For students who may be looking for a new way to spend the weekend, the International Gem and Jewelry Show may be the perfect answer.
The show will open this weekend at the Agriculture International Farmers Market and will feature this season's "bohemian chic" look seen on many of today's celebrities, including Mischa Barton, Sienna Miller and the Olsen twins.
"We are just seeing a lot of celebrities wearing the bohemian style," said Jason Silberberg, assistant director of the International Gem and Jewelry Show. "They are wearing more descript, bolder colors and larger sizes."
The jewelry styles featured will include retro beaded chains, multi-layered necklaces, long, linear earrings, stacked bracelets and chunky stones. There will be garnet, amethyst, citrine, peridot, jade and aquamarine stones, as well as pearls and opaque gems.
"Just about any type of gem or bead you want to see will be at the show," Silberberg said. "[There is a] variety of type, variety of size, whether you want finished or whether you want beads."
The show will have a variety of one-of-a-kind jewelry creations, collectible estate jewelry and celebrity exhibits that will appeal to many.
"Basically, we have loose gems, beads and jewelry for any type of budget," Silberberg said.
The prices range from high-end diamonds to beads for $1 and under.
Also offered at this year's show is a chance to have your jewelry cleaned for free.
A vendor has volunteered to clean patron's jewelry, Silberberg said, "whether it's on your wrist or you just purchased it."
Herbert A. Duke, Sr. is the founder of the International Gem and Jewelry Show. He initiated the show almost 40 years ago so that he could grant the public direct access to the jewelry available to retailers.
"We're one of the few shows open to the public," Silberberg said
The show does have one section open only to those in the jewelry trade, but the public has access to the majority of the exhibit.
Ashley Pippin, freshman psychology major, is interested in the bohemian style of jewelry.
"I like the danglies," she said. "[Bohemian jewelry is] not conservative and it's really different."
Pippin said she would probably attend the jewelry show in search of different types of rings.
Freshman Monty Montgomery, on the other hand, is not a fan of the bohemian style of jewelry. He said he may attend, but would look for something a little different than gems.
"Yeah, I would probably be looking for a gold chain," he said.
The International Gem and Jewelry Show travels all over the country, holding at least 80 shows per year in 30 major U. S. cities and boasts itself as one of the largest jewelry exhibitions in the world.
"Basically we do more shows per year and more shows around the country than any other show," Silberberg said. "We've been coming to Memphis for the last four or five years."
More than 500 vendors are scheduled to appear. Many have been dealing with the show since its inception, while more have joined in after hearing about its success, Silberberg said.
The International Gem and Jewelry Show will run from Nov. 4-6.
It will be open on Friday from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7 and children under 16 are admitted for free with a paid adult ticket. For more information, visit www.intergem.net.
