Diamonds are a girl’s best friend

Here is your opportunity to find that perfect diamond, precious gems, jewelry or raw minerals at the upcoming 53rd Annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show held between January 26 to February 11, 2007.  Even though hotels may be booked, there still may be time to find a house to rent in Tucson, Oro Valley or Marana. Feel free to give me a call at 520-918-7462 with your housing needs.

This acclaimed show is held every year and is now the largest gem and mineral show in the United States.  It is anticipated that the 2007 Tucson Gem Show will probably be the biggest event ever with over 45 shows – up from 38 last year.  This year’s featured event is “Australia – Minerals from Down Under”.  Click on the link for event dates and ticket information, Tucson Gem and Mineral Society. 

The following excerpt can be found on the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau website . . . 

The Show That Started It All Back in 1955

“The legendary Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase has grown from a “club show” to a major show for collectors and enthusiasts from around the country and the world. Showcased here are the best gems, minerals, jewelry, lapidary and publication dealers from across the US. Also displayed are items from private collections and renowned museums worldwide, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

It all started in 1955 when a group of mineral collectors and rock hounds from the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society held a free exhibition at a local elementary school, open to the public. This show was an immediate hit, prompting organizers to make it an annual event. The following year, the show was moved to a Quonset hut at the Pima County Fair and Rodeo Grounds on South Sixth Avenue, where it stayed until 1972. The show eventually moved to the Tucson Convention Center Arena, where it is still hosted by Tucson Gem & Mineral Society volunteers.

As a result of the interest generated by the original show, satellite shows have proliferated all over the city. These shows cater to the interests of the growing number of people coming to town. Today, one of the fastest-growing segments of the Tucson shows is beads — first-time visitors to a bead show will be dazzled by the array available here. Together, the original show and the satellite shows make up the Showcase – one of the largest and most popular events in the gem and mineral world, attracting an estimated 100,000 people to Tucson in a two-week period. This crowd fills hotel rooms, rental cars and airline seats many months in advance.”

- - - -  Mark your calendars to attend one of the best gems shows in the world, you won’t be sorry. If you can’t make it this year, you can check the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society website or email me at pam@pamtreece.com and I will follow up with you.   See you there!