Everyone is talking about Tuscon, but I’m thinking/planning on
going to Quartzite (Feb 4th to the 8th). I’m a hobbiest (read: no
tax ID number) jewelery designer and gem cutter, mainly looking
to increase my inventory of cutting rough and I’ve heard that
Quartzite is the place for that. Has anyone out there been? Is it
worth the trip from Massachusetts? Is anyone else out there
planning to be there between the 4th and 8th? Any ideas or
suggestions about where to stay? About the closest I seem to be
able to find something is Parker.
It is worth the trip. And you are lucky if you get into Parker.
You will have a great time and get lots of good deals. Start at
Clouds on the East side, Park your car and go from there. Good
luck lloyd
Wow, Massachusetts to Quartzite now there is a trip!!! Would it
not make sense for an person in Arizona to become a broker to
people who could not afford or want to spend the $$$ traveling to
Tucson or Quartzite (for a small markup to offset shipping, time
and risk)? You could put your requests for specific items, that
person could pool the requests. Buy in bulk (at cheaper prices)
and forward them out. One down side is you would miss the fun
and excitement and maybe some deals that were not on the list.
But, the way I look at it, if you have $1000+ in travel expenses
and purchase a kilo of rough (like every one is going to buy that
much rough) this would add $.20 to each caret. I don’t know
shows are great but they are not for everyone (Geographically
Undesirable).
but I'm thinking/planning on going to Quartzite (Feb 4th to
the 8th About the closest I seem to be able to find
something is Parker.
Allan,
Quartzite is as great place to find all sorts of unusual things.
The Pow Wow is the better of the shows to find rough and gem
material. I havent been up there in a couple of years but it was
a fun time. It is just like on huge flea market and spread out
all over. You may try to find a motel in Neddles CA. its just
across the border and has more motels, one time i was at
Quartzite i stayed in Lake Havausu as it was the closest place.
One option if you like to drive is to stay in Laughlin NV and
drive down hwy95 on the California side its about a 1 1/2 drive
the stay is cheap and so is the food. I know a lot of dealers
leave and go down to Tucson so maybe somebody else can respond
and tell if you if it is still a good place to look for
material. One other note is that not all the shows require a
wholesale number the Tucson Gem show is open to public and a lot
of dealers in the Congress St Expo dont require credentials so
that maybe an option also.
Alan, we go and set up at Quartzsite from Jan 17 thru the end of
February. We set up at Main event booths d-15 & d-16 close to the
office. Quartzsite is the place for cutting rough in my opinion,
and if you can find what you are looking for there, it will be
cheaper than Tucson. Stop in and see us, at Quartzsite we
concentrate on Opal, Tourmaline, and Herkimer “diamonds”. Ron
Schanfish
FWIW if you can change your plans, do so. The Quartzite pnenom.
goes on all during the months of Jan and Feb, but from past
experience the best venue to visit of “The Main Event” This will
be over by Feb. That leave you Tyson Wells and the Pow Wow.
I’ve found better availabilith of stones (rough and finished) at
the main Event show. TW seems to be more like a flea market or
worse.
Just my $0.02
If I set my background color to ultraviolet, will I get a tan?
Quartzite is about 20 miles east of the AZ-CA border on I-10.
It is billed as the largest rock and gem show in the world. It
is auctually several large shows back to back. Jan 17-30 will be
the show called “the Main Event” This IMHO is the best for
rockhounds and jewelers. When TME closes the “Tyson Wells Show”
opens across the street. After the TW is an Indian "Pow
Wow"These are the meat of the shows.
Quartzite is a mecca for rockhounds, but don’t bother trying to
sell finished jewelry. This is where you go to get your
supplies. I prefer Quartzite to Tucson . The atmosphere is more
relaxed. and you don’t have to go all over town to find that
special bargin. The whole thing is outdoors with vendors seting
up tents and awnings, much like an outdoor flea market
I am leaving Monday on a 3 week trip to visit friends and family
in New Mexico. I will stop by Quartzite next weekend to check out
the pre-show bargins, and will be through there on the end of the
trip when TME is in full swing. Lots of dealers come early and
stay late. Many will go from Quartzite to Tucson. If you ever go,
it is easier on you is you have an RV or camper of some sort.
No matter what time of the year you go thru Quartzite there will
be someone there selling anything from rough to finished stones
and other things. (rugs, or black velvet Elvis paintings etc)
During most of the year is is a Flea Market, but Jan & Feb the
rockhounds invade and it turns into a party.
If I set my background color to ultraviolet, will I get a tan?
Hi, my name is Robby and I own and operate Renaissance Jewelers
in Gainesville Florida. My wife and I went to Quartzite several
years ago and had a great time. We stayed in Blith Cal. It is
truly a amazing place. A town with one stop light is completly
covered with gem shows. Every parking lot and field is turned
into exhibits. As far as the trip from Mass, it’s along way. If
you plan to spend a fair amount of money and have the time to
score the fields there is a lot of really good stuff to find. The
country is beautiful. It’s your decision. Robby
At 09:11 PM 1/1/98 -0600, you wrote:
First of all, Happy New Year to all!
Everyone is talking about Tuscon, but I’m thinking/planning on
going to Quartzite (Feb 4th to the 8th). I’m a hobbiest (read: no
tax ID number) jewelery designer and gem cutter, mainly looking
to increase my inventory of cutting rough and I’ve heard that
Quartzite is the place for that. Has anyone out there been? Is it
worth the trip from Massachusetts? Is anyone else out there
planning to be there between the 4th and 8th? Any ideas or
suggestions about where to stay? About the closest I seem to be
able to find something is Parker.
Thanks in advance,
Alan
T h e O r c h i d L i s t a n d D i g e s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
Quartzsite is about 20 miles East of California in the Arizona
desert. A little dot on the I-10 map that swells from about 3000
year round population to a fiberglass and aluminium RV city of
1,000,000 for the Jan. and Feb. shows. Nothing like it anywhere
else in the world!
