EditorsNov 22, 2024
Out & About: Inside the CD Peacock MansionStep inside the nearly 21,000-square-foot suburban Chicago jewelry store with Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff.
Events & AwardsFeb 23, 2021
AGTA Calls Off Tentative Plans for April Gem Show
The organization said it’s come to the determination that producing a Tucson show “would not be viable this year.”
AGTA’s Tucson GemFair, shown here in a shot from 2020, won’t be happening this year. The organization announced Monday it has scrapped plans to produce an April show.
Dallas—It’s official—there will be no AGTA Tucson GemFair in 2021.
Late Monday, the Dallas-based organization announced it is abandoning its plan to reschedule GemFair to April 13-18.
CEO Doug Hucker said after discussing it with exhibitors and buyers, AGTA determined that producing a Tucson show “would not be viable this year” as the nation continues to battle COVID-19.
The announcement came the same day that President Joe Biden announced the United States had hit a grim milestone—more than half a million dead from the virus.
RELATED CONTENT: How the Colored Stone Market Is Making Up for No Tucson
Normally, AGTA’s Tucson GemFair takes place in early February, amid more than two dozen other gem shows in the Southwest city that’s referenced collectively in the trade as “Tucson.”
In December, AGTA announced it was canceling its Tucson show after the Pima County Health Department denied its application, but then began looking at April dates as more than 20 other gem shows announced they were postponing rather than canceling.
AGTA said it surveyed past buyers and exhibiting members via emails, Zoom meetings and on the phone to gauge the level of interest in participating in April show before ultimately deciding to call it off.
“The decision to cancel our Tucson event for 2021 was clearly one of the most difficult decisions the AGTA board of directors has faced,” Hucker said.
“Moving forward, we are all committed to planning a robust show in Tucson in 2022. Additionally, we are currently investigating other opportunities for AGTA and its members to participate in Las Vegas this August as well as other exciting possibilities that we expect to announce very shortly.”
Late Monday, the Dallas-based organization announced it is abandoning its plan to reschedule GemFair to April 13-18.
CEO Doug Hucker said after discussing it with exhibitors and buyers, AGTA determined that producing a Tucson show “would not be viable this year” as the nation continues to battle COVID-19.
The announcement came the same day that President Joe Biden announced the United States had hit a grim milestone—more than half a million dead from the virus.
RELATED CONTENT: How the Colored Stone Market Is Making Up for No Tucson
Normally, AGTA’s Tucson GemFair takes place in early February, amid more than two dozen other gem shows in the Southwest city that’s referenced collectively in the trade as “Tucson.”
In December, AGTA announced it was canceling its Tucson show after the Pima County Health Department denied its application, but then began looking at April dates as more than 20 other gem shows announced they were postponing rather than canceling.
AGTA said it surveyed past buyers and exhibiting members via emails, Zoom meetings and on the phone to gauge the level of interest in participating in April show before ultimately deciding to call it off.
“The decision to cancel our Tucson event for 2021 was clearly one of the most difficult decisions the AGTA board of directors has faced,” Hucker said.
“Moving forward, we are all committed to planning a robust show in Tucson in 2022. Additionally, we are currently investigating other opportunities for AGTA and its members to participate in Las Vegas this August as well as other exciting possibilities that we expect to announce very shortly.”
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
CollectionsNov 22, 2024
Piece of the Week: Xander Jane’s ‘Spiked’ Pearl StudsThese punk-inspired earrings from the new Canadian brand’s debut collection reveal the alter ego of the classic pearl.
SourcingNov 22, 2024
Facets of Fire Expands to Include Pear, Marquise DiamondsThe company brings its nanotechnology to two new fancy cuts for diamonds that feature its signature color and brilliance.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
Supplier BulletinNov 21, 2024
Tasha R Releases 2025 Labbelle Lab Diamond Jewelry CatalogSponsored by Tasha R
Weekly QuizNov 21, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsNov 21, 2024
Gold Watch Gifted to Titanic Rescue Ship Captain Sells for $2MThree Titanic survivors presented him with the personalized Tiffany & Co. timepiece about a year after the tragedy.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Harris Jewelry Ordered to Reopen Claims Portal for Refund RequestsA federal court found that the jewelry store chain violated terms of the settlement reached after it was accused of defrauding customers.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
CollectionsNov 21, 2024
Channel Elphaba in Muse’s ‘Have a Heart x Cynthia Erivo’ CollectionCynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Rocksbox Opens Pop-Up Store in San FranciscoThe new space was designed to evoke a warm, inviting vibe.
IndependentsNov 21, 2024
Mary Moses Kinney Is Now Part of The Edge’s Team Kinney, who spent nearly 30 years at IJO, has been hired to head Abbott Jewelry Systems’ new virtual marketplace.
CrimeNov 20, 2024
Sotheby’s to Pay $6.25M Settlement to NY State for Alleged Tax FraudThe auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.
CollectionsNov 20, 2024
Pamela Love Channels Surrealist Artists in New CollectionThe “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024
Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation EffortsThe money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
CrimeNov 19, 2024
Woman Killed in Armed Robbery of Sacramento Jewelry StoreLocal reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.
AuctionsNov 19, 2024
‘A Tsar’s Treasure’ Fetches $2.9M at Sotheby’s Jewelry SaleA collection of pieces owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family, blew away estimates in Geneva last week.
MajorsNov 19, 2024
Trove Opens First US Flagship in NYCThe Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.
CollectionsNov 19, 2024
Snoop Dogg’s New Jewelry Collection Is All About Love“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
EditorsNov 18, 2024
Q&A: Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton on the Jeweler’s RebrandHampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.
Policies & IssuesNov 18, 2024
Reciprocity Jewels Returns to NYC Jewelry WeekThe group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
CollectionsNov 18, 2024
Dolly Parton Shines in Collaboration with Kendra ScottThe collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2024
IGI Jewelry Design Competition ReturnsThis year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.
EditorsNov 15, 2024
Why Fine Jewelry Belongs at New York Comic ConSenior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
CollectionsNov 15, 2024
Marie Lichtenberg Battles Counterfeits with New ‘Raiz’in Scapular’ DesignsThe latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
WatchesNov 15, 2024
Piece of the Week: Citizen’s Commemorative Pocket WatchNo. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.
Recorded WebinarsNov 15, 2024
Watch: 10 Tips to Keep Your Jewelry Store Secure On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.
AuctionsNov 14, 2024
18th-Century Diamond Necklace Sells for Nearly $5M Sotheby’s sold the necklace, which potentially has ties to Marie-Antoinette, for $4.8 million to a woman bidding via phone.
