Press Releases

Hardrock Summit to Sparkle in Denver This Week

The event is taking place from September 15-18 at the Colorado Convention Center.

Published

2 years ago

September 12, 2023

Press Releases

Hardrock Summit to Sparkle in Denver This Week

(PRESS RELEASE) DENVER, CO — Hardrock Summit, taking place from September 15-18, 2023 at the Colorado Convention Center, will feature an incredible lineup of exhibitions and activities showcasing some of the finest and most exquisite jewelry, gemstone, and mineral specimens including members from the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA GemFair Denver).

Hardrock Summit has again partnered to host the 55th Annual Denver Gem & Mineral ShowTM (DGMS) with this year’s theme “Gem Minerals: Nature’s Bling” which will include gold panning, access to beautiful minerals from around the world, meteorites from around the solar system, ancient fossils, a fluorescent room with rocks that glow in the dark, jewelry, gems, and more. There will be dealers selling mineral specimens, gemstones, gold, silver, hand-made jewelry, cabochons, fossils, fluorescent minerals, and ultraviolet equipment.

Skilled lapidary artists will be doing live cutting and polishing demonstrations along with over 30 educational displays from numerous museums plus rare items from notable private collectors. Educational organizations participating in the show this year include Dinosaur Ridge, Minerals Education Coalition, and Colorado School of Mines Earth Science Museum.

Hardrock Summit 2023 Highlights Include:

Fine Minerals, Gems and Jewelry Exhibitors: Discover and shop leading vendors from Colorado and around the world for access to remarkable specimens, designs, fine gemstones, and more.
Special Exhibits: Exquisite displays from Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals, New Mexico Bureau of Geology Mineral Museum, Mines Museum of Earth Science, The University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem, Mineral Museum, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Jim and Gail Spann Collection, and the Gene Meieran Tourmaline Slices as well as many private collections.
Education: Learn from a curated series of talks by renowned presenters of prestigious organizations such as the Denver Gem & Mineral Show (DGMS), the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI). The lectures will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday and will provide expert insights, information and the latest trends in the mineral and gem industry. Visit here for the full list of lectures
World-Class Fluorescent Mineral Room: Step into a radiant world of glow-in-the-dark minerals, hosted by Conrad North and Brian Walco from the Fluorescent Mineral Society.
Family-Friendly Experiences: From gemstone cutting demonstrations to gold panning opportunities, DGMS offers hands-on learning experiences for both kids and adults.

Show hours on Friday to Sunday are from 10am – 6pm and Monday from 10am – 3pm.

Registration is at no cost and is open to trade professionals and the general public. To register, visit here.

For more information, visit: here.

About Hardrock Summit

Hardrock Summit is a trade show event that debuted in 2021, designed to bring the jewelry, gemstone, mineral and fossil industries, enthusiasts and collectors together like never before all under one roof at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver, Colorado. Taking place September 15-18, 2023, the third edition will feature leading exhibitors and numerous educational sessions.

Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration

After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years." Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations. The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.