Tucson 2025 dinner

[Precision Gem]

Here's a photo of two of the "New Tanga Garnet"

[ewagems]

I wish to thank everyone at the dinner for giving me a warm welcome!

It was a pleasure to meet all of you, and I hope to see you in 2026.

[Precision Gem]

Here's a few more of the "New Tanga Garnet" with one cut.

[arglthesheep]

Here's a photo of two of the "New Tanga Garnet"

For how much do they go in tucson in rough?
thx

[Barbra Voltaire, FGG]

Wow! Impressive.
Someone sent me a wee piece several years ago. Not at all impressive aesthetically....just rare.

[Dioptase]

The new rhodolite production from Tanzania, Tanga. It was already coming to Bangkok end of last year (photo is from November). The material is nicer looking in the rough, the cut stones have a touch of grayish unfortunately.


Exceptionnal black opal from Lightning Ridge. From Aurora Opals in Pueblo.


Cool faceted Baltic amber with an insect trapped inside. From Gravier & Gemmes in GJX

Overall attendance seemed down in GJX, there were far less people in the ailes. The mornings especially were very quiet. Thankfully, we were very busy from lunch time to closing time. A lot of people had a tight budget this year and were looking for bargains.

Pueblo was crowded, but I'm not sure how that translated in sales. Had a great time looking at Yi's collection of Gobi desert agates and of course visiting Michelle's booth (Aurora) to look at black opals.

Two of my colleagues and I visited 22nd street on our last day in town, and we had trouble finding a parking spot. The show seemed pretty full of visitors. I randomly found some faceted cobaltocalcite in the show. Given the cutting style, I assume they were done in Jaipur, and I really felt sorry for the poor soul who had to do that unenviable job



Nothing to do with gemstones, but we enjoyed a superb moon halo one evening toward the end of the show.

[danielle]

Nothing to do with gemstones, but we enjoyed a superb moon halo one evening toward the end of the show.

Awesome photo ! The branches of the tree look like coral

[Stephen Challener]

Just got packed up last night at 22nd street, flying out tomorrow.
We did a bit better than last year overall. There were a larger number of people looking to get into faceting or who had just started which is nice to see, though of course also a group of people our booth selects for.
There was a big find of dioptase in the congo, so lots of nice specimens available everywhere at pretty good prices. Ethiopian opals continue to be cheap after the price crashed last year. There was a find of Nigerian aquamarine with emerald bands similar to Australian Torrington emerald, I saw a fair amount but all kind of expensive.
I got a bit of this and that but not much rough tempted me. To be fair though I have limitless quantities of interesting lab rough to cut so it has to be a pretty good deal on natural rough to pique my interest these days.

[dchallener]

And don't forget the pezzotaite. It was plentiful from the new Madagascar find --- but insanely expensive.

[Dioptase]

I don't know how you guys manage to do it, 18 days of show is waayyyy too long. I was already done by the end of GJX

There was a big find of dioptase in the congo, so lots of nice specimens available everywhere at pretty good prices.

That explains why there were so many! Too bad I had run out of money by that point. Well, next year, I guess.

[Stephen Challener]

Honestly me either, I am so worn out. But the amazing food in Tucson helps. Really looking forward to getting back to cutting and making videos.

[Brian]

Must say, if you haven’t visited Little One for “brunch”, should visit Easily accessible from GJX by tram.

[Barbra Voltaire, FGG]

Really looking forward to getting back to cutting and making videos.

I'm really looking forward to videos too.

[cascaillou]

I'm really thinking that one day, I shall attempt the Tucson show...but that's some 1400 euros just for the flight back and forth (and I'm not even considering accommodations)...maybe if I can find a reason to stay in the US a bit longer than 4 days!

Well, out of the 8 rare mineral species I'm most interested in acquiring, all except one are occuring as real quality specimens in the US (if anywhere else for half of these!)...

[Stephen Challener]

It would take more like 20 days to see all the shows. My dad managed it one year but it was a real challenge.