TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -
Tucson is in the global
spotlight this week, as tens of
thousands of people gather for the annual Gem, Mineral, and Fossil show.
The
displays are set up in more than 40 locations all over the city, and the dealers come from all over the
world to showcase their wares.
Over the years, many of these dealers have ended up making Tucson their permanent home, saying it made good business sense to live in the heart of all the action.
The Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil show was considered the largest and best in the world.
"I made Tucson my home starting in 2001," said Robert Gray, owner of Norcross-Madagascar USA.
Gray said his company owned several mines in Madagascar, which was off the coast of Africa.
He visited Tucson for the Gem, Mineral, and Fossil show in 1997 and fell in love with the weather, the people, and the show.
Danny Duke, owner of Gemstone Mineral Interiors re-located to Tucson from Washington, DC.
"I wanted to be closer to the Gem show," said Duke.
Mike New, owner of Top Gem moved his headquarters to Tucson from Albuquerque, also to be in the heart of all the action.
They had clients all over the world.
"We have customers from Germany, Norway, France, Spain, and Russia," said Shari Rowland, office manager for Top Gem.
Duke said being in Tucson made good business sense. It saved them tens of thousands of dollars in packing and shipping costs, to transfer their heavy, precious items to the Gem, Mineral, and Fossil show for display.
Some of the Geodes, and crystalline pieces Duke had on display weighted 3,000-5,000 pounds and were worth tens of thousands of dollars.
"It would be very difficult to move them. It's smart to have our home base here in Tucson," said Duke.
All the local mineral dealers said majority of their business came from customers who lived outside of the United States, primarily Asia and Europe.
"The local market will not sustain you in this business," said Gray.
In the middle of all the gems and minerals for display, Duke added that they had discovered a real treasure, right here in the Southwest.
"Tucson is really a diamond in the raw. You'd be surprised how many hundreds of people I talk to that tell me they are moving to Tucson, or are buying a second home here," said Duke.
Many of the local mineral and fossil dealers are open to the public all year round, some have private showings to clients by appointment.
The gem show continues for three more weeks.
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