2003 Denver Show Report
by: Preston White - Editor

"Gems take flight & Jewelry grows wings", you could tell by the look in any dealers eye, it all was flying out the door. Come hill or high water or in our case 6 inches of snow you can not stop people from attending these shows. It's paradise watching 1000 dollar gemstones going for 350 or beads being sold by the thousands. I enjoy watching people, happy people and can do it all day but watching what they wear said it all, these people love jewels. The thousands upon thousands of people I saw were there to buy and it should be noted we watched deal after deal happen with both parties happy at the price. I can't imagine anyone leaving this show without hauling many items of value home with them.

I have been to only a few gem and jewelry shows in my life and now I am hooked, even a little possessed by the mesmerizing gemstones laid out by the millions to buy. Its paradise, a virtual cornucopia of items for every jeweler to drool over. Hundreds of dealers brought every imaginable gemstone variety mother nature has to offer and either you could purchase a setting or find the material to do so. I myself, have done a similar show and know what it takes to run, manage and produce one. That is why I need to congratulate Lee and the staff of International Gem & Jewelry Show Inc. Not only do they put on a great show but the dealers who follow are outstanding, the are the cream of the crop. Every dealer was taking money for a purchase as we walked by while others were negotiating a price. I often had to wade around a crowd, enduring crushed toes and elbows just to view the items. And it was worth every second.

One of my forever favorites will be the traderoom. It's for dealers only and is guarded well. Since we were there to fondle, and seek fodder to write a story our host as kind enough to let us see the results. What was behind curtain #1 gold, gems, silver, beads and more from one end of the room to the other. Gemstones by the millions maybe billions, diamonds, rubys, topaz, you name it, they have it. If you make jewelry this is the place to buy your yearly stock. The prices, quality and quantity cant be beat. Every booth was weighing, selling or showing something to many people at once, if our country is in a recession you did not feel it here. The place was also filled to capacity, no empty booth spaces at this show!

I love history, and when you prop estate jewelry in front of me I become spellbound. Boy, did this show have many estate jewelry booths with their boatload of goods. Its almost like looking at some newfound pirates treasure. Even a local vendor called Bad Boys of Cripple Creek Mining Company showed us how they dig the turquoise straight from their own mine to produce some of the finest rough stone and hand crafted turquoise jewelry the world has to offer. Another vendor named Bill Vance had a few very unique gemstones cut into the shape of a cross, one of which caught my eye but was sold an hour later, my luck, you snooze you lose. Orca Gems had a huge assortment of opal and their almost famous glass domes that can shine life on any mineral, just add water. Ameritool had their gemstone polishers, cutters and grinders if you are into faceting your own gem rough. Their tables had all the right stuff to do the job. A booth called Tarasova Collection had more amber then I had ever seen, amber beads, even many with insects. I love amber. Jemco was the biggest, it looked as though it took a whole semi to carry all their jewelry supplies to the show, they are impressive and had the longest line up to the cash register. There are so many great dealers I hated to leave but the fun has to stop somewhere. As we left south for the winter, 64 miles that is, we talked and talked about the show. About how amazing it would be to visit for the whole three days, then we almost might see everything. What really made us happy is that there is another show in april, a "rock" show, be still my heart. I hope to see you there. I know I won't miss it.