The Gem Shop has returned from the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show with beautiful, new rocks and minerals!
Morrisonite Polished Slab Specimens The Morrisonite slabs are from the Jake's Place Claim in Oregon. These polished slabs display a variety of beautiful green, yellow, and red coloring. A variety of patterns including striations and some "egg" formations that Morrisonite is known for can be found. Check out all of the polished slabs on our site: http://thegemshop.com/collections/specimens-2/polished-slabs
Jewelry Carvings The Gem Shop has exquisite carvings that are a unique touch to jewelry creations! Ocean Jasper® Fish and Seahorses Carvings are intricately carved to display the jasper "orbs" as the creatures eyes. No two are the same! Ocean Jasper® Leaf Carvings are carved out of beautiful material and created with a delicate curve, like a leaf falling from a tree. The druzy flower carvings are made from Natural Druzy, which sparkle in the sunlight! Peruse through these individually photographed jewelry carvings on our site: http://thegemshop.com/collections/cabochons-1/jewelry-carvings
The Gem Shop has a new YouTube video on Willow Creek mining! Willow Creek Jasper is mined 15 miles north of Eagle, Idaho. Gene and Veronica were out at the mine with Larry Ridley this past summer and documented the process of mining Willow Creek Jasper. The jasper is found in very large thunder eggs that have to be drilled to crack them open. The drilled thunder egg chunks are then hammered and chiseled to uncover the jasper, but not every egg contains the jasper. Willow Creek Jasper can display beautiful "egg" or oval patterns, but these exquisite patterns are rare. Green, purple, pink, gray, white, and brown are some of the wonderful coloring that can be found in this jasper.
The Gem Shop is happy to announce that the very popular book "Agates" by Johann Zenz has been made available once again! Limited quantities of the book are available, and will not last long. "Agates" contains 2,000 pictures of some of the most beautiful agates in the world. The book will ship in approximately 2 weeks. Order online or call the store at 520-884-1870 or 866-377-4666 to reserve your copy today at a limited time offer price of $125: http://thegemshop.com/collections/publications-1/products/agates
Valentine's Day Sale
Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, and The Gem Shop has the perfect gift for the love of your life! Starting today through Friday, February 14th all of our jewelry is 15% off online and in our store. Choose from our Escape Pendants, Escape Medallion Necklaces, Rainbow Sapphire Jewelry, and more. Check out our entire selection on our site: http://thegemshop.com/collections/jewelry-2 . Use the code LOVE when checking out to receive the discount. Come into the store for an even wider selection.
The Gem Shop has received a shipment of El Blanco Agate from Mexico! El Blanco Agate is a new agate that is completely white with very good banding, which creates great parallax! We have a limited supply of specimens available, which you can purchase on our website: http://thegemshop.com/collections/specimens-2/el-blanco We also have a limited supply of rough material of El Blanco. Small nodules are sold in 5lb. lots for $30 or the large nodules are available for $10/lb. We do not expect this supply to last long. Please call us at 520-884-1870 for availability.
Great Shapes Templates
The Gem Shop is now a distributor of Great Shapes Templates! These brand new templates are great for cabbing, and help create many different shapes for cutting rock. Choose from 4 different templates. Check out all of the templates on our site: http://thegemshop.com/collections/lapidary-equipment-1/templates
Tucson Show
The biggest show of the year is almost here! The Gem Shop is once again down in Tucson, Arizona for the largest gathering of gem, mineral, and rock collectors and dealers in the world. The Gem Shop will have rough rock, specimens, cabochons, kids kits, and many other new exciting products! We will be exhibiting at the Tucson Showplace in space A1. The Tucson Showplace is located right off of the I-10 South Freeway. For further information check out the Tucson Showplace website: www.tucsonshowplace.net.
The Gem Shop has a new selection of Sonora Sunset rough rock in from Mexico! Sonora Sunset is also known as Sonora Sunrise or Sonora Chrysocolla. It is comprised of a blend of chrysocolla and cuprite, which shows off beautiful green, red, and black coloring! Perfect for cabbing or creating a polished specimen! Check out the new Sonora Sunrise on our site: http://thegemshop.com/products/sonora-sunset
Collectible Complete Set of Calendars
For a limited time, we are offering for sale a complete set of our famous Calendar of Fine Agates and Jaspers! We began creating our exquisite calendar in 2002 to celebrate our 30th Anniversary and thought it was going to be a one-time offering. The calendar was so popular that we decided to issue it annually starting in 2004. You will notice that on the cover of every calendar a very special little eye agate appears every year. This particular eye agate is a Lake Superior Agate that was found on Highway 53 North of Duluth by Gene’s wife on their honeymoon. This specimen has been in Gene’s collection ever since and has been a symbol of The Gem Shop, Inc. from the beginning. We have very limited quantities available of the entire set of our Calendar of Fine Agates and Jaspers available, and each calendar has become a collectible. You will receive every calendar we have produced from 2002-2014. We are offering this special collection of stellar photographs of some of the best agates and jasper specimens from around the world for the very special price of $60.00! This offer is good until January 31, 2014.
The Gem Shop is proud to carry the book by Marco Campos-Venuti, "Genesis & Classification of Agates & Jaspers: A New Theory". The book analyzes the varieties of agates and jaspers, and is the perfect addition to any rock lover's library. Mark Oros of Hashnu Stones & Gems has written the following book review of this book:
"When talking with gemologists and jewelers, the topic eventually moves away from precious gems to agates and jaspers. This never fails to evoke a new level of enthusiasm with statements like, “I love agates and jaspers, they are my favorites.” There is something about the beauty and fluidity of agates and jaspers that both enchants and mystifies. When showing studio visitors samples of newly cut agates and jaspers, the question of how these stones were formed always arises. Until I read “Genesis and Classification of Agates and Jaspers: a New Theory,” by Marco Campos-Venuti, I would simply answer with one word -magic. Magic is the simple version of explaining the formation of these natural wonders, but to understand the geological genesis and to see the real beauty of agates and jaspers, Marco Campos-Venuti provides a wonderful job of showing the intricate steps that transform silica solutions into the stones we collect, carve and display. “Genesis and Classification of Agates and Jaspers: a New Theory” is written in such a fashion that it speaks to the beginning collector and to the professional geologist. Starting with classification and moving to genesis and facies, Marco Campos-Venuti takes the reader on a journey from the basic creation to the intricate subtleties of these gems. After reading this book, I found myself revisiting my favorite agate and jasper specimens and using his explained methods of formation to decode their evolution and design. At first, I was worried that Marco Campos-Venuti’s new book would take some of the mysterious charm of the these stones away, but I was wrong, it only added to the their intrigue. This book shows the breakthroughs in research and new paths in understanding the geological formation of agates and jaspers, but that is only one level on which Marco Campos-Venuti addresses the genesis and classification of agates and jaspers. I am not one that will readily provide spoilers to books and movies, but I will make an exception in this case. The photographs are a major highlight of this book. The visual examples of agates and jaspers used come from some of the finest collectors and are some of the most beautiful examples that I have seen photographed. I now have Marco Campos-Venuti’s “Genesis and Classification of Agates and Jaspers: a New Theory” sitting in my studio next to a batch of newly cut agates, poised and waiting for the inevitable question of how these stones were formed. I am now able to expose the tricks and reveal the magic."
We at The Gem Shop wish all of you a Happy New Year, filled with the beauty of the Mineral World. A new year brings new discoveries, and a few things we are excited about sharing with you in 2014:
Quartzsite Show - The Gem Shop will be at the Quartzsite Pow Wow in Arizona. We will have rough rock, specimens, and many other great products on hand! The show runs January 22nd - 26th and we are located at Space 539-540. For more information check out: www.qiaaz.org/
Tucson Show - We are also getting ready for our annual pilgrimage to Arizona for the Tucson Show. We have produced beautiful new cabochons, and specimens specifically for the show. We are located at The Tucson Showplace in space A1. The Tucson Showplace is officially open from January 31st - February 16th. For more information check out: www.tucsonshowplace.net
New Show - We have added a new show to our spring schedule! The Gem Shop will be at the Heart of Wisconsin Gem & Mineral Society Club Show in Marshfield, WI on May 3rd & 4th. We hope to see you there!
Calendar Submissions - 2014 may have just started, but it is never too early to start thinking about The Gem Shop's 2015 Calendar of Fine Agates and Jaspers. We are taking submissions of pictures of beautiful agates and jaspers for consideration to be included in the calendar. Send us your best pictures to webmaster@thegemshop.com. If you have not picked up your 2014 Calendar it is not too late to order: http://thegemshop.com/collections/publications-1/products/2014-calendar-of-fine-agates-jaspers
New Product - In 2013 we had new products and rock such as the Fossil Excavation Kits and Salvia Chalcedony. We will have more new products and rough rock in 2014. Keep an eye on future newsletters for further details.
To help ring in 2014 all of our specimens are 14% off! We have a variety of beautiful specimens such as Laguna Agate, Botswana Agate, Morrisonite, and Imperial Jasper online and in the store. The sale starts today, December 26th and continues to December 31st. To receive the discount online use the code: YEAREND14 at checkout. Check out all of our specimens on our site: http://thegemshop.com/collections/specimens-2
Happy New Year
The Gem Shop would like to wish you and your family a safe and joyous new year! We will be open on New Year's Eve from 9:30am - 4pm and on New Year's Day we are closed. We will resume normal business hours on January 2nd.
All of us at The Gem Shop would like to wish you and your family a very, joyous holiday season. May it be full of good times for all!
Gift Certificate Sale
Gift Certificates are the perfect gift for the rock lover in your family! Starting today December 18th through the 24th, receive a bonus gift certificate with your gift certificate purchase. Purchase a $25 Gift Certificate and receive an extra $5 gift certificate or purchase a $50 gift certificate and receive a $10 gift certificate. Gift Certificates can be purchased in our store, over the phone or on our site: http://thegemshop.com/collections/gift-certificates
Festive Friday
This holiday season on Festive Fridays we have had fun excavating fossils, making ornaments, eating "glacier" ice cream, and making soapstone putty. Friday, December 20th from 6pm - 8:30pm is our last Festive Friday and we will be crackin' geodes! We will have the geode cracker out and kids will be able to crack open their own geode. Geodes are $5. Don't miss out on the fun!
Holiday Gift Packages
We have 5 Holiday Packages that make perfect last minute gifts:
The Wack n' Crack Geodes package is available for $39.95, which includes a rock hammer, goggles, and tube full of geodes.
Escape Jewelry Pendants set in sterling silver are 2 for $45.
Escape Necklaces are stainless steel medallions with words of inspiration are 2 for $30.
We also have a tumbler special; purchase any tumbler and receive a starter package for $30, which includes everything you need to get started.
Starting today, December 11th - December 17th all of our bookends are 20% off! The bookends make the perfect gift for a book enthusiast or rock lover in your family. Bookends are available in Brazilian Agate, Rose Quartz, Petrified Wood, and Sodalite. Check out all of our bookends on our site: http://thegemshop.com/collections/home-decor-2
Festive Friday
Festive Fridays in Downtown Cedarburg are the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. Make The Gem Shop one of your stops this Festive Friday as we make Soapstone Putty! Soapstone is a very soft mineral and when mixed with glue and other ingredients it becomes an elastic, fun putty. Kids will have fun stretching and playing with the putty. Come for a silly, good time this Friday, December 13th from 6pm - 8:30pm. Kits are $3. Check out all of our holiday events on our website: http://thegemshop.com/pages/holiday-happenings-at-the-gem-shop
