Intergem question

[digdeep]

Are there vendors you've purchased from that have good products? Across all price ranges? $-$$$$ I realize vendors differ by the show and location-- so this is a broad question: who have you bought from and were happy with the experience?

 

[T L]

Are there vendors you've purchased from that have good products? Across all price ranges? $-$$$$ I realize vendors differ by the show and location-- so this is a broad question: who have you bought from and were happy with the experience?

Vancegems and Primagems are good honest companies with high quality.

I would not buy rubles, sapphires or other highly synthesized and treated gems from there, unless I was paying very little and I had low expectations. It can be a minefield if you don't know enough about colored gems. The last time I was there, a dealer showed me the most convincing synthetic aquamarine. So keep your expectations low and be very careful.

 

[digdeep]

Thanks TL......I'm not sure I'd actually buy something, but wanted to try and go to 'better' vendors. It's the Seattle show and Prima and Vance are not on the list of exhibitors....... It's not a mainstream part of the world, lol!

 

[minousbijoux]

Perhaps New Era Gems will be there? They seem to cover a fairly broad circuit. Steve and his staff are great.

 

[goldie_locks]

I'm so glad you started this thread! I am also planning to attend the Seattle Intergem show .

 

[goldie_locks]

I'm so glad you started this thread! I am also planning to attend the Seattle Intergem show .

 

[tara3056]

I took a look at the vendor list for that show - New Era Gems will be there. You can't go wrong with them! They've been in the business something like 40+ years and supply a lot of cutters with rough. Rough and mineral specimens seem to be their main product, but I know they have cut stones as well and for a good while, even employed Jordan Wilkens (precision cutter). Also Jaimeen (the owner of Prima Gems) got his start working for New Era. So yeah, they're behemoths in this world. I don't believe their prices are bargains, but they usually seem fair.

 

[T L]

I saw Jaimeen of Primagems sell some lower quality material on Jewelry Television. He's been a repeat guest in there. I think he sells better quality merchandise at the gen shows last I checked. He's known for his African gems like tsavorite and other various garnets.

 

[digdeep]

THANK YOU Minous, Tara, and TL! I'm glad New Era Gems will be there. There should be a level of honesty that what I'm looking at is legitimate, which is my biggest concern. I'm very cautious, but anyone can be worn down with bright lights and gem stories...........
Goldie Locks I might bump into you if you are going on Friday. That is my planned day as of now.......

 

[lilmosun]

I saw Jaimeen of Primagems sell some lower quality material on Jewelry Television. He's been a repeat guest in there. I think he sells better quality merchandise at the gen shows last I checked. He's known for his African gems like tsavorite and other various garnets.

I don't think he does Intergem anymore but larger trade shows like Tucson, JCK, Hong Kong now.

 

[Arkteia]

No offense to my city, but are there better gemshows on the West Coast? Very few exhibitors come to us, do they ever reach this coast at all? Or is Seattle so known for its casual style that few even bother to show us anything, unless they are from Cali that is so close?

 

[goldie_locks]

@Arkteia - this is kind of disappointing to hear! I am a bit surprised given that several local jewelry stores carry a good selection of loose and set colored stones. There is a Gem Faire show in Portland the same weekend, http://gemfaire.com/event/portland-or-4/ I wonder if it's any better?

@digdeep - my current plan is to go Saturday as I am out of town until Friday evening. Please do post your thoughts/finds here if you get a chance.

 

[digdeep]

I've visited Intergem for beads in which I saw plenty of dyed, treated, misnamed items. To me it has felt like a bazaar.......which is fine if I'm not in Seattle looking for better gems! But also why I posted.......
A vendor once said that Seattle is 'at the end' of a show circuit.......that affects inventory but also may have something to do with who shows up? Seattle is isolated compared to many cities on the east coast.............

 

[Arkteia]

@Arkteia - this is kind of disappointing to hear! I am a bit surprised given that several local jewelry stores carry a good selection of loose and set colored stones. There is a Gem Faire show in Portland the same weekend, http://gemfaire.com/event/portland-or-4/ I wonder if it's any better?

@digdeep - my current plan is to go Saturday as I am out of town until Friday evening. Please do post your thoughts/finds here if you get a chance.

I wonder if Santa Monica show is better? I have a kid in California so there always is a reason to travel. I saw more vendors there. Including Vance gems.

 

[Arkteia]

I've visited Intergem for beads in which I saw plenty of dyed, treated, misnamed items. To me it has felt like a bazaar.......which is fine if I'm not in Seattle looking for better gems! But also why I posted.......
A vendor once said that Seattle is 'at the end' of a show circuit.......that affects inventory but also may have something to do with who shows up? Seattle is isolated compared to many cities on the east coast.............

Seattle is isolated, and also, people here are more Scandinavian in their tastes, I'd say. Less into luxury and more into practicality. Please correct me if I am wrong but I think I am not. Decor is very much eco-friendly and nature-connected, but very simple. Everyone who I know buys diamond erings. Nothing fancy there it seems. We have great stores and very nice jewelers but in general, I know why we are at the end of the colored gems food chain

 

[goldie_locks]

Seattle is isolated, and also, people here are more Scandinavian in their tastes, I'd say. Less into luxury and more into practicality. Please correct me if I am wrong but I think I am not. Decor is very much eco-friendly and nature-connected, but very simple. Everyone who I know buys diamond erings. Nothing fancy there it seems. We have great stores and very nice jewelers but in general, I know why we are at the end of the colored gems food chain

I have not been in the city long, but that does seem pretty accurate - and not surprising given the large Scandinavian population and the more laid back attitude in general . I've noticed that many "high end"/expensive restaurants have rather laid back, decor (much as you describe - eco-friendly, nature-connected, practical, etc.) which is telling - and not necessarily a bad thing! When I tried working with a local jeweler here on a custom piece he was quite surprised to see the quality of colored stone that I brought in. Does not seem to be a regular occurrence.

 

[Arkteia]

I have not been in the city long, but that does seem pretty accurate - and not surprising given the large Scandinavian population and the more laid back attitude in general . I've noticed that many "high end"/expensive restaurants have rather laid back, decor (much as you describe - eco-friendly, nature-connected, practical, etc.) which is telling - and not necessarily a bad thing! When I tried working with a local jeweler here on a custom piece he was quite surprised to see the quality of colored stone that I brought in. Does not seem to be a regular occurrence.

They do have good jewelry stores. I like Fox's in downtown Seattle. I never bought anything there but their stones really had a look.

So yes, I feel like I would have met more like-minded people had I stayed in Boston. One thing I love about Seattlites - they love their animals and can't have too many.

 

[Alnitak]

I wonder if Santa Monica show is better? I have a kid in California so there always is a reason to travel. I saw more vendors there. Including Vance gems.

When I lived in LA I went to that show. Last time maybe 2013? It was mostly low-end. The best InterGem show I've been to was the one in VA near Dulles.