Written by Carolyn Doyle for customers of
The Dorado Company
and other visitors to the azgem.com website who subscribe.

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Usable Gems... and a little opinion.

Las Vegas Gem and Jewelry Shows

The Las Vegas gem and jewelry trade shows are maturing into a significant event on the jewelry calendar.

Each year the shows improve in presentation, vendor representation, and visitor experience.

This annual Las Vegas event is actually a cluster of seven shows spread over five days.

• AGTA GemFair at the JCK Show

• The Bead Renaissance

• Gem & Lapidary Dealers Association

• Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers

• International Gem and Jewelry Shows

• The JCK Show

• Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show

The AGTA GemFair is held in conjunction with the JCK Show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center. This is a slightly smaller version of the Tucson AGTA GemFair.

AGTA (American Gem Trade Association) members exhibit loose colored stones at this show.

The show is held in a separate (huge) room at the Center in order to make it a delivery show... meaning you are able to pay for and take delivery of gems on the spot.

The Bead Renaissance show is held at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino. As you would expect, this show caters to those who hand make bead jewelry.

The Gem & Lapidary Dealers Association (GLDA) show is held at the Mirage Casino-Hotel. GLDA shows are traditionally delivery shows with a mix of colored stones, diamonds, and finished jewelry.

The Las Vegas GLDA show is a little different. In addition to the traditional vendor mix, a large contingent of exhibitors from both Thailand and Hong Kong exhibit here.

Both groups tend to feature finished jewelry. Thai exhibitors feature colored gem jewelry, while Hong Kong vendors feature high-end diamond jewelry.

 The Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers show was held at the Stardust Resort and Casino this year. In the past this show was at the Tropicana.

This is a delivery show with a unique mix of vendors representing many facets of the gem and jewelry industry.

The International Gem and Jewelry Shows event is held at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas. This is also a delivery show with vendors selling gems, jewelry, and related supplies.

Where the other shows are restricted to members of the trade, this one is open to the public.

 The JCK Show is the crown jewel of the Las Vegas shows. It's also huge!

It takes three days to see and work the entire show, so most visitors plan out a strategy and only work sections of the show.

The JCK show is for retail jewelers. The vendors (jewelry manufacturers and suppliers) are looking for show visitors to open an account with them and place an order for later delivery.

The Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show takes place at the Rio Suite Hotel & Casino.

This delivery show specializes in estate jewelry, collectible watches, and old gems such as mine cut diamonds, antique cushion cut colored stones and similar fine pieces.

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In past years we've stayed at the Mirage because it's convenient. It's the home of the GLDA show and the Sands Center is within strolling distance.

But not this year... or future years! This year we stayed at the Stardust, and we really enjoyed it. The Stardust is more like the Las Vegas you see in old Elvis and Sinatra movies.

You have to take a cab to some of the shows and related events, but it's worth it. The hotel was relaxing and not at all crowded, and their buffet is tasty and convenient.

We found a product at the GLDA show that we've been looking for several years now.

That product is a very high quality gemstone globe.

The photo shows globes with mother of pearl oceans. They're also available with deep blue lapis oceans.

Either way these globes are just stunningly beautiful!

We've looked at a lot of them and never found a line with quality workmanship and reasonable pricing... until now.

Most gem show vendors want $600 to $1000 wholesale for a large desk or floor-stand globe and $300 for the smaller ones.

You can find cheaper, but the quality of the workmanship shows that it's cheap.

We've found the importer where these dealers seem to be buying the high quality gemstone inlaid globes. Now we can offer these beautiful globes in several sizes at very good (low) prices.

Next month we'll have all the details but prices will be about half of what's considered wholesale at the shows. Like I've been telling you, the direct importers have the best prices.

(Of course you know The Dorado Company is a direct importer of loose colored stones.)

Industry News

Other than the industry news you've been reading above, there's an interesting story in the current Colored Stone about the new Tanzanian ruby material shown at the last Tucson show. 

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Jewelry Dealers

The jewelry industry introduced a new promotion theme at the Vegas shows.

On the other hand will promote gemstone and diamond rings for the right hand. You should be able to cash in with more ring sales. 

Get ready!

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Jewelry Dealers Program

Do you enjoy jewelry and gems?

Do you enjoy talking with friends and co-workers?

Take a look at our great Jewelry Dealers Program.

Carolyn Doyle

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