[Caitlin]

If you are interested in a pearl walk, please contact me by my Pearl-Guide.com email: caitlin@pearl-guide.com
I will be going to the show just about everyday, so if what is listed so far doesn't suit you, pick another date.
Friday, February 1. the Pavillion at the River Park Inn is open.
Wholesale. Needs tax certificate to register. Drusy Designs (Care Ehret) and Pacific Pearls (Fuji Voll).
Also, even though most other BIG shows are not open yet, the frontage road that River Park Inn is on, is cram packed with all kinds of booths from all over the world. It is a fun walk that can take just about all day long. Here is where to get your fossil fishes, amethyst geodes, and any kind of crystal you heart desires and of course every kind of gem.

At one of those hotels on the frontage road is the United States Pearl Company. Did I get the name right? Anyway, the one owed by the Peaches from Big Sandy TN. Great source for American river natural freshwater mussel pearls. They want a minimum order for most things. This booth has the shells. They have an upscale booth at the GLDA.

Saturday Feb2 Pearl Walk:
I will be going to the G&LW commercial pearl show.
I will be at the registration tent at 10AM. I am preregistered and I can bring 4 guests. If you have a resale or tax number, bring it. It will get you in everywhere. AGTA and GLDA also want a business card. If you don't, let me know and I'll use one of my guest slots to get you in.

G&LW is at the Gem Mall at 4475 S Country Club FREE parking.
This is a great place to park for free and take the free shuttle downtown or to any of the other outlying shows. Food not too great in this show.

Though this show does not have a lot of really good quality pearls, it does have some, plus it has acres of commercial quality pearls at unbeatable prices unless you go to China yourself.

It will have the sticks and crosses and coins and off rounds dyed in every imaginable color- some of which are wonderful. There are many great finds to be had.

[Caitlin]

Wednesday February 6: AGTA show opens

Pearl Walk 10 AM starting at the GJX downtown across street from Tucson Community Center (TCC) where AGTA show is.

Thursday FEB 6th all shows open

[Caitlin]

Friday February 8th

Saturday February 9th 9:00AM. Elisabeth Strack seminar in the Maricopa Room.
Pearl-Guide intros. Let's meet in person directly after Strack is through.

Sunday February 10th

This is the BIG weekend. Everything is going full blast.

When we get the lecture schedules, we'll post them here too.

[Caitlin]

Here is your chance to hear Betty Sue King:
Pearls 101: Saltwater & Freshwater, Natural & Cultured
(Monday, February 11, 2008 Mohave Room, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.)
Betty Sue King, King’s Ransom. Basic. Take the fear out of pearls by learning the basics about what makes pearls tick and how they click in today's market. Gain in depth information and practical advice for a core understanding of pearls. Betty Sue King passionately weaves the technology and romance of pearls with humankind’s natural obsession for beauty. King will energize you with visions of glorious pearls to inspire your dreams and fuel your cash flow. PowerPoint, handouts and hands-on experiences.

[Pearlgully]

I just noticed that Elisabeth Strack will be giving a seminar at 9 A.M. on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008 at the Convention Center (Maricopa Room). The seminar is called "Distinguishing Cultured Pearls".

Looking forward to seeing P-G members!

Gail

[GemGeek]

That's right, PearlGully! I knew there would be a general session for Elisabeth Strack. They'll expect to see an AGTA badge, but people walk in without them all the time. You just have to find the Maricopa room and walk in like you mean it.

On Monday the 11th at 9:00 a.m. is Betty Sue King's pearl lecture. It will be less technical and will cover a wide range with great photos. And Betty Sue is terrific

For those of you who would like to take the GIA Pearl Grading lab, you can take that for a fee. When you complete both the lab and the distance learning course - and pass the exam, you will receive a Pearls Diploma from the GIA. Is that cool, or what?

Unfortunately for Pearl Walking, I'm going to be in conferences the first three days I'm in Tucson and then I'll be showing a friend around, so I'm not sure how much I can attend. We have to meet for drinks or lunch, or something!

AGTA will have the Galatea carved pearls with the gems inside in the designer gallery and Betty Sue's "King's Ransom" booth will have specialty pearls like Kasumis that you also won't want to miss.

If you want to scope things out, Google the website for Colored Stone Magazine, where you can find a link to the Tucson Show Guide online.

[Caitlin]

Last year the AGTA-sponsored Strack lecture was free and open to anyone who knew about it.

It looks like the same this year....

Gail
I couldn't find the webpages that list it. Did you?\

Never mind
Here it is

Saturday February 9.
Distinguishing Cultured Pearls
(Maricopa Room, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.)
Elisabeth Strack, Gemmologisches Institut Hamburg, Germany. Intermediate - Advanced. The lecture gives a clear overview of how to distinguish between marine cultured pearls of different countries of origin (Akoyas from Japan, China and Vietnam; South Sea cultured pearls from well known sources like Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines, and lesser known sources like the Red Sea) and freshwater cultured pearls from China and Japan, with and without a mother-of-pearl nucleus. Their individual pearl characteristics such as size, shape and color will be listed and it will be shown where they overlap and how they affect prices in different ways. Traditional, known producing techniques will be compared with more recent techniques. Methods of distinction with the naked eye and Gemmological testing methods will be presented.

This is the day to be in Tucson! Jeremy came for the Strack lecture last year. Maybe this year too?

[GemGeek]

You can see a lot in a weekend in Tucson, so if you have any frequent flier miles stored up, now's the time to use them. Rooms will start to get scarce now. The AGTA website has a travel agent that has rooms set aside and anyone can use them. Go to www.agta.org and click on Trade Shows, then Tucson, where you should find a link.

Good Luck
Blaire

[Caitlin]

I just noticed the calendar works again. Right now it only has birthdays on it, automatically posted if you filled out that slot in your profile. I am going to add in the events for the Gem Show. I think this style of calendar can be accessed by members, so we can all use it to post pearly events.

[danachit]

Oh no!

I think I want to go!

And it's so overwhelming! The Strack lecture looks great. What do yall bring to carry your purchases in? If I just came for the weekend would that be good? I have an extended California trip later that week, so a couple of days is the best I could do. Advice needed I think.

[GemGeek]

I bring a wheeled bag with a telescoping handle. You can leave it in the trunk of your car until you need it. Pearls are very heavy, especially after you've carried them in a bag for a couple of hours.

Shows like the Holidome practically beg you to buy gemstone beads and pearls in quantity and it takes a very long time to see the show. They are also more protected in a case. Freshwaters can scratch each other by rubbing, so the more stationary they are, the better.

If you are coming from a long distance, you should buy enough to make it worth your while.

[GemGeek]

The perfect time for a group photo!

[youngster]

So jealous, wish I could go, but I'll enjoy reading your posts when you all get back!

[danachit]

Okay, I've read over the info yall listed about the show and I think I do want to go, but only for 2-3 days. Can someone here give me some advice on when that should be?

A pearl lab?! Oh heavens above! When is that?

And the best lecture? That too!


And the DruzyDesigns! I'm calling the Visa company ahead of time to warn them of the charges!

So ... I need advice on when I should come. I have business credentials, btw. Where are yall staying too?

[GemGeek]

The GIA Pearl Grading Lab is on Friday Feb 8th, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The tuition is $225.00. If you would like to get a GIA Pearl Diploma, you need the lab and a correspondence course (which is in the process of being revised). You can take the lab now and take the written course later when the new one comes out.

Elisabeth Strack's lecture "Distinguishing Cultured Pearls" is on Saturday Feb 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

For more information, go to www.agta.org and click on trade shows, Tucson. There is a travel agent who can help you find a motel on the shuttle route. To get the lay of the land, I recommend the Tucson Show Guide, found on www.colored-stone.com.

Have fun