Gem, mineral show coming to Yuma March 22-23

It takes a special event to transform the civic center into a giant jewelry box each year.

That's the magic of the Yuma Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show.

The event fills the Yuma Civic Center with dealers selling unset gemstones, jewelry, beads, minerals and fossils.

“This show promotes Mother Nature at her finest,” said event organizer Sharon Syzmanski. “Some of our dealers are actual miners and also do their own carvings, paintings, jewelry...Anyone who admires and understands what Mother Nature can create needs to come to this show.”

The Yuma Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show runs March 22-23.

This year's show will features 33 dealers. That's twice the number from 2012.

“Dealers from all over the U.S., many of them from out of Arizona, have been clamoring to get into this show. This is the largest indoor gem show in the Yuma area. In fact, it is the only gem show in the Yuma area and we only do this once a year,” Syzmanski said.

The hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. that Saturday. The Yuma Civic Center is located off S. Avenue A at 1440 W. Desert Hills Dr.

Admission will be $3 for adults, with children under 12 admitted for free with a paying adult.

Syzmanski and her business partner also promote gem shows in Cottonwood and Flagstaff.

“Our dealers always have something that is rare and unusual, everything you can imagine – even opals and diamonds,” she said. “Every year there are new minerals found around the world, and our dealers try to tap into those and keep on top of current trends in the country.”

No appraisals will be offered, because special equipment is needed to authenticate gems. But some dealers will be interested in seeing what gems and minerals that local folks have to sell.

“There are always dealers looking for private collections,” Syzmanski.

Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.