Events & Awards

Spend ‘A Day at the Alfie’ During Tucson Gem Shows with Museum’s New Event

Events & AwardsNov 15, 2022

Spend ‘A Day at the Alfie’ During Tucson Gem Shows with Museum’s New Event

Slated for Saturday, Feb. 4, it will feature presentations, networking, and an evening component with music and dinner.

20221115_Alfie-Tucson-event.jpg
Tucson, Ariz.—The Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum is joining in on the lineup of events held during the annual Tucson gem and mineral shows. 
 
The museum officially opened at its new home in the Pima County Historic Courthouse in February concurrent with the gem shows after four years of renovations, with many members of the trade seeing it for the first time during GIA’s “Night at the Museum” event.
 
During the upcoming 2023 shows, the museum will host “A Day at the Alfie” on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m., featuring expert presentations, networking, time to enjoy its newest exhibitions, and an evening component with music and dinner. 
 
Food and beverage will be included at each portion of the day.
 
Brunch presentations will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. The schedule is as follows. 

10 a.m.
Wim Vertriest, Gemological Institute of America
Mozambican Rubies: News from the Field
 
11 a.m.
Bruce Bridges, Bridges Tsavorite
The Discovery and Faceting of The Lion of Merelani Tsavorite
 
12 p.m.
David Smith, Faceters Paradise
The United States Faceters Guild
 
1 p.m.
Les Presmyk, Flagg Mineral Foundation
Underground Collecting: Adventures in Arizona and Mexico
 
2 p.m.
Aaron Palke, Gemological Institute of America
Sapphires from Montana: Gemology, Geology, and History
 
The afternoon presentations are as follows.

3 p.m.
Jeff Morrison, Havey Quarry
Mining the Havey Tourmaline Quarry
 
4 p.m.
Robert Weldon, Gemological Institute of America
Colombian Emeralds in 1920s
 
5 p.m.
Jesse Fisher
Fluorite from the Weardale Region, Northern England
 
6 p.m.
Justin Prim, Faceting Apprentice
Early History of American Gem Cutting & Early History of Mixed Drinks
 
The day will end with an evening event from 7-10 p.m., which will include exclusive access to the Alfie’s speakeasy, live jazz music, dinner, and dancing. 
 
Tickets can be purchased for separate events or as an all-day pass on Eventbrite.
 
The museum noted that GIA will host a seminar in its classroom during the event; those signing up for that seminar will automatically receive all-day access to A Day at the Alfie. 
 
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