Tourmaline cut by Jeff Graham
Tucson is a gem capital of the world because we host the largest gem show in the world on an annual basis. The Tucson Gem Show is actually about 30 gem shows put on by different organizations during the last week of January through the first two weeks in February. Every hotel room is full during this time, rental cars are brought in from all over the Southwest and huge tents are built to house the shows. Companies like Rio Grande have trade shows during this time so get to see all the newest tools. New gem stone finds are featured and anyone who cuts gems will either come to sell here or compete in the cutting competition put on by the AGTA. Many shows welcome any one to come in and the high powered shows are trade only. It’s like the carnival for me every year. Orchid has had a fund raising dinner during this time for many years so I get to meet many of the people whose posts I read every day.
I met Jeff Graham ( www.faceters.com )sometime around 1998. Jeff taught me how to distinguish good gem cutting from bad. He has taught me what good gem rough should look like and what to look for in gem stones. Jeff came to my studio last week and brought with him several stones for me to look at. The tourmaline shown above was my favorite, the green and blue colors in this stone stuck in my mind. This happens during the gem show as well. The color center of my brain becomes so stimulated by all the gems that stop lights become , citrines and emeralds. Everyday colors become brilliant for several hours after I leave a venue. I love that.
Rubelite Tourmaline cut by Jeff Graham
I wanted to share some of the things that inspire me. My market has been turquoise for some time which is great since I love turquoise. Jeff’s visit reminded me that there is a whole world of gems to play with. I would liketo put many of these stones in white metal so I will work in Argentium sterling. Gem stones in silver is a great combination but the tendency is to save the top stones for gold or platinum, I have that prejudice myself. Argentium will not tarnish under these stones and is a much warmer metal to work with than nickle white golds. Silver allows me to be more experimental with the metal as well since price is much more reasonable than gold.
I will post these pieces as I make them, if you are interested in commissioning this work please see my contact information on my “About Patania” page.
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