The San Francisco Gem and Mineral Society show is today!

[innerkitten]

For those interested it's in Golden Gate park this year.
http://www.sfgms.org/

This is my favorite show of the year!

 

[minousbijoux]

IK: can you tell us more? Why is it your favorite? What does it have to offer? In other words, should I change my plans so I can go?

 

[innerkitten]

Hi! It's on tomorrow as well.

First of all I like that everyone there likes to talk gems and I have some favorites there. The owners of the california tourmaline mines have a booth and they also seem to have an Oregon Sunstone mine. Great booth. Then there is the man that makes turquoise jewelry in the corner. He always has nice cabs for sale ( his name might be Rick). I also like the Merks Jade booth. They do have a lot of jade obviously, but what I really like are the estate cabochons. They often have very nice garnets, moonstones and American turquoise and opals. Plus the show itself is great if you want to pick up some decorative minerals for your home or fossils for kids.

And they have rock cutting demos.

P.S. A woman at the front who was wearing some fabulous sapphire rings ( in various colors ) said to check out J and S gems. I didn't get a chance to see them but she said they have nice faceted stones and that the best stuff is behind the counter.

 

[minousbijoux]

I went! I *think* I saw Jean-Noel Soni there (will have to reach out to him and see if he was, lol), but I don't know what you look like! Its a very sweet show. What I like about it is that it appears that they all know each other, so its much more like a family/community if that makes sense. I was tempted by a beautiful Sphalerite - in fact, the guy had a bunch of beauties, btw 4 - 9 carats, that he was charging $60/ct for - only he was offering a big giant discount, so the actual price was much less. I also saw some very nice looking emeralds. They were not blow-you-out-of-the-water quality, but one or two of them were clear and had the glow. The vendors were a very old couple who seemed very, very sweet and it sounded like they got the stones a long time ago on the strength of their seller's word. They had no idea if there was treatment. I don't know enough about emeralds to know whether they were or not, and didn't have a sense of value for the stone, assuming it was treated so I passed on it. But it was amazing when I put it on my hand...that metallic glow is So enthralling!

 

[innerkitten]

We should have had coffee.

Next time.

 

[movie zombie]

innerkitten, give a heads up earlier [at least a month?] and i'll join you and minous!

 

[innerkitten]

Hi MZ! Great idea. It can be like a mini PS get together. Let's do that next year.

 

[innerkitten]

I went! I *think* I saw Jean-Noel Soni there (will have to reach out to him and see if he was, lol), but I don't know what you look like! Its a very sweet show. What I like about it is that it appears that they all know each other, so its much more like a family/community if that makes sense. I was tempted by a beautiful Sphalerite - in fact, the guy had a bunch of beauties, btw 4 - 9 carats, that he was charging $60/ct for - only he was offering a big giant discount, so the actual price was much less. I also saw some very nice looking emeralds. They were not blow-you-out-of-the-water quality, but one or two of them were clear and had the glow. The vendors were a very old couple who seemed very, very sweet and it sounded like they got the stones a long time ago on the strength of their seller's word. They had no idea if there was treatment. I don't know enough about emeralds to know whether they were or not, and didn't have a sense of value for the stone, assuming it was treated so I passed on it. But it was amazing when I put it on my hand...that metallic glow is So enthralling!

Is he a local cutter?

 

[minousbijoux]

I went! I *think* I saw Jean-Noel Soni there (will have to reach out to him and see if he was, lol), but I don't know what you look like! Its a very sweet show. What I like about it is that it appears that they all know each other, so its much more like a family/community if that makes sense. I was tempted by a beautiful Sphalerite - in fact, the guy had a bunch of beauties, btw 4 - 9 carats, that he was charging $60/ct for - only he was offering a big giant discount, so the actual price was much less. I also saw some very nice looking emeralds. They were not blow-you-out-of-the-water quality, but one or two of them were clear and had the glow. The vendors were a very old couple who seemed very, very sweet and it sounded like they got the stones a long time ago on the strength of their seller's word. They had no idea if there was treatment. I don't know enough about emeralds to know whether they were or not, and didn't have a sense of value for the stone, assuming it was treated so I passed on it. But it was amazing when I put it on my hand...that metallic glow is So enthralling!

Is he a local cutter?

Yep

 

[movie zombie]

IK, I don't suppose they were advertising the dates for next year?
yeah, I plan in advance!

 

[innerkitten]

Hey MZ, It's always in August. Next year I'll post here as early as possible when I find out.

 

[movie zombie]

thanks! August always seems to be "busy" for me but i'd really like to make it to this one day.

eta: I note it was the 4th saturday in august this year so I blocked the same for next year....just in case.

 

[minousbijoux]

The sighting of Jean-Noel has been confirmed!