Testimonials
Joe, Thank you for a fantastic experience. The group, the touring, the shows…I thoroughly enjoyed every part of it. I look forward to more explorations. Keep me posted.
Jonathan Suna
Suna Bros, New York, NY
Thank you everyone for making the trip to Beijing and Hong Kong an incredible experience. The execution and energy from everyone made us all feel like VIPs. Grateful for new friendships and sharing memories with friends! Joe, you continue to make these trips better and better. The trip to Brazil still rates as one of my favorite journeys but this might have been even better. I look forward to my next exploration with you!
Lucian Lee
Halles Inc. Greenville, SC
The following excerpts are from conversations with Cap Beesley commenting on the impact of gemstone expeditions on personal and professional objectives. Cap was the founder and President of American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) and is currently the President of Gemcore, as well as Analytics, a New York based Research and Development Company. In addition, he also serves as the Gem & Mineral Advisory Board Chairman of Yale University’s Peabody Museum in New Haven, Connecticut.
According to Cap, “Tapping into the adventure and excitement of gemstone expeditions is a valuable way to gain an important advantage with your clients in a increasingly competitive marketplace”. Beesley continued, “Expeditions to gem producing and processing areas provide travelers, at every level of this business with a unique, onsite understanding of gem sources from around the world. These experiences can be molded into a series of personal and corporate events for those that are looking for an informational edge with their client base. Treks to exotic locations can also provide useful contacts, connections and relationships that can be invaluable in building one’s access and understanding of gemstone sources and markets.”
Cap also provided the following observation, “Important to the success of these gemstone expeditions is the experience and market savvy of the trip organizers. Joe Menzie is a well-connected and respected leader in the gemstone industry with impeccable credentials. I have personally experienced these gem treks first hand with Joe in Tanzania, Kenya and Colombia. I fully appreciate the long-term value and benefits of these experiences, which have added an exciting dimension to my career. I would highly recommend gem expeditions to both corporate decision makers and individuals at all levels of the Gem and Jewelry industry”.
Cap Beesley
Former AGL President NYC, NY
Great trip! The planning and execution of everything was fantastic. Thanks for the travel arrangements. Thanks to Victoria for her assistance at the show and giving us the VIP treatment! Great group enjoyed the company of everyone!!
Danny Chandler
Galloway and Mosely Inc., Florence, SC
In today’s world, consumers are increasingly looking for “experiential purchases.” In the jewelry world, this often involves a retailer being able to share the backstory of the people and places behind the gemstones that grace their beautiful jewels. Having visited many of the most important mining areas in countries around the world—gaining insight into the lives of the miners and their communities as well as local culture—I can confirm that these experiences give enlightened new meaning to the term “Mine to Market.” These off-the-beaten-path expeditions are not only educational, but thoroughly enjoyable and a provide a glimpse into places that tourists rarely get to see, whether in the African bush, Brazilian. jungles, or Burmese rainforests
Cynthia Unninayar
Gem Scene
Brazil | In the first ten years of this century, Fred and I had the life-changing experience of traveling to exotic places with the ICA group under the leadership of Joe Menzie. In 2003, we went to Brazil with 14 other adventurers. After a fun tour of Rio de Janeiro’s sights, we boarded our own small plane and headed north to the mining regions. We were able to cover a diverse array of mines in Minas Geris, Oro Preto, and Bahia. We were clambering down the cliffs and into the caves which were overburdened with gemstones: Emerald, Topaz, Aqua, Quartz, and Tourmaline. The mine owners were very hospitable. We attended a gemstone buying fair (FIPP?) and met trading partners which we have kept to this day. The contacts made in the gemstone trade were priceless. Although we were in very rural settings during the day, at night we had comfortable, clean and sometimes downright elegant housing. The food was superb. We were gone for about two weeks. I have returned to Brazil since this initial trip, the resources there are beyond belief.
Kate Pearce
Pearce Jewelers, W. Lebanon, NH
Kenya & Tanzania | In 2007 the ICA again hosted a trip, after the Dubai conference, to East Africa. This time there were about 40 in our group. We started in Nairobi and proceeded to explore the Tsavorite and ruby mines in the Southern region of Kenya. We attended a gemstone trade show and again made life long business connections. After several days in Kenya learning about the local industry, culture, crafts and cuisine, our 8-vehicle convoy headed south across the border to Arusha, Tanzania. This part of the trip took on an even stronger sense of adventure with tours of both artisanal and large commercial Tanzanite mines. A day spent with the gem traders in Arusha added to the value of this segment. When the group was offered the opportunity, for a nominal sum, to spend a day in the Ngoro wildlife preserve, we all opted in. What a wonderful end to our tour. We cannot get the sight of over 100 flamingos taking flight into the sunset! Our Gemstone and Jewelry industry is indeed a worldwide enterprise; these tours are the best of the best way to blend business, adventure and pleasure. It is our deepest hope that Joe will put together a gem trip to Australia… we have air miles just waiting, just waiting…
Kate Pearce
Pearce Jewelers, W. Lebanon, NH
I think it sounds like a great opportunity for retailers. A few I know who have gone on similar trips with a gemstone faceter have told me there’s such an advantage to being able to talk about traveling to the source and having the story of the trip, especially while they’re trying to sell any stones they’ve sourced from there. I have to think it would give them some advantage over local competitors when they’ve gone on a trip like this and can speak firsthand about the supply side of things.
Brecken Branstrator
National Jeweler Magazine
The trip was excellent! Well planned and executed in all ways. We had fun and accomplished our business goals. Appreciate everyone’s contributions and, like Lou, I enjoyed making new friends and learned a lot from our conversations Looking forward to hearing about future trips. I would highly recommend Gemstone Expeditions to anyone in our industry who loves the jewelry business, enjoys traveling to great destinations, and likes to make new friends!
Cheers,
Patric Brosh
Romance Diamonds, Fayetville, AR
I would also like to thank you for the time and energy you have contributed to put this all together and made this trip possible. I am especially grateful for
new great friendsl and many business connections that were made. Thank you!
Lou Verde
Diamonds Direct, Salt Lake City, UT
The Benefits of Travel To The Exotic Places Where Gemstones Are Born!
The Experience…Every day as a brick and mortar retailer, we strive to create the best experience we can give to our customers. It is the service, the knowledge, the professionalism and the relationships we create that differentiate us from the competition. We want them to put the cell phone down, drive by two other retailers because of the joy and experience we give them.
Put yourself on the other side for a moment. See yourself in the buyers’ shoes, and then ask yourself as a retailer, “What do we have that cannot be found online?” I would submit to you that it is beyond the beauty and rarity. It is the power of the story we are able to present to that client. It is the story of your visit to the precious topaz mine in Brazil. The 200-meter drop into the shaft of an emerald mine on a little more than a bucket and a piece of rope.
Or a boating trip, out into a pearl farm to understand and see how pearls are cultured. When we connect a story to a beautiful piece of jewelry, it enriches the experience not only for the buyer but for the recipient as well.
I have just returned from a trip to Hong Kong with Gemstone Expeditions and Joe Menzie. I highly recommend traveling with Joe. For more than 40 years, Joe Menzie has worked with fine jewelers throughout the world to provide them with unique, extraordinary and beautiful gemstones in all sizes and price ranges.
His career began in the jewelry business as an intern in his grandfather’s wholesale jewelry business where he learned the color gemstone business. Ten years later, he formed his own company, Joseph Menzies, Inc. The business has taken him to every corner of the world to buy precious gem stones.
In 2003, he was elected to the Presidency of the International Colored Gemstone Association, a position he held for 12 years. Menzie was instrumental in bringing the gemstone trade to Dubai, Korea, Russia, and most important, China. In 2013, he was honored with The lifetime Achievement Award by the International Colored Gemstone Association.
A trip with Joe will be not only an incredible experience, but it also will give you a powerful story to tell your clients when you return. The hospitality and warmth of the people in the mountains of Brazil made a lasting impression on me.
I understand the difficulty and the argument of, “How can I leave my store for a foreign trip?” It is hard enough to justify trips to the trade shows in this country. I will tell you that the cultural experience alone is worth it.
My experience reminds me of the smiles that the Brazilian gemstones that left my store gave my clients. I am excited to tell the story of the sapphires and rubies acquired in Hong Kong and the value of the Akoya pearls I bought just for them. The trip will pay for itself and will give you a lifetime of stories to tell.
The experiences and the friends you make will last forever.
Kudos to you Joe. CHEERS!
Lucian Lee
President & CEO Hales Jewelers Greenville, SC
Dear Joe,
The Gem Expedition we participated in last summer was an exciting and eye-opening experience for us. The opportunity to actually go down into the Tsavorite mine in Kenya was amazing. It was exciting to actually meet the miners down in the mine and see how they work. We visited several mines and had the opportunity to talk with the owners and operators of the mines and hear their stories. In Tanzania we saw how primitive the tanzanite mines were. We had the opportunity to buy both tanzanite and Tsavorite, was well as, other gemstones mined in the area. This enabled us to hold our own East Africa Event when we returned to our store. We now have loose and finished jewelry with wonderful stories behind them. The tour was well organized by our guide who was very knowledgeable and had mining experience of her own. Another highlight of the trip was the chance to go on safari. We were able to get up close and personal with many, many animals. The photo opportunities was outstanding. Overall, the trip was a very positive experience and we are thankful we had the opportunity to participate. Everyone along the way was friendly and helpful and we did not feel unsafe at any time. Thank you for the opportunity to explore East Africa!
Sincerely,
Ed and Helen Brackett Galleria Fine Jewelry
