Tucson News Please!!!

Hi There! I have been busy non-stop, but no shopping since Sunday when I arrived. On Monday, I arrived at the convention center for the NAJA conference and it looked like this...

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But moments later it looked like this...

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Then it proceeded to rain heavily all day!

The first day, it was very cold, but the next two days, I had to fill water bottles with hot water to get the ice off my windows. It was 30 degrees and my windows were frozen shut until I got my heater going. Brrrrrr! Not your normal Tucson weather. It's supposed to get warmer now and the weekend should be terrific.

On Tuesday I had lunch with author Renee Newman, who I already knew, and Elisabeth Strack. Elisabeth was so taken with the fact that I was wearing pearl rings that she took a photo of me and Renee with my hands outstretched! Apparently, in Europe, pearls are not worn as an everyday item. We agreed that Italy may be the exception!

When she signed my book, I showed her my new pearl bird pendant and she took photos of that, too. Pretty cool. :cool:
 
On Wednesday, I attended the AGA - Accredited Gemologists Association conference. It was very interesting. During the hands-on session, I talked to Antoinette Matlins about her Quahog pearls on display...

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Okay, I am in a rush because I promised to meet someone. Hopefully I'll get away with more photos. ;)

Cheers,
Blaire
 
Oh, yeah, there was a killer party last night where someone sponsored the drinks which were made with Absoulut red grapefruit vodka. They flowed all night. Next year I'm staying in the hotel where all the parties are so I can have more than one drink! I always worry about driving...
 
salem said:
Hi Jerin,

I just wanted to ask a question about your post. I have only heard of Kokichi Mikimoto being referred to as the Pearl King of Japan. Does he have any realtion to Fuji Voll's father? Do you know what his father's name is? I am just curious because it has never come up in any of my conversations with jewelers here. They all speak highly of Mikimoto(the man, if not the pearls), so I was just curious on who I was missing out on. Thanks!
Click to expand...


Salem,
I have to look at the DVD, it?s such a long time I watched it - I come back later. However, the name "Pearl King" was referring to him because he had such a lot of pearls, was known as a very honest man in all the important circles that are doing business with pearls.

The original Pearl King was Kokichi Mikimoto of course!
 
Thanks so much to pattye, Blaire, and Caitlin for their posts. This has been so fun to read.
 
Salem,

I now have watched the DVD once more and here goes:
Name of Fujiis father: Rudolf Voll, born in Germany
1937 he came to Japan, before that he was apparently in South Africa and some other places but then he moved on to Hongkong, where he has been living. He was called "Pearlking" by his friends and other pearl dealers (for example a company called "Tokyo Pearls" was mentioned in this documentary, because he was very knowledgable and honest about pearls and also sold them to people at very reasonable prices.
His children are Fujii and Aloha, they have businesses in San Francisco and Bangkok.
This TV production is from 1997 and Rudolf was 85 years then if I got it right.
He was the only german pearl dealer that had admittance to the largest pearl auction in Tokyo (at least that was the case then), the film showed unbelievably fine Akoyas from that Auction house and a strand of Akoyas worth 500,000 DM would be now about 250,000 Euros.

Altogether a very interesting film as Rudolf Voll showed and mentioned the pearl industry of China coming on strong and believing that the Japanese are experiencing great difficulties because the much cheaper pearls from China as well as pollution problems for the Japanese.

BTW Voll is shown on a picture together with K. Mikimoto, whom he visited and also seemed to have some sort of affairs with. Rudolf Voll had a shop in Ginza Street many years ago...
 
pattye said:
They had some amazing strands of Kasumi Pearls, wrinkly with amazing colors, and some freshwaters, huge, that look almost identical. Care had mentioned these were exceptional. Very high end, if I recall the prices were about 24,000-30,000, totally unique and gorgeous. (I should have brought a book of adjectives, I am running out!)
Pattye
so many pearls, so little time
Click to expand...

Hi Pattye

I would like so much to see that kasumi!!!!
would it be possible to post some more pictures?
Nice to talk about pearls, nice to see the pearls;)

Thanks
 
Post pearl walk, tomorrow night!

Janos (Janos.com)
The Westin LaPaloma, Via Palomita
Tuscon, AZ
(520) 615-6100
 
Have a great time at the Pearl walk and after, Caitlin and Jeremy, Inge... everyone!

And count my cheer along with the first glass of wine, if you wish ;)
 
Hi Jerin,

Thanks for all the info. It is always nice to learn of someone new. I wish I could see the video myself, but I am assuming it is in German? Anyway, the info was fascinating, thanks for posting it. ;)
 
Hi Salem,

yes it is mostly in German, in the background there is very little English spoken by some Chinese pearl dealers, though too little to be able to follow it easily:(
 
Nice to see you!

Nice to see you!

It was so nice to finally meet some of you at Elisabeth Strack's seminar today. Pretty wonderful to put faces to names on this forum. I live out of the usual path in Vermont, so it is especially great to meet you.

Elisabeth's seminar was fascinating and, as usual, she could have talked for 4 hours, but kept it to about 1 3/4 hrs. She discussed a lot of information that we know, but also some new info (for me) about some of the rarer natural pearls, i.e., conch, Mexican Cortez, melo melos, and, (I had no idea...) Scottish pearls. There is so much to learn about. I had no idea that there were pearl being farmed in the Red Sea in Dungunab. It was just wonderful to be in the same room as her.

I had already made appointments and was stupid enough not to check the forum and learn about the Pearl Walk, so I missed out. I actually didn't know if it was open to all. I won't miss it next year, though.

Tomorrow, I am going to DSL to purchase some beautiful Golden and South Sea matched sets.

Sweet dreams,
Judi
 
Jeremy fed us well, so well, in fact, that I feel like a sausage in a casing! ;)

Today I snuck some photos in an unmentionable place, but you'll probably recognize the subjects....

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Cheers,
Blaire
 
I am back in LA following a pre-dawn flight from Tucson.

The walk was a lot of fun and we met so many interesting people. Douglas arrived at the Sea of Cortez booth just in time so we were able to chat with him and listen to him explain the colors and attributes of his pearls. We ran into Strack several times and discussed some points of her lecture.

I will leave the real monologue to Gem Geek and Caitlin. They have pictures...

Dinner was great as well. Janos reserved a long table for us and we were there for about three hours. Wine, lobster, filets, and more wine... Josh broke out bags of his pearls and we discussed orient.

It was a long day, but definitely worth it. Next year we will have to double the group size!
 
Hi All--

My computer went down and I wasn't sure I would be able to get it working again! The broadband here at the hotel is sometimes erratic.

I do want to pop in with a huge

Thank You to Jeremy !

for a very special pearl walk and hosting the fabulous dinner. It has been a terrific week meeting so many forum members and people in the industry, all friendly and gracious!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time
 
To Caitlin, Pattye, GemGeek and others - thankyou SO much for the photos, the info, the great commentary on the show - I have learnt heaps from you all in the last week.... Next year, just have to work in a trip to the US in Feb, I can see.. The photos of Caroline's pieces had me speechless and drooling over my laptop! It has been a real treat to read your posts, so thank you all!
 
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