What's Hot In Tucson: 2009 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show

The results are in. What's Hot In Tucson: 2009 is the best WHIT ever!!

With orders streaming in every day, we're getting some outstanding feedback from viewers of the latest What's Hot In Tucson.

Here's what one customer said:

"Bryan, as I am typing this I am watching WHIT '09. It just gets better every year. The photography and sound quality are superb....I can see where every year you are raising the bar. This year with the labels on each mineral shown is another milestone."

What he's referring to is a new feature we added to the 2009 program - on-screen labels to just about every mineral specimen we review. That's HUNDREDS of labels showing the proper spelling of each specimen as well as information on its locale - all cross-checked with information on the mindat.org online database.

Creating these labels was a monumental task but once we started looking at the results, we knew we had to have this feature on this, and future, What's Hot In Tucson programs. Now What's Hot In Tucson can be a fantastic reference guide AND it can also help teach new collectors about the huge variety of minerals. Huge thanks to all our Featured Dealers and Collectors who showed endless patience helping out.

Also added to the 2009 program is our new segment where Dave Wilber creates a mineral collection of specimens costing $99 or less!!! We created this to help illustrate that, despite the rising cost of minerals, there are still great deals to be found if you invest the time and energy to find those hidden deals.



And returning from last year is Jeff Scovil's mini segment - Scovil's Top Ten Tucson Photos - updated to reflect Scovil's favorite photos from the 2009 show. Not only do you have close-up pans and scans direct from Scovil's digital files, you also have Scovil narrating the entire program explaining exactly what he likes about each photo.



This year's interview with the Westward Mineral Show's Featured Collectors is with Jim & Gail Spann who had their mouth-watering collection on display in the lobby of the Westward Look Resort. Listen to Jim and Gail share their thoughts on the hobby of mineral collecting as your eyes feast on close-up shots of each one of their specimens on display.

And just when you finally get through all of this mind-blowing content, keep your eyes peeled for even more segments as we bring back What's Hot In Tucson: ONLINE. This is where we take the segments that couldn't fit on the DVDs and post them online for everyone to watch for FREE!

So start your mineral fix right here with What's Hot In Tucson: 2009 - the best What's Hot In Tucson yet. Still two DVDs, still only $29.99.

Click here to place your order today!!

Thank you for your time and I hope you continue to enjoy BlueCap Productions' products. Sincerely, Bryan Swoboda BlueCap Productions

All DVDs will be shipped via USPS Priority Mail. This allows us to track the package and provide a free replacement if you do not receive your DVD.

2009 International Opal Jewellery Design Awards

7 weeks to go – enter your pieces into the 2009 IOJDAA Awards Enter your piece into one of the most prestigious opal jewellery design competitions in the world – only 7 weeks to go. Download the entry form

2009 IOJDAA Judges IOJDAA is thrilled with the extraordinary judges we have on the IJODAA panel this year that include: - the iconic Linda Jackson - highly accomplished designer Helen S. Parer - international wholesaler Peter Sherman - and the inspirational designer Bruce Tully Read more

Lightning Ridge Opal Festival dates - Wed 29th July to Sun 2nd August This year's Lightning Ridge Opal Festival has a jam packed itinerary of events. - come and see spectacular Lightning Ridge Opals and other gemstones. - frock up for the International Opal Jewellery Design Awards Gala Dinner - dance the night away at the Opal Queen Ball Read more

Summer Caution for Jewelry Care

A Few Summertime Tips to Prevent Damage or Loss to Fine Jewelry

1. Beware of chlorinated swimming pools. Chlorine can damage or destroy many types of fine jewelry. It can dissolve the surface of beautiful beads; attack the alloy in precious metals; remove the polish from many stones, such as malachite or turquoise; and do many other destructive and irreversible things.
2. Don’t wear rings in cold water. The cold temperature of the water in pools, oceans, lakes, and rivers causes your finger size to shrink temporarily. When this happens, rings become too large and, aided by the movement of your hands as you swim or play, can easily slip off the finger without your being aware of it.
3. Check mounting to make sure stones are secure in their settings. Active sports are very popular in the summer, but if a stone is loose in the setting, it may fall out and break or become chipped or cracked.
4. Don’t wear your fine jewelry while gardening. Many fine gemstones have been lost or badly damaged while the wearer was gardening. Gold and platinum settings can be badly scratched or gouged by rocks and tools. Even diamonds can chip or crack when hit on a rock or tool, due to a fraction within the stone.
5. Is your watch waterproof or water resistant? Many expensive watches are ruined when people do not understand the significant difference between “waterproof” and “water resistant.” Do you know the difference?

These tips come from Gemstone Press. For more information on the tips above and for more jewelry care and maintenance tips, check out books by Antoinette Matlins at Gemstone Press!

Call for Project Designers: 30-Minute Necklaces

Remember the 30 minute Earring Challenge?

Well this is yet another chance to be published!

Jewelry Design Challenge: 30-Minute Necklaces

Publisher: Lark Books

Editor: Marthe Le Van

Proposal Deadline: August 3, 2009

Are you a skilled and imaginative jewelry designer who is up for a challenge?

Great! Your mission is to design a necklace or pendant that can be made…start to finish…in 30 minutes flat. Can it be done? Absolutely.

Jewelers exceeded expectations by submitting stunning collection of work for "30-Minute Earrings," the first book in this series. Now we ask you to join the fun."30-Minute Necklaces" will showcase more than 50 incredibly stylish step-by-step projects that can be created without investing too much of a valuable commodity—time! The selected designs will be modern and sophisticated and encompass many different styles and techniques. The common denominator will be fast projects that look terrific!

PS: In "30-Minute Necklaces," we won't be teaching fundamental jewelry making techniques. Designers can assume that their readers are already proficient (and quick!) at the basics.

For details and entry forms, visit the Lark Books website!

Accept the challenge!

Job Openings in the Jewelry Industry...

I noticed the following ad in my local paper (Los Angeles Times):

44JEWELER 33

For Basic Repair

Minimum 5 Yrs. Experience

Must Read and Write English

Part Time - possible Full Time

Simi Valley Area

(email me for the contact info - I don't want to post this guys phone number publically)

...this lead me to research the job openings available in the Jewelry Industry - there seems to be several across the US! Career Builder lists 83 positions across the country!

2010 Gemmys - Deadline August 1, 2009

Enter here:
http://www.jewelryartistmagazine.com/contest/gemmysentry.cfm

2010 Deadline:  August 1, 2009

DIVISIONS:
Faceted Ge

ms • Cabochon Gems • Specially Cut Gems • Gem Objects • Artists on the Horizon

• Faceted Gems
  Stones must be flat faceted; concave or convex faceted stones should be entered in the Specially Cut division.
  
• Cabochon Gems
  Stones must be any natural gem material cut in a cabochon shape, and must be suitable for jewelry use.
  
• Specially Cut Gems
  Stones include those that have been carved; cut with regular, curved “facets”; engraved; fitted together into a composite; or cut using any other lapidary technique other than flat faceting or cabbing; or any combination of lapidary techniques.
  
• Gem Objects
  Items that are either nonfunctional or whose function is other than use in jewelry including, but not limited to, faceted stones not suitable for jewelry use.
  
• Artists on the Horizon
  Any type of cut or gemstone, cut by an artist who has never won a national/international gem competition.  

First Place 2008 

- Faceted Gems

Tyler Allen's Faceted Chrysoberyl

OPEN TO
Any lapidary. Entri

es must be submitted by the lapidary or, in cases of collaborative work, the principal lapidary.

JUDGING CRITERIA
Visual Appeal and Impact; Design; Execution; and for functional objects (including gems for jewelry use): Functionality

Judging will be by an independent panel of judges whose decisions will be tallied by Colored Stone and Jewelry Artist and are final. In the case of ties in tallying, winners will be determined by Colored Stone and Jewelry Artist whose decisions are final.

ENTRY FORMS
All entries must be cut, whether of traditional or original design -- drawings or other design renderings are not acceptable -- and must be submitted as slides or digital images as outlined below. Each entry must consist of images showing only one gem or set of gems, or one gem object or set of gem objects. Unrela

ted gems or objects must be submitted as separate entries. You may submit as many entries as you wish, but each entry must be accompanied by its own entry form and fee of $25.

For confirmation of receipt of your entry, please send it via registered mail or carrier that will confirm receipt; Colored Stone or Jewelry Artist will not. Please keep copies of all entry forms and slides as they will not be returned.

To enter
First, fill out the online entry form at 
www.jewelryartistmagazine.com/contest.

Then:

Print a paper copy of your completed online entry and enclose it with a print of the submitted image (from the same negative or digital file).

Colored Stone/Jewelry Artist
2010 Gemmys
300 Chesterfield Pkwy., Suite 100
Malvern, PA 19355 USA

Phill Mason's Tanzanian Moonstone 

won 2nd Place - Faceted Gems

ENTRY FEE
A $25 entry fee paid by check, or complete credit card payment information should be enclosed for each entry. If you paid online when submitting, please include that information as well.

Multiple entries may be submitted together in one mailer but each entry should be contained within its own interior envelope, and on separate CDs if digital. Please do not staple slides to entry forms. Multiple fees may be paid with a single check, but please do not include any other fees such as subscription renewals in that check. Make checks payable to Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist.

Both online and mailed entry forms and enclosures must be received by August 1, 2009 (a postmark will not suffice). For confirmation of receipt of your entry, please send it via registered mail or a carrier that will confirm receipt; Jewelry Artist will not. Please keep copies of all entry forms, slides, CDs and prints as they will not be returned.

Fill out our online Gemmys Entry Form here.

Image Guidelines

SLIDES 
Each entry must consist of one to three slides on a simple background, at least one of which shows the entry in full. All gems should be shown face up; faceted gems should be shown face up, in tilt, and in profile; specially cut gems should be shown in views that best convey their aesthetics and settability. Objects should be shown in full; additional views may show an area of detail, an object open or its components separate, if applicable, or other view that best conveys the object’s aesthetics or functionality. No more than three images will be judged. Please label your slides with your name, any photo credits, and an arrow pointing up to indicate viewing direction.

DIGITAL IMAGES
Enclose a clearly labeled Mac/PC formatted CD showing your entry in its entirety on a simple background. As above, an optional close-up will also be accepted.

The image must be a 300 DPI tiff or jpeg format file; a flattened image, and 6 to 8 inches on the longest side. This will be used for print reproduction of the winners.

** If you are submitting more than one entry, please put each image on a separate CD.

PHOTOGRAPHY
For more information on taking photographs of your work, see this article from the April 2006 issue of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist.

WINNERS
The Final Cut will be awarded to the entry deemed best overall, and First and Second Place winners will be named in each division. Winners will be notified individually by mail or e-mail. Winners will also be published in the January 2010 Tucson Show Guide, the January 2010 issue of Jewelry Artist, and the January/February 2010 issue of Colored Stone.

Because we may request winning gems or gem objects for new photography, keeping entry pieces available where possible would be appreciated, although it is not required.

Mail entries to:

Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist
2010 Gemmys Awards Entries
300 Chesterfield Pkwy., Suite 100
Malvern, PA 19355 USA

Slides, Prints and Digital Media Only! Do Not Send Jewelry, Stones or Objects! Submissions without an accompanying online entry will not be accepted.

Questions or concerns? Contact Kristen Gibson, Assistant Editor at 610-232-5715, or e-mail kgibson@interweave.com.

DISCLAIMER
Submitting an entry form constitutes granting Colored Stone, the Tucson Show Guide, and Jewelry Artist the right to reproduce the image or images in announcing winners, creating award posters, in promoting the Gemmys, and for other editorial and promotional purposes. All entrants agree not to hold Colored Stone orJewelry Artist responsible for the protection of original designs once published.

Call For Entries...

We are now accepting Gold Jewelry  entries for June 2009. Enter today and win! In 12 separate contests, one each month through 2009,  covering every important category, National Jeweler's  Best of Awards will recognize our industry's most  outstanding jewelry design and retailer marketing.  Check the monthly schedule below to determine which  monthly contests you should enter. Don't miss your  chance to be recognized as our industry's best in your  area of specialty!  Once entries are in, voting will open to industry  members to determine industry's choice winners.  In addition, an expert panel of judges will determine  overall winners for prizes as outlined below.  A $50 application fee applies for each entry submitted. Prizes Judge's Pick - One winner will be chosen in each of the  12 monthly contests and will receive: Mention in a 4/c ad in National Jeweler magazine Editorial announcement in National Jeweler magazine Editorial announcement on NationalJeweler.com and the Daily News newsletter Showcased on NationalJeweler.com People's choice - Recognition along with the category winners Monthly Award Categories January - Print Advertising  February - Colored Stone Jewelry March - Online Advertising  April - Silver May - Outdoor Advertising June - Gold Jewelry July - Platinum Jewelry August - Direct Mail Advertising September - Diamond and Bridal jewelry October - Radio Advertising November - Watches December - TV Advertising Judges Editorial, creative and marketing experts in the  field will review and judge entries. Judges for 2009: Design Victoria Gomelsky, Couture International Jeweler Lorraine DePasque, National Jeweler Amanda Gizzi, Jewelry Information Center Marketing Ellen Fruchtman, Fruchtman Marketing Ellie Parpis, Adweek Whitney Sielaff, National Jeweler