#JewelWKLV - AGTA Gemfair Las Vegas

Equatorian Imports features Red Beryl
and  stunning Cats-Eye Tourmaline!
Booth  - #AGTA404

AGTA Gemfair Las Vegas


This one is for all my GEMMY Friends!!!  You know I stopped in as soon as the doors opened - this is the show that I am so excited to see!   You have gone on Gemfair trips with me in Tucson before...but I have to say the Las Vegas venue is just as big with so many vendors!!!  ....and busy - busy - busy!


There were some vendors that were still setting up - an issue throughout the event on the 30th & 31st - flights from the Pennsylvania and Texas areas were either being cancelled or delayed...but they were there for the Opening!  ...can'r keep a good Gem down!


This show has everything you have come to expect from an AGTA show and more!  


I think that there are a couple good thing that have come from our economic issues - first and foremost...it is GREAT to see the attention on hand cut and faceted gem cutters...and in this show " Made in the USA"  is getting special attention!  Just a few of the represented brands are  Jewels from the Woods - AGTA222; John Dyer - AGTA1204 and Tom Trozzo - AGTA506 (Photo is from Tom Trozzo - just under 500 carats of hand-cut Amethyst!)





...and secondly, the use of gems that were never before in the Luxury or Fine Jeweler's Lexicon!  these goodies can include (pun intended) diamond slices - rose cut (flat back) diamonds and colored stones - quartz with everything but the kitchen sink in it and druzy everywhere!



(Photos: Left from Lakhi Gems - Cognac and Rose Cut Diamonds and Below: from Rare Earth Mining #AGTA427 - Druzy coated in Precious Metals)



There are of course the traditional Gems with the big three (Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire) heavily represented and the non - traditional Rare stones - Paraiba and Mozambique Tourmaline shown from Pala International  in Booth #AGTA514.

Pearls are showing NO sign of letting up - a classic that is VERY much on trend today!  ...and with over a dozen pearl vendors on the floor there is something for every shopper.  Betty Sue King of King's Ransom Pearls says that the hot items for her are her strands of "Comet" Pearls, her "Magic Metallics" and just look at the color in the baroques in front of her...King's Ransom is in Booth #AGTA411

#JewelWKLV - It's A Holiday - Why Am I Working?

...WHY???   Because it is Jewelry Week in Las Vegas - everything I am passionate about is about to be laid out in front of me!!!

It is official - I picked up my Press Badge this afternoon at the Mandalay Bay - Luxury by JCK and Swiss Watch by JCK are underway this week, while JCK Las Vegas starts at the end of the week.

David Copperfield - Cirque - Dancing With The Stars - YEP!  this is Las Vegas  ;)

Meanwhile all the way up the strip there are shows that feed into the Jewelry Week vibe...

At the Mirage the GLDA Show runs through the 31st...Luxury by JCK opens tomorrow...Couture opens on the 31st, along with the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show at the Paris Hotel and AGTA Gemfair at Mandalay Bay.  On June 1st, Niche: The Show opens at Planet Hollywood - this little show I am planning to hit as I have never been disappointed by a RosenGroup project...stay tuned for reports from all these shows!

If you want to keep up with all the shows check back periodically or subscribe to this blog....you can also follow the Twitter feed at...http://twubs.com/jewelwklv/

See you on the strip...

JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Show - AGTA GemFair - MJSA "At The Bench Live"

This Just IN...Bruno Mars to Headline

JCK's Rock The Beach!

Bruno Mars, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter best known for the smash hits “Just the Way You Are" and "Grenade,” will headline the JCK Rocks the Beach Party on Sunday, June 5 at The Beach at Mandalay Bay.  

The event begins at 9 p.m. and is open to all JCK and LUXURY badge holders, as well as all guests of the Jewelers for Children dinner.

More info: http://www.jckonline.com/2011/04/26/bruno-mars-to-headline-jck-rocks-beach 

Visit the AGTA GemFair™ at the JCK Las Vegas Show

Join AGTA on the Beach level in the Islander and South Pacific Ballrooms at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center June 2-7, 2011 - a new location, more exhibitors and a longer show - now open the day before JCK through the day after!

Click here to see a quick video on  the AGTA GemFair™ at the JCK Las Vegas Show

"At the Bench Live" 

  at JCK Las Vegas

June 4 - 

Using Handmade Chain in Custom Designs 

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.      

Ann Cahoon

As consumer demand for custom jewelry grows, so too are the ways in which jewelers are creating unique, personalized pieces. One method to add personalization is through the use of handmade chain. Ann Cahoon will show techniques for creating handcrafted chain to complement specific custom designs.

June 4 - 

Mythbusters: Challenging Tradition at the Bench 

1:30 to 3 p.m.

Ann Cahoon

Venerable traditions have built up regarding how bench jewelers should go about their craft. And, like all traditions, some may be true and some may be little more than myths. Join Ann Cahoon and she sets about separating hard facts from tall tales. Whether focusing on accepted procedures for equipment maintenance, the selection of tools for specific tasks, or simple safety procedures, she will challenge the traditions—and attendees will come away with new insights.

June 5 - 

New Techniques for Setting Princess-Cut Diamonds

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Joel McFadden

Princess-cut diamonds are among the most popular styles favored by consumers, but their sharp edges must be protected: Too much stress from the setting, and they could easily become damaged. Joel McFadden will demonstrate a new technique he developed that will simplify the setting process and ensure the stone’s points remain unharmed.

June 5 -

Tips for Finishing and Pre-Finishing Jewelry

1:30 to 3 p.m.

Joel McFadden

A piece of jewelry can rise and fall on the quality of its finish. Joel McFadden—renowned for the refinement of his finishing and polishing work—shows how to quickly and efficiently finish all areas of a piece to ensure everythingshines.

June 6 - 

CAD at the Bench: Tips and Tricks, Part 1

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Jim Tuttle

The rise of computer-aided design (CAD) has been a great aid to bench jewelers—if jewelers know how to use it wisely. From stone layout to making parts fit together, Jim will show inside tricks for combining handwork with CAD modeling to help the bench jeweler work faster and make better jewelry.

June 6 - 

Advanced CAD at the Bench: Tips & Tricks, Part 2

1:30 to 3 p.m.

Jim Tuttle

More tricks to help jewelers incorporate CAD to speed their production at the bench and create finely detailed pieces that would be unattainable through hand work alone.

http://www.mjsa.org/events/at_the_bench_live/atb_live_jck_las_vegas