Earth's treasures in Dalton gem show

IF YOU GOWhat: Bead, Gem, Mineral and Jewelry ShowWhen: 2-7 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.Where: Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center, 2211 Dug Gap Road, Dalton, Ga.Admission: $3 ages 17 and up.Phone: 706-272-7676.Website: www.toteshows.com.

This weekend's bead, gem, mineral and jewelry show in Dalton, Ga., will offer collectors everything from the trendy (drusy) and the pricey (tanzanite) to the rare (larimar).

Van Wimmer, organizer of the North Georgia Bead, Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show in the Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center, said 25 national dealers are participating.

"One of the dealers, John Beerhalter, is an Arkansas miner who sells quartz he has mined, which is of interest to quartz collectors," said Wimmer.

"We have a bead dealer from Hong Kong. Everything she sells is real; nothing is fake, all first quality. We have a specialty dealer who sells nothing but meteorites. They sell from $10 up into the thousands. It's interesting just to see her display."

Wimmer said any dealer selling jewelry must make part of his wares, so there will be displays of silversmithing, wire-wrapping and wire sculpture.

"Since the people selling jewelry have to make part of it, that means visitors may come in, have something repaired or custom-made. They can pick the stones, all the parts to set it and design a piece of jewelry right there on the spot. Some dealers will make them while you wait; others will do it at home," Wimmer said.

Wimmer said showgoers are welcome to bring jewelry or stones in for identification, but dealers will not do appraisals.

"A true appraisal takes hours," he explained.

He added that all jewelry brought in for repair must be real gold or silver, no silverplated or vermeil pieces.

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