West Coast Gem & Mineral Show...Pomona Auction - A Fly On The Wall’s Views and Reviews

Sometimes I just get too busy and I end up dropping the ball…thankfully I got a reminder just in time!!!

Last weekend was CRAZY busy!!! …Demo Day at MASSC, the Zzyzx Gallery Opening and the return of the West Coast Gem & Mineral Show!

…when I got an announcement of a Mineral auction (Trinity Minerals), by one of my favorite dealers Luciana Barbosa, a “Pomona” themed auction…I thought – ooops I need to get those pictures up!

The auction features the great range (thumbnails, petrified wood, rough & cut) that you would have found at the show, but several are so good that they are going for the “Buy Now” prices …so enjoy the photos then get over to Luciana’s auction – you only have until 6pm May 26th!!!

…and now the West Coast Gem & Mineral Show!

Show promoter Martin Zinn talks to vendors after opening the doors in Building 9…at this the inagural year of the West Coast Gem & Mineral Show at the Fairplex in Pomona.

You may remember this show it as the one that was housed in Holiday Inn in Costa for years…so from crowded hotel hallways to wide open exhibit halls the illusion is that there were few attendees…however if these people were all in the hallway of a hotel, you would be able to move.

With two exhibit halls (7 – with a wholesale area & 9) this show is well worth the drive to Pomona – yes even for those of you in South Orange County and San Digeo County who used to drive to Costa Mesa!

If you consider the shows in this area of Southern California, the range of goods and exhibits at this show is second only to the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show.

In fact this show is a great place to catch up with vendors from the Tucson shows as it attracted, for the 2010 premiere show vendors from around the world…

One of my favorites from Tucson is Alfredo Petrov out of Bolivia where he collects and sells fabulous minerals as well as making dreams come true! Mineral collecting dreams that is, Alfredo’s Mineral Travels will take you to the location of your dreams. From Morocco to Japan to his home base in Bolivia!

California to Germany – Fossils from local favorite, Todd Schowalter Fossils….and from Fossilien Galerie – Bad Homburg!

There was a center area of Minerals dramatically displayed (click photos to enlarge):

Stunning Mineral displays from some of my Tucson favorites; Miner’s Lunchbox, Evan Jones, Dave Bunk, Mineral Treasure – Madagascar Gemstones and Kristalle (photo).

…and the always stunning displays from another Tucson Gem Show favorite…Rhodo Co…you MUST click the photo to see the carved bowls.

One of my new local favorites is Tom Wolfe Minerals and Petrified Wood thanks to the brilliant Walt Wright for introducing me to this fine family operated business.

One of the things that I found fasinating at Wolfe Minerals was the green petrified wood! This Chromium colored wood is found in one place – Arizona. Unfortunately my photos of the green wood slabs from Tom Wolfe are horrible – so this shot is from Luciana’s auction at Trinity Minerals….