Diamond Exhibition

The NJ/NY Gem and Jewelry show. The first show was attended by 6,000 visitors and had 115 exhibitors offering minerals, fossils, meteorites, gems, jewelry, gold, silver, opals, petrified wood, and much more. Both the general public and advanced collectors were wowed by the specimens in the 'Fine Mineral and Gem Gallery'. And the $2 million worth of genuine dinosaurs skeletons was not to be missed! We also debuted the 4-ton 'American Woman' sculpture chiseled from a single 21-ton block of Colorado marble. The enthusiastic response from our visitors set the course for a much bigger and better show the following year in 2013. But first we had to move to a larger venue, which was the 150,000 square foot NJ Conference and Exposition Center. For a 2012 show report click the 'Read More' button.

It doesn't get much better than this! A lovely sky blue topaz crystal from Itinga, Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil, occupies center position and entices the eye. Or how about that exquisite Meikle Mine barite, from the Bootstrap District, Elko County, Nevada. I'm running out of adjectives here! Not too shabby - the tall statuesque green tourmaline with lepidolite from Itinga is probably the exact, extreme opposite of shabby! 

 

Almost Unbelievable. This giant sized, partially etched heliodore from Minas Gerais, Brazil seemed like it was about 10 inches tall at least, and probably weighed about 10 lbs. or more.

A "rockin" gold in quartz from the colorful and historical 16 to 1 Mine, in Sierra County, California. The gold production from this long running mine was once estimated at one million ounces. That's a staggering value considering today's spot price. I'm not sure I can hold all those zeros in my brain!

The "Africa Nugget" is a continent shaped gold that was found near Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. As the tag indicates this awesome nugget was displayed at the American Museum of Natural History's GOLD! exhibit, in 2008.

Practically Peerless. This textbook, gem aquamarine crystal from the Shigar Valley, Northern Areas of Pakistan, rises up to a foot in height.

Exploding Wave! This quartz, var. amethyst, from Guerrero, Mexico, has a great look, with nice dark, gemmy, undamaged crystals. It stands probably at least 10 inches tall.

This superb botryoidal chalcedony mass from the Withlacoochie River of Lowndes County Georgia is the finest example of a chalcedony from that area ever found. What can I say? I'm an Oregon guy. I brake for agates!

Bigger than a basketball. Maybe even two basketballs! This huge aquamarine and muscovite cluster was displayed by Arif and Aisha Jan, of Rocksaholics. It was found in Nagar, Hunza Valley, Northern Areas of Pakistan. The sweet natured and unpretentious couple had a very fine display of Pakistani minerals. The aquamarines from this area have to be some of the finest in the world.

Another superb large aquamarine and muscovite cluster from Rock saholics. I guess you can tell these were my favorites.

A juicy watermelon tourmaline perches on a huge smoky quartz elestial, in this fine specimen from Paprock, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan.....continue reading