The Main Event takes place at the Tucson Convention. A $10 fee gets you in (save a dollar be getting an on-line coupon).
I have been spending a couple hours deciding what pictures to show you from the 60th Annual Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Showcase (The Main Event) sponsored by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society which featured Diamonds, Gems, Silver, and Gold this year.
Posters from this years show and the design for the 2015 Show. Save your money fellow rock lovers.
I will share more pictures over the next couple of days.
The displays were beyond words. The cases were updated this year and the LED Lights made the rocks stunning. The show has a different theme they concentrate on each year. Museums from across the country and around the world sent some of their best specimens of diamonds, gemstones, gold and silver, as well as other treasures.
I am going to just let you look at some of my pictures. Be in AWE!
Blueberry Azurite
A very nice display.
Bisbee area--Arizona Malachite specimens from Arizona Mineral Museum
Spessartite over gold
Remarkable Tourmaline colors.
Arizona Native Copper resembles Michigan Native Copper. The miners hated to find this copper as they were processing ore and this stuff gummed everything up.
Summer 2008--This corsage ornament features 39.80 carats of pink topaz and diamonds.
Summer 2006–This Columbian
Winter 1988-Rubelite Tourmalines (ring 13.8 carats, necklace 18.5 carats) are from the Queen mine in San Diego County, CA. Designed by Jean Larson, courtesy of The Collector of Fine Jewelry.
A large Herkimer Diamond (Quartz) Specimen
Somewhere in the Rainbow is the name of this Cartier Bandeau piece (1920). 58 carats of diamonds set in hand-carved platinum. It converts to a choker, earrings, bracelet, lapel clip pins, and pendant drop!
This is part of the Smithsonian Institute display about the history of diamonds. Shown here is a small selection of diamonds in the national gem and mineral collection.
Gwindel Quartz from Switzerland
The sales floor pre-opening. We loved the umberella like decorations hanging down from the roof
Get out of the way..The Show is open.
Damascus Steel with a Gold in Quartz handle.
Australian Gold
The Gold is from the Mockingbird Mine Mariposa Co. CA. The Wire Silver came from Himmelsfurst Mine, Germany.
This Marjorie Merriweather Post Tiara was made in France, mid-19th Century with 1198 old mine and rose cut diamonds, made of silver and gold, in a Victorian Style. Springs were incorporated into the design so the diamonds will move as the wearer moves and sparkle more! It is now owned by the Smithsonian. We knew this was high value by the presence of the police.