CCRMC's "Wonderful World of Amber"!!! - A Fly On The Wall’s Views and Reviews

The theme for this year’s CCRMC Gem Show is “The Wonderful World of Amber”! …and what a wonderful world it is!

48th Annual CCRMC Gem Show
Veteran’s Auditorium
Culver at Overland
Culver City
July 11th – 10 to 6pm
July 12th – 10 to 5pm
FREE Admission & Parking
Raffle Drawing Hourly

First stop the Rotunda features an array of gems, rough, jewelry findings, beads, jewelry and gift items!

Photo (right): Crystal Monster

Photo (left): Gorgeous Afghan Lapiz Lazuli from Ariana Gems & Minerals, Laguna Hills, CA (they also have some of the cleanest Aquamarine crystals I’ve seen lately).

Photo (right): Exquisite Amethyst Stalactite Slices from John & Helen of Dahnke Intermark, Sun City, CA

As you walk toward the Main Floor you will find plants (very reasonably priced) along with games and grab bags for the kids. This year Bruce Messinger is showing an assortment of his current portfolio of macro and micro gem photography in the seating area (good news for those spouses who got dragged to the show :D).

Opening Day and people were lined up waiting to enter when the doors opened at 10am. The Main Floor was busy all day!

If you have never been to a Gem Show sponsored by a Rock & Gem Club – the difference is that they try to educate. Whether it be with the children’s games or informative hands on demonstrations, the goal is to learn something new!

The best way to do just that is the display cases that individual club members put together to showcase their talent or a special collection.

A great example of this is Sylvia Binckley’s beautiful display of unique jewelry made by her hand! My favorites are the Brains in Acrylic pieces in the lower left corner (click photo for larger version).

Oh boy I wonder what Sylvia will do with the goodies she has her eyes on (photo left)…the nice thing is we will see the results at the show next year!

Continuing the theme of educators – the charming, internationally known Gem Book Author (The Fred Ward Gem Book Series) and former National Geographic photographer, Fred Ward is on hand with a complete assortment of his informative series of gem books. Chat him up – he has wonderful stories for every photo – and will happily autograph your purchase.

Also on the Main Floor all the way back in the corner is my new favorite local tool dealer Johnson Brothers (click here to download .pdf catalog).

Look for the yellow sign to the right of the stage and follow the hallway to the room chock full of tools for digging gems to grading gems and everything in between.

Rare and unique is the only way to describe the offerings from Bonita Creations – agate slabs that will give you the look being shown by some of the finest Jewelry Designers.

From smooth slices of Watermelon Tourmaline to the texture of hammered Aquamarine and Morganite.

You will be impressed with the Opals from the amazing Stan McCall – he has a way with the elusive fire, cutting to perfection.

…and finally – the glorious gems and beads of ShadeTree Designs. Christine has included some of the more exotic along with the clean assortment we on the Westside have come to expect from this dealer of carvings, faceted gems, cabs and beads.