For the past several years, during the Christmas season, Jewel Tunnel Imports has had an open house for the earth science faculties of local colleges and universities and related organizations. Cal Poly-Pomona will participate this year on Saturday November 19, 2011. Jewel Tunnel Imports is a wholesale gem and mineral company that has been in business for the last 30 years. Thry operate from a 13,000 square foot warehouse in Baldwin Park, California, just off the 605 freeway. They are one of the largest wholesale gem and mineral establishments in the United States and carry a large selection of mineral specimens, gems, tumbled stones, carvings, balls, eggs, bookends, fossils, rough material, light boxes etc. etc.
Normally they are wholesale only, but our students will be able to buy at the normal wholesale price. The openhouse will also provide people attending a good overview of the kinds of minerals and related natural history objects available on the market today and some insight to the importing and distribution of such things. California State sales tax of 8.25% will be added to the cost of any items purchased. This will be a one time event and it must be understood that students will not be permitted to return to our facility and buy during the year without a resale certificate from the California State Board of Equalization. All sales are final. Refreshments will be served.
The Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase is one of the premier gem and mineral shows in the world. The event takes place annually over three weeks in late January and February at numerous locations across the city of Tucson, Arizona. Most of the shows are open to the public. However, certain trade shows require a business license. There is not one single location for gems, minerals and fossils, but rather dealers occupy dozens of hotels and motels with displays of their specimens in such locations as hotel bedrooms, lobbies, tents, and lawns. The capstone event of the Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase is the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show produced by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society. This show has been held annually since 1955 and now occupies the 180,000 square feet Tucson Convention Center. All of the shows have attendees from across the world which includes the general public, experts, beginning collectors, museum employees, dealers, retailers, and researchers. Many museums and universities, such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Sorbonne have displayed at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.
We plan to attend the show on the first or second weekend of February. We will visit retail and wholesale mineral and fossil dealers around the city and time-permitting, the Tucson Convention Center. This is one fun event so be prepared to have the time of your life!!!