John Dyer’s Designer Gemstones

---

When we first asked world-famous gem artist John Dyer about his work, we were thinking we’d be able to see him and it this February in Tucson. Our questions reflect that, focusing on shopping at the originally planned event, though many shows are now postponed or cancelled. Happily, his answers are still interesting and informative for any buyer or fan of gemstones. So we offer instead a kind of Winter Tucson Fantasy Gem Show guide (pun intended).

ABOVE: 9.57ct Green Tourmaline Concave Cut. By John Dyer. Photo: Ozzie Campos

Meanwhile, for the latest information on 2021 show plans, please check out TucsonShowGuide.com. We’re updating it continuously.

Here are gemstone cutter extraordinaire John D. Dyer’s thoughtful answers to our questions.

John Dyer, Gem Cutter

Q How many years have you been attending and selling gemstones at the Tucson shows?
JD 20 years! The first year, we went to check things out, and the following year, we got a booth and have never looked back.

Q What show or shows do you sell at?
JD We first started exhibiting at the Pueblo Gem Show and still have our same location as booth #1 just inside the door of the main tent. The following year, we also signed up for a booth at the GJX since, during the shorter period when the bigger shows are running, attendance by jewelers (who are our main clients) drops off a bit at the Pueblo. But the Pueblo is still great for early and late! While the GJX is open, the best place to see us is at booth 1530 on the back wall where we have been since our first year there.

Note: GJX has been cancelled for 2021; Pueblo is postponed at this writing until April.

Q Have you ever participated in any other Tucson shows? If so, which ones?
JD We did the AGTA one year, but three simultaneous shows was just too many for us to try to man.

Q What do you sell or show in Tucson?
JD We sell designer cut colored gemstones of many varieties. I have been blessed to win 58 gem cutting awards so far (thanks to Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist and the Interweave Jewelry, Beading, and Gem Arts Awards for the latest three!), and our inventory reflects this quality and uniqueness that jewelers and designers purchase to make their jewelry that much more beautiful.

Tucson from an Insider

Q What is your favorite thing about selling gemstones in Tucson?
JD Getting to show in person the pieces I have been working on all year to create to other gemstone lovers. Since Tucson is the only show we do this is our only opportunity for that in-person experience.

I also learn a lot from talking to other people who are passionate about gems, and I enjoy seeing suppliers, clients, and friends we haven’t seen in a year or more.

Q What is the most challenging thing about selling in Tucson?
JD The Pueblo is 13 days long with no breaks, so it is a LONG show and very tiring. Still it is rewarding!

Q What (if any) steps are you taking regarding the pandemic for the 2021 shows?
JD We plan to wear face masks, avoid handshaking, and wash hands frequently.

Q Can you share one or two of your favorite experiences or most memorable stories from Tucson?
JD One fun memory was the Smithsonian choosing a large trillion amethyst from Rwanda which we had cut to be part of their collection and represent the new find in Rwanda.

Q What’s your best advice for people who are shopping for gemstones in Tucson?
JD Don’t just buy the first cool thing you see as Tucson has lots of cool gems. BUT if you absolutely love it and there is only one, then DO buy it. Otherwise someone else often does. This can be awkward for people who sell one-of-a-kind pieces like I do and a client comes back wanting something they fell in love with that just sold.

Q Do you ever get a chance to enjoy some “free time” in Tucson during the shows? If so, what’s your favorite thing to do outside the shows?
JD The only free time I get is the days before my shows open and after they close. While they are open, I am pretty much tied to the booth and mornings and evenings are dedicated to setup, tear down and rest to be ready for the next day. Pretty much the only outing we do aside from eating at the occasional restaurant is going to the AGTA Spectrum Awards ceremony if I win an award there.

Q Do you ever get a chance to visit other Tucson shows in addition to the one(s) you exhibit at? If so, which are your favorites?
JD The AGTA show has relatively high-quality dealers and also good contacts with gem laboratories, authors, trade organizations, and the like. Electric Park (the Kino Show) is often good for equipment. But my favorite shows are the ones I am at! I believe the GJX has the largest selection of medium- to high-end gems at competitive prices in Tucson. The Pueblo has a more laid-back atmosphere but also some very high-quality dealers and also a good selection of gem rough.

Buying Gemstones from Home

Q How can people contact you to see what you offer, outside of Tucson, especially now as some shows have been cancelled and others are currently postponed?
JD The best place to see all of our gemstones outside of the show is JohnDyerGems.com which is open all year round and has pictures and details on virtually every gem in our inventory. It also has a lot of useful information about gem cutting and gems in general. We also have Instagram (@johndyergems) and Facebook (@johndyergem) pages, but nothing matches the sheer quantity of photos and information we provide on our website.

As I mentioned above, one of the parts of Tucson that I most enjoy is showing the gemstones we have been working on all year long to clients and talking about their different interesting aspects. I won’t be able to do that in person during the time Tucson has happened in the past. Instead we plan on doing a series of Facebook Live events during the time the Tucson show usually would have run in January and February. Check out our business Facebook page and like it to get notifications for these events!

Then when the in-person Tucson shows happen again, we hope to see everyone there!