. But no matter for now it’s a ball and I love to go and just talk to folks from far off places with gems and items you never dreamed of!

Each year we meet with vendors we have known for 20 years and can sometime buy exotic supplies so cheap you wouldn’t believe it! We try to get the best deal and fight hard to get it and then we can pass that onto our customers. So its a free for all of bargaining, whining, complaining, selling and buying and i would not miss it for the world!

For the small time jewelry designer its heaven!!! All those little unusual cut stones that you just gotta have! And if you come early you get first pick that’s always fun.

So in closing yes do go and yes spend the $100 you been holding on to all year!

Here in our gem department are a few stones I bought last year and never quite got around to setting them, so here they go! http://www.jewelrysupplycloseouts.com/catalog/Gemstones_Genuine-65-1.html

Preston Reuther Master Wire Sculptor
PS make sure to register and get membership in our new supply site: www.jewelrysupplycloseouts.com

Preston Reuther
Master Wire Sculptor
www.wirejewelrybootcamp.com