AGTA NewsFlash
July 2007
- AGTA Source Directory-We Need Your Cooperation
- AGTA GTC Reviewing Gemstones During the JA Show for Free!
- Make Your Reservations Now for AGTA GemFair™ Tucson
- Enjoy the Color of Money from The Authority in Color™
- FedEx Discounts Continue to Cut Costs for AGTA Members
- 2008 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Update
- In Memory-Norah Pierson
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AGTA Source Directory |
The AGTA Source Directory is the most beneficial resource produced by the Association, and it's FREE! We distribute over 30,000 books and CDs and provide both at AGTA GemFair™ Tucson, MJSA Expo New York, AGTA GemFair™ Las Vegas, JA New York and AGS Conclave.
Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity! Each company receives a company listing (company name, Member of record, address, phone, fax, email and website) plus four category listings for FREE. Each additional listing is only $50 each. All listings will appear in both the printed and the electronic versions. |
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A Message from the GTCAGTA GTC Reviewing Gemstones During the JA Show for Free!
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During this year's JA show, the AGTA Gemological Testing Center has prepared something special for its clients: a microscope will be set up at the AGTA Booth (#1182) to perform preliminary testing of gemstones for free. Now is your chance to build confidence in your show purchases with identification confirmation from an accredited gemologist. Please note: if you would like an actual GTC Report generated, normal rates will apply (see fee schedule). |
Gemologists will be onsite during the following times:
Sunday, July 29: 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 a.m.
Monday, July 30: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 31: 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The gemologist can do some preliminary checking of your gemstones and can answer all the questions you may have about the laboratory or certain gemstones.
In response to the current issues concerning irradiated topaz, we will have a very sensitive Geiger counter set up on Sunday. Although this instrument doesn't tell you everything you need to know about your topaz, it will tell you if the radiation is within or above background levels.
So take advantage of this exceptional service and have your gemstone checked!!
Don't Forget!
AGTA Members receive preferred pricing with the AGTA GTC. For current fees and other details about AGTA GTC Services, please contact:
AGTA Gemological Testing Center |
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AGTA GemFair™ Tucson |
2008 AGTA GEMFAIR™ TUCSON PREFERRED HOTELS:
| Best Western Inn Suites Tucson | ||
| 6201 N. Oracle Rd. | $129-$149 | |
| Best Western Royal Sun Inn and Suites | ||
| 1015 N. Stone Ave. | $169-$209 | |
| Comfort Suites at Sabino Canyon | ||
| 7007 E. Tanque Verde Rd. | $159-$169 | |
| Courtyard by Marriott Tucson Airport | ||
| 2505 E. Executive Dr. | $186 | |
| Courtyard by Marriott Williams Centre | ||
| 201 S. Williams Blvd. | $186 | |
| DoubleTree Hotel at Reid Park |
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| 445 S. Alvernon Way | $179 | |
| NEW Embassy Suites Tucson Paloma Village | ||
| 6350 North Campbell Ave. | $229 | |
| Esplendor Rio Rico Resort | ||
| 1069 Camino Caralampi (Rio Rico) | $149-$199 | |
| Four Points Sheraton | ||
| 1900 E. Speedway Blvd. | $199 | |
| Hotel Arizona | ||
| 181 W. Broadway Blvd. | $219 | |
| Hyatt Place Tucson Airport (formerly AmeriSuites) | ||
| 6885 S. Tucson Blvd. | $209 | |
| La Quinta Tucson Airport | ||
| 7001 S. Tucson Blvd. | $135 | |
| La Quinta Tucson East | ||
| 6404 E. Broadway Blvd. | $121 | |
| Marriott University Park Tucson SOLD OUT | ||
| 880 E. Second St. | $194-$214 | |
| Radisson Suites Tucson | ||
| 6555 E. Speedway Blvd. | $160 | |
| Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites | ||
| 5151 E. Grant Rd. | $219 | |
| Viscount Suites Hotel | ||
| 4855 E. Broadway Blvd. | $195 | |
| NEW Wyndham Canoa Ranch Resort | ||
| 5775 S. Camino del Sol (Green Valley) | $179 |
The 2008 AGTA GemFair™ Tucson takes place February 6-11, 2008. Hours are 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, February 6-10, and 10:00 am - 4:00 pm on February 11.
Now is the time to book your travel and take advantage of exclusive rates. To make your travel arrangements, please contact A6 Consultants 877-624-7225 | 520-624-7225 (for those outside the US).
AGTA Preferred Hotels are served by free shuttle service to and from the AGTA GemFair™ at the Tucson Convention Center. Service begins at 6:30 am – 11:00 am and resumes at 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Schedules will be posted in the lobby of each AGTA Preferred Hotel during the show.
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Enjoy the Color of Money from The Authority in Color™ |
Introduce your industry friends to the Association that already serves you with the knowledge to help you build a thriving colored gemstone business while promoting your product. It pays to be a Member of a reputable, growing Association!
Look for the Member-Get-A-Member program in the August issue of Southern Jewelry News. Click here to see the ad.
There is no limit to the number of members one company may supply.
Offer for a limited time only. Restrictions may apply. AGTA reserves the right to review on a case-by-case basis.
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FedEx Discounts Continue to Cut Costs for AGTA Members |
Additional savings with FedEx Express®
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AGTA Members can now save up to 26% on FedEx Express® services
New savings with FedEx Kinko'sSM Office and Print Services
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15% savings on basic copy and print services: black & white and color copies
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15% savings on finishing services: mounting, laminating, binding, tape binding (velo binding, comb binding, wire binding, coil binding, book binding), collating, cutting, drilling, folding, padding, stapling
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15% savings on signs and graphics: signs, banners, promotional magnets, vehicle magnets, posters, reprographic prints, ready-to-apply decals and graphics, full-color digital output
Continued savings with FedEx Ground®
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Up to 15% savings on FedEx Ground® services
Continued savings on FedEx Express international services
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Up to 20% savings on FedEx Express international services
If you are not enrolled in the AGTA-FedEx savings program, start saving now by calling 800-475-6708 and speak with a FedEx representative. There are no minimum shipping requirements and no costs for taking advantage of these special rates.
2008 AGTA Spectrum Awards™ |
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Respected
Through the Spectrum Awards, the American Gem Trade has been honoring excellence in jewelry design and lapidary arts for over two decades. The AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition is viewed by the industry as a mark of outstanding quality and achievement. Winners of this illustrious award truly define greatness.
Rigorous
All entries go through a rigorous judging process. To reach the finals, entries must survive review from a panel of distinguished judges. Judging panels are drawn from industry experts (retail jewelers, manufacturers, designers, lapidaries and editors) who have, themselves, received accolades for their work. The judging is based on such criteria as overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad-base consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls.
Rewarding
Entering the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ has numerous benefits:
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Designers and lapidaries have the unique opportunity to have their AGTA Spectrum and Cutting Edge Award entries viewed by the nation's top fashion/accessory editors, stylists, producers and costume designers at an event held in New York during the competition. No other competition gives you this type of exposure.
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Winners are recognized for their innovative, spectacular, and trendsetting designs in the leading trade publications. Photographs and information about AGTA Spectrum and Cutting Edge Award winners are featured in the January and February issues. Additionally, the AGTA submits cover shots that are traditionally picked up by five to six trade publications each year.
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Leading consumer magazines have featured pieces displayed at the New York event as part of the AGTA Spectrum collection.
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All AGTA Spectrum and Cutting Edge Award-winning pieces are displayed at AGTA GemFair™ Tucson, giving you maximum exposure to thousands of potential customers.
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NEW! All submissions will be photographed and featured on www.agta.org for the duration of the competition.
Spectrum Award categories include:
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Classical
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Bridal
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Day
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Men's
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Evening Wear
There are also two special divisions within the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition:
Fashion Forward Honors
Fashion Forward Honors recognizes the outstanding use of colored gemstone and/or cultured pearls in artful, trend-setting jewelry. All necklaces, earrings, bracelets or other jewelry that qualifies for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition will automatically be qualified for Fashion Forward Honors judging.
Manufacturing Honors
Manufacturing Honors recognizes outstanding use of colored gemstones and cultured pearls in jewelry appropriate to be manufactured in production quantities. All designs that qualify for judging in the AGTA Spectrum Awards™ competition will also automatically be qualified for Manufacturing Honors judging.
The AGTA Cutting Edge Awards honor excellence and creativity of the lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings, other gem materials and objects of art. A panel of judges will evaluate entries in the Cutting Edge Awards. Categories include:
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(A) Open Category |
For further information about the AGTA Spectrum Awards™, contact spectrum@agta.org. To download a Spectrum entry form, log on to www.agta.org.
In Memory
The jewelry community lost a beloved and talented member on May 12th, 2007, when Norah Pierson died unexpectedly but peacefully in her summer home in Wainscott, NY.
Her love for jewelry was set at an early age when she was left to roam the Yale Art Gallery and The Natural History Museum and found herself drawn to the cases displaying ancient jewelry and ornaments. Much to her Historian father's chagrin, Norah trained as a painter and printmaker at the school of The Museum of Fine arts in Boston. Her jewelry training and experience in the real world evolved when she apprenticed in Laguna Beach, California under jeweler Joseph Nolen. From there she opened her own retail shop, The Golden Eye, in 1971.
Though she continued to paint, Norah channeled the bulk of her significant artistic talents into making spectacular and highly original jewelry. Because of her formal training, Norah brought an unusual sense of color and form to her jewelry making. She won an AGTA Spectrum Award for her "Citiscape Ring" in 1988.
In June of 1984, Norah moved The Golden Eye to Santa Fe, NM. They have been a vital contribution to the community ever since. The Golden Eye will remain open and will be run by Norah's long time friend and business partner, Amy Bertelli. A loyal and talented staff will continue to lovingly create and offer Norah's designs to the world.
