It's been 4 years since we visited the Denver Gem and Mineral Shows -- and it has changed in a multitude of ways. By all accounts, the show has grown. There are now three main venues -- the Denver Convention Center downtown, the Gem Mineral Jewelry and Fossil Show at the Western Livestock Center, and the show at the Crowne Plaza Hotel near the airport.
I wish that we had more photos to share of this great show but somehow, we just don't. But here's a brief summary of our experience!
The Convention Center Show -- several shows in one location:
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2022 Denver Gem & Mineral Show, otherwise known as the Denver Club Show is one of several "shows within a show" at the Convention Center and it did not disappoint. In addition to many dealers with reasonably-priced inventory, there were about 30 display cases featuring Colorado minerals (the theme is "Collecting Colorado"). The exhibits alone were worth the visit! This show was held for years at the Denver Merchandise Mart, which has been demolished. The space they have now for the show is somewhat diminished from that location, but the side-by-side hosting of the show with Hardrock Summit looks to be a winner. This club show began in 1967 and is now second only to the Tucson club show in size and breadth. |
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Hardrock Summit is also at the Convention Center. It is a 4-day show that packs a lot in -- offering fine minerals, fossils, jewelry, gems and special exhibits. It is set in a gorgeous venue with extraordinary organization and class. While the minerals may be climbing in price, so is the quality of the merchandise. Wow. Christoph Keilman, promoter of the Munich Show, organized Hardrock Summit for its second year in Denver. 450 dealers and many special exhibits. One of those classy exhibits was a display of gold specimens in the Wayne and Dona Leicht collection. (Photo of Jim standing at the cases.) Note especially the specimen entitled "The Corsage" in which a twig of wood is perched on top! Another fun exhibit displayed treasures from the shipwreck SS Central America, also known as the "ship of gold" which sunk in 1857 in a hurricane off the coast of North Carolina. It was carrying 425 people, 21 tons of gold coins and nuggets from prospectors who had struck it rich in California, and many personal effects of the passengers and crew. Since 2014 when the treasures were excavated, there has been a lengthy court battle about ownership. |
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Gold specimens from the Leicht collection
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Items from the SS Central America, which will be coming to auction later this year or early next year. Get your wallet open!
Denver Mineral Fossil Gem and Jewelry Show at the Western Livestock Center
Denver Mineral Fossil Gem and Jewelry Show at the Western Livestock Center: This show has 11 miles of tables and 525,000 square feet of selling space. 500 dealers and what an assemblage of all things rocks! Frankly, it is way too big for us, but maybe that is because we had a hard time navigating around the spaces. The dealers who offered petrified wood are some of the best in the business, but what a long way from vendor to vendor. I guess that we got no pictures here because we were trying to find our way around! The promoters said that their space is the size of 5 Super-Walmarts and we believe it.
Colorado Mineral & Fossil Fall Show, Crowne Plaza
Colorado Mineral & Fossil Fall Show, Crowne Plaza: Very nice show with more dealers than we expected, especially after seeing how many there are at the Convention Center and the show at the Livestock Center. We have no pics of petrified wood unfortunately, and found only one dealer at this show who offered quality wood. But this show was surprisingly fun and easy to peruse.
