Over 400 exhibitors gathered at the Colorado Convention Center, many for the second consecutive year, to take part in the only USA show to bring mineral & fossil dealers and jewelry & gemstone companies together under one roof.
“Sparkle & Joy,” featuring diamond, gemstone and jewelry companies, took place in a large hall directly across from “Evolution,” where minerals, fossils, meteorites and other materials were on display. The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) and Denver Gem & Mineral show took place in adjacent dedicated areas. Organizations like IGI, providing support, insurance, shipping, grading and other services were situated directly between the various exhibition areas.
Watch: HardRock Summit
Consumers Welcome
In addition to combining two rarely mingled sectors, the HRS is uniquely open to consumers, who may pay an admission fee to attend the lectures, visit most exhibition areas and purchase high-quality gemstones, jewelry, mineral and fossil specimens on display.
Old, New, Raw and Polished
The HRS was organized by co-founders, Christoph Keilmann, organizer of The Munich Show and Gemworld Munich – the largest trade fair in Europe for minerals, gemstones and jewelry – along with Wolter Mehring, an international entrepreneur and gemstone industry expert noted for his role in the development and rapid growth of the Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show in Tucson, Arizona.
Curation Potential
Keilmann commented on the show’s role in bringing together experts from two separate but related industries, as well as its future potential.
We are excited to once again connect the fine minerals and fossils worlds to the fine jewelry and gem communities for both discovery and business. We are also looking forward to curating incredible special exhibits and presentations and working with museums, private collectors and leading experts to bring enriching experiences to all that attend.
Education Sessions
IGI presented two seminars on Saturday of the show, and another on Sunday morning.
The institute’s Senior Director of Education, John Pollard, first presented a session on lab grown diamonds titled ‘What’s Now, What’s New, What’s Next?’ addressing the most recent developments, trends and questions the institute has been asked to answer about this quickly expanding sector.
In the second session, Natural Diamond Marketing, Pollard delivered a historical overview of natural diamond marketing, followed by details on new industry initiatives designed to increase transparency, and facts about the modern diamond value chain which appeal to new generations of consumers.
On Sunday, IGI North American President Avi Levy presented ‘Education, Services and Support for Retailers.’
In this interactive session, Levy provided descriptions of IGI’s grading, appraisal, screening and education services for retailers, then invited audience members to describe their specific situation and needs. Those discussions lasted more than an hour, with audience members from Hawaii, New England, California, Texas, Colorado and other states around the USA taking the opportunity to engage in dialogue with the institute.
HardRock Summit 2023
The HardRock Summit is planned for Denver again, in September 2023. Exact dates will be determined later.
