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Heliodor, spinel, purple jade and Paraiba tourmaline are among those gemstones unknown by the general public which have however fired passions since mankind first set eyes on them. Where do they come from? What path have they followed before they go on show in jewellers’ window displays? And who are the gem hunters who track them down?
To get behind these mysteries, this film takes us to the heart of the world’s biggest exhibition and trade event for precious stones: the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. Since its inauguration in 1955, this event has brought together about 10,000 exhibitors to the middle of the Arizona desert for three weeks of gemstone mania. Thousands of stones of all kinds are shown across the city, including some of the most prized on the planet. Experts, collectors, museum curators, and jewellers, along with simple gem fans, all share their passion for gemmology as they walk the corridors of this unrivalled event. Some come to dream, others to trade – sometimes for hundreds of million dollars.
From emerald deposits and open-pit marble mines to jewellers’ window displays, this film takes us on the trail of some outstanding treasures, genuine marvels of nature, and immerses us deep into a universe that inspires the dreams of many. It is a window to the magical and cut-throat world of the gem hunters and their sometimes surprising practices.