What to Expect
1) Lots of Vendors
The show I went to yesterday had over a thousand vendors. If you go the gem and jewelry shows in February @ Tuscon, AZ, expect over 10,000 vendors. Yet, if you are in a small town, perhaps you will only have 25-50 vendors. Yet, even in the smallest shows I have been to, there is a nice variety of gems, jewelry, and beads.
2) Large Price Ranges
When comparing prices of simple beads, I saw a price range from $4 – $10000 for the same gemstone. Of course the size and quality differed. So you really have to know different qualities. I found some bargains in the retail section that were better than the wholesale section. Knowing what you are buying can make a HUGE difference.
3) Wide Variety
You can find raw crystals, jewelry cleaner, fashion jewelry, jewelry making supplies, and fine jewelry. Anything that is gem or jewelry related was there. It is very fun to just wander and gawk. Yet, if you are looking for something specific, taking notes can be very helpful.
4) Demonstrations or Displays
Every gem or jewelry show offers something special. Some have fancy jewelry displays, others have classes, and a few just have a large variety of vendors. When going know what is available so you can take advantage of it if it interests you. For example the show I went to yesterday had booths with jewelry cleaning. The rings I was wear sparkle much more now. Though I went to buy beads, I loved having my jewelry cleaned as well.
How To Find What You Want
If you don’t have any particular goals in mind, sometimes asking a vendor what they have that no other booth has gets you to see the “special” items available at a jewelry show. It lets you explore items you would not otherwise notice in the vastness of a jewelry show.
For those with particular items in mind, we wrote this nice guide with gem show tips that will help you get the most out of a gem show. Like any other large fair, it really helps to go prepared.
Favorite Shows
Though I have my favorite shows, I know everyone is different. Try several different ones. Some smaller shows let you really know the vendors and go to classes or demonstrations. Larger shows have more variety – but they take much longer to see. So much depends on the time you have and what you are looking for. I tend to prefer the larger ones for the variety – but everyone is different.
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One Comment
Was very informative…I have been to a lot of shows worldwide but my favorite remains the HongKong show..
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