One of the top musts on my list this year was checking out the new Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum and it did not disappoint! This museum just opened in July, 2021 and has many recent acquisitions. Not only did it have an excellent mineral collection, but the museum had two other curated shows of cut gemstones and finished jewelry. It was definitely a highlight of my Tucson Gem show trip (read more about it in Part 1).
The "Somewhere over the Rainbow" collection is a private collection that showcases over 230 loose gemstones and 145 finished jewelry pieces valued over $10 million. One of the rarest gemstones was a brilliant 15 carat Paraîba tourmaline. Good thing I had a KN95 mask on to contain my drooling!
I was fortunate enough to see the latest American Jewelry Design Council 2020 project, “Secret Garden,” that was on display. Such a talented group of master jewelers. The pieces were stunning to see in person! Check out their work here.
Pro tip: The museum has a cute coffee shop cafe and is a short ten minute walk from AGTA and GJX shows. It's a great mid day break from shopping to refuel not just your belly but your mind. Another highlight on display at the museum was a tapestry set with 26k gemstones!
Photo of aquamarine specimen at the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum. Happy birthday March babies, this one’s for you!