Colored Stones

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Gem shows bring color back to Tucson

By Teresa Novellino
February 01, 2007

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Tucson, Ariz.—The gem trade brought a colorful caravan into the desert city of Tucson again this year, as colored-gem seekers converged on the Tucson Convention Center for the AGTA GemFair, "the tents" set up by the GJX show, and other gem show venues around town.

Attendance figures weren't immediately available, but by 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning, the trade seemed to have staked its claim on the city: Parking lots were overflowing, and traffic on the I-10 was at a standstill near the exits to the shows.

"It's really busy out there, and we've had a lot of media attention this year," says American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Executive Director Douglas Hucker, fresh from an interview with National Public Radio about the AGTA GemFair.

Pre-registration was up, and many attendees are asking about the new Colored Diamond Pavilion, he says.

One of the most noticeable trends on AGTA's main show floor this year is the increase in colored-stone jewelry. In some cases, the jewelry is shown side-by-side with loose stones, which are the show's hallmark.

Among those who have shifted gears in recent years is Nafco, a fifth-generation family business known for its loose stones. The company has now moved full force into designer jewelry, with sisters Stephanie and Myriam Naftule at the helm.

"We told our father (gem dealer Roland Naftule) that this was what we wanted to do," Stephanie Naftule says.

So far, the company has used its knowledge of the gem market to come up with vivid sapphire creations.

AGTA has taken notice: "It's kind of a maturation of people's businesses," Hucker says. "They've found that it's more convenient for the jeweler who wants to buy color to buy it here, in addition to loose."
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