Gem Diego 2023

Gem Diego 2023

By Helen Serras-Herman

The San Diego Mineral & Gem Society (SDMG) is hosting their show Gem Diego 2023 on October 28 and 29, after six years of absence from the San Diego scene. The show will be held in a new venue at the Liberty Station Conference Center at 2600 Laning Road, which is very close to Harbor Drive, my favorite picturesque Harbor Island, and the spectacular San Diego Harbor. Show Chairman is the very energetic LuAnn Benton, supported by a very active SDMS Board of Directors.

Gem Diego 2023 is also very close to my favorite picturesque Harbor Island

I have been several times to San Diego with my husband and truly enjoy the unique Balboa Park with multitude of museums, the Cabrillo National Monument, sailboats and war ships at the harbor, cruises on the water, and nearby mines. San Diego is a great place to visit, especially with a gem show in the mix.

The 2023 Gem Diego Show

The 2023 Gem Diego will have many established and reputable dealers selling medium-to-high-end mineral specimens, rock crystals, rough for faceting, cabbing and carving, loose and mounted gemstones, fine jewelry, carved gems, Ethiopian opal rough and polished opals, handmade Indian jewelry, finished turquoise, rare gemstones, Moroccan and world-wide fossils, and wonderful books.

Many established and reputable dealers will participate in Gem Diego 2023, and I was truly honored to be invited as a vendor.

I was truly honored to be invited to participate as a vendor with my one-of-a-kind carved gems and jewelry, including turquoise, drusy gems and opals, and high-end lapidary slabs.

Over 20 exhibitors will be showing all kinds of lapidary work, jewelry, minerals and fossils. On Sunday at 2:45pm, the Jaguar trophy will be presented followed by the People's choice awards for exhibits.

The show is entirely indoors, with a kid’s corner, and many demonstrations including chasing, repoussé, sphere making, chain making, cabbing, silversmithing, and more. Free admission and parking, as well as free gem and mineral ID. There will be a food truck along with the local food places right there in the same parking lot. There will be many door prize drawings topped-off by the grand prize of an amethyst crystal cathedral.

As the show falls during Halloween weekend, we hope you can come for a fun day; you may even come dressed up!

The San Diego Mineral & Gem Society & Museum

The San Diego Mineral and Gem Society (SDMG) is one of the oldest societies in the country. It was first established as the “San Diego Mineral Society” in 1934 and merged later with the San Diego Gem Society.

The SDMG occupies a 1935 historic landmark building adjacent to the charming Spanish Village

The SDMG is fortunate to occupy a historic landmark building built in 1935 for the California Pacific International Exposition. The society’s meetings, workshops and museum collections are all in that building, located adjacent to the charming Spanish Village, within the famous Balboa Park, in downtown San Diego. The society celebrates, showcases, and preserves the natural and community history.

At my 2019 club presentation with then President Jim Parrish (left), amazing gem artist Nancy Arthur-McGehee and her husband, and my late husband, Andrew Herman (right)

Our last visit in November 2019 followed an invitation from then SDMG President, Jim Parrish, to give a presentation during the society’s monthly meeting, and visit the workshop and museum. I am honored to be invited again to give another presentation on Monday October 30, 2023 on Must-See US Gemstone Mines.

I am honored to be invited to give another presentation on Monday October 30, 2023 on Must-See US Gemstone Mines

The SDMG has several workshops, including the jewelry silver room with every piece of jewelry equipment necessary for jewelry fabrication, enameling and casting. The large lapidary room contains many cabbing, sanding, and polishing machines, large saws and sphere-making machines to complete any lapidary project imagined. The faceting room is one of the best equipped and cleanest places I have ever seen. The SDMG society offers a variety of classes, both for beginners and advanced students. Visit their website to view upcoming classes.

The SDMG has several workshops, including jewelry and this large lapidary room

The SDMG Society Museum

Just beyond the workshops, a large room houses the society’s museum collections, neatly arranged in wooden cabinets around the walls. There are cases full of beautiful specimens from California and all over the world, including a Brazilian agate collection by Bill Paddington, a collection of 100 faceted gemstones cut by Elbert McCune, a beautiful large wooden display case with objects d’art and jewelry by Johnny Johnson, and an entire ranch scene also carved by Johnny Johnson in the rare serpentine called Verde Antique.

This 100-faceted gemstone collection cut by Elbert McCune, is one of the many exhibits at the SDMG Museum

A fascinating and educational case with fluorescent minerals lights up when the ultra-violet light shines. Beautiful artwork created by club members and instructors is exhibited, and a great educational display “Cutting the Diamond” shows the equipment and steps involved in cutting a diamond. “Paul’s Glowing Balls” case with beautiful spheres is lit from the bottom, adding a little extra “glow” to these dazzling spheres.

An entire ranch scene carved by Johnny Johnson in the rare serpentine called Verde Antique at the SDMG Museum.

An intricate natural history-themed diorama, created in the late 19^th century (1880s-90s) is composed of world-wide agates and crystals. It was built by Fred W. Woodend I, and donated to the museum by his son, Fred W. Woodend II.

The rich fossil collection includes an outstanding primitive fossil bird (Confuciusornis sanctus) from the early Cretaceous era, 120-125 million years old, found at the Jianshangou beds in northeastern China. One more fossil specimen that you can’t miss is a fossilized skull of a Right or Bowhead whale that lived in the Pliocene Epoch, 1-11 mya, found by Leo Horensky, not too far from San Diego.

Many cases filled with beautiful local and worldwide minerals surround a large, fossilized whale skull.

There is also an entire gift shop area, a bookstore, and a library, which also serves as a classroom for gemology and mineralogy classes.

The SDMG Society Museum is located at 1770 Village Place, Suite 11, and is open every day 11am-4pm. Admission is free. Visit them at www.sdmg.org   

To the south of the SDMG Society & Museum within Balboa Park, is the San Diego Natural History Museum. Founded in 1874, the museum opened in 1933. It is a significant museum with permanent and special exhibits, featuring stunning tourmaline specimens from the famous San Diego County’s pegmatite mines.

Helen Serras-Herman, a 2003 National Lapidary Hall of Fame inductee, is an acclaimed gem sculptor with over 40 years of experience in unique gem sculpture and jewelry art. See her work at www.gemartcenter.com and her business Facebook page at Gem Art Center/Helen Serras-Herman 

All photos by Helen Serras-Herman

Cover Photo: Gem Diego 2023 will be held on October 28 and 29 at Liberty Station Conference Center, very close to the spectacular San Diego Harbor.