Behind the Scenes with Jay King at the 2011 Tucson Gem Event
Well I am back home after a long hard trip. I have to admit it’s been fun, but I got the flu bug right out of the gate so with that and all the weather challenges I had, it made for an unusual trip to say the least. We were able to find many new materials and cut a few deals on good quantities of rough material for the New Year.
Jay King Amber and Turquoise 7" Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet Item: 113-073
What is so interesting is that the majority of what I just did you won’t see on the show until the end of the year, or early 2012. I am just now going over my upcoming February show and it’s funny…it’s like going back in a time machine. Each design brings back all the memories I have of how it came to be. We have often laughed and said if these designs could only talk you would be amazed at the stories they could tell. Many adventures, and, in some cases, misadventures depending on who’s telling the story.
So my next event kicks off on February 19th at 11 P.M. EST. It continues on the 20th and 21st. I hope you can take time out to tune in, and see what we have to offer.
I’ve got a brand new Today’s Special. This is only the second time in sixteen years I’ve offered an earring, which will be available in four different materials. It also comes with matching designs in the same four materials. It took a long time to put this one together, and I hope you love it as much as I do.
South Texas Burlwood Mesquite Box with Inlayed Turquoise Item: 101316
I’ve got so much to offer! Some highlights, to just name a few, are designs in amber, petrified red wood, chrysoprase, tropical amazonite, Kingman metal matrix and Sleeping Beauty turquoise. Just a heads up, as of today the “Sleeping Beauty” mine is closing at the end of May. This turquoise is highly prized, and will become even more valuable in the future as supplies dry up. So I hope you can take the time to join us and see what we have to offer.
Check out some of my travel pictures below, a couple are from the big Gem Show in Tucson! Safe travels, J
UPDATE: The South Texas Burlwood Mesquite boxes with inlayed turquoise will be available during my show this coming weekend. The wooden boxes are one of a kind handcrafted and don’t forget they are inlayed with Kingman Turquoise! This is the most sought-after material used in these types of projects. The mesquite burlwood is extremely hard and has a wonderful graining to it. We’ve inlayed it with genuine Kingman turquoise. Each box is lovingly made in Texas by individual artists. You can’t get anymore “Made in America” than this. The materials and the labor are all done in America. I hope you love it, because I have so many more designs that will be coming your way next year.
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- Boating in the Florida Keys
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- Jay with miners in Tucson
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- Jay working with stones in Tucson
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- Tree of Shame, North Carolina
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- South Texas Burlwood Mesquite Box with Inlayed Turquoise
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- South Texas Burlwood Mesquite Box with Inlayed Turquoise
Years ago I ordered a black coral necklace —–are you able to get or do you still have any stockpiled or put back for some other pieces?
Jay U R the MAN when it comes to some of the most beautiful stones i’ve ever seen. Keep it up I’ll Keep Purchasing…………
Jay, any way of getting some drusy jewelry by chance especially in a deeper blue? Also, if we were to invest in gemstones what is the best stone to invest in? Also, I have sleeping beauty and kingman turquoise. Are they more valuable than the other types of turquoise out there and are they good investments? I have gotten wiser on my turquoise and have bought from China awhile back but they look fake. How can you tell if you’re getting ripped off and it’s fake?
Love watching you on HSN.
Hi Jay, I love your stones but since I am a guy, most of pieces are not for me, still beautiful to look at.
I have a QUESTION for you: I saw that you were selling a stone called: MORNING GLORY STONE. It looks just like the PEACE “JADE” that I see in the gem trade. Are they the same stone? Thanks, Simon.
Hi Jay,
I received the apricot stone necklace with the matching earrings and I thought the set was yummy looking. However, the necklace came in pieces. Never got it on. The part that helps fastens the necklace was off laying in the bag along with the little silver ball. HSN ran out of this necklace. Can you help me?
Thank You
Sorry I can’t help what HSN does after I deliver the item. They need to ship in a better box. I will always take care of you. Just go to customer service at hsn and enter key word Jay King. This will tell you how to send us your personal information and we will contact you and tell you how to send it to us. I’ll repair it for free or make you a new one. Sorry this happened J
Hi Jay,
I have been watching you on HSN for years. I would like to see more pendants with enhancer that open.I like putting them on my pearls an other necklaces that don’t have clasp.
I like your old style pendants not so much silver.
Thanks I’m doing just what you suggested on many of my new stand alone pendants. As always thanks for the input. Best J
Hi Jay! I recently purchased your Garnet Waterfall neckless and earring’s. This was my very first Jay King purchase. I love them and have gotten tons of complements on them. Can you tell me how many carets are in the neckless?
Thanks you!
I would say over a thousand but I don’t have one to weigh right now. If you put it on a gram scale it’s five carats per gram. Best J
Jay. Everyone would also learn to really appreciate all of the risk-taking and hard work that you do in acquiring each of these beautiful and unique rocks—from God’s creations, which are found all over the world. Please let me know your thoughts regarding all of my comments and ideas I have submitted here to you on your Blog today. Take care, and be safe in your travels, Jay.
Jay,I have a suggestion regarding a “History Card” for each piece of your beautiful and unique jewelry collection. You could make up a little card for each Mine Find with a little synopsis about it, and enclose it with each of your jewelry items. It would be nice, and very interesting for everyone to get a little history behind each of the stones that you find, design with, and make into phenomenal pieces of jewelry. (To be continued on another Blog)
I love ur ideal. I have been making small card with the picture what the stone is an were it came from an put them in my safe for insurance and so my girls will no what they are.
Thanks for sharing that with all of us thats a great idea. Best J
Hi Jay.I hope you are fine.I’m going to be waiting for your Amber presentation toward the end of this year.I hope you would be able to make either an Oval or Tear Drop Pendant w/Beaded Necklace—or, just a Nugget Necklace in solid Amber only—no other stones in it, please! Also, would you ever be able to get a hold of any and enough Pink Angel Skin Coral material to form 25MM to 30MM Beaded Nugget 18″ L. Necklaces? Please relay your thoughts to me about my jewelry ideas above when you can. LOL
As always Carol its nice to hear from you and get your ideas. I’m traveling now and its hard to answer my blog sometimes because where I’m at there is no service. Sometimes no electricity. Can you do me a favor and keep your questions a little shorter. This would help me out. Best J
Hi Jay. It was so nice to hear from you today. I am sorry that I am such a little chatterbox at times. I do realize that when you’re traveling you don’t always have computer service in some areas where you are. You also do not have much time to respond to long Blogs when you’re on the road. I will try to keep my Blogs to you shorter—especially when you are on the road. Take care, and be safe in your travels, Jay.
Jay, I wrote you a couple of years ago regarding butterscotch amber earrings. The necklace is great, still waiting for the earrings. I know it probably takes a lot of time, so I can wait. I also wondered if you will ever make your necklace “hooks” available for purchase? I have several necklaces (not yours) that I would like to convert. Your findings are the absolute best to use. Would also like to see more items in spiny oyster. I enjoy everything you make and wish I could own it all.
I’m working on getting more butterscoth amber now. I just bought more spiny oyster rough. Just go to customer service and enter Jay King it will tell you how to send us your personal information. We’ll contact you and get you some hook and eyes. Best J
Jay, please let me know your thoughts regarding all of my comments and ideas I have submitted to you here on your Blog today—March 2, 2011. Hopefully, this next six-week adventure will be much more enjoyable for you. Take care, and be safe in your travels, Jay.
I have placed another order for your Mookite Necklace for the fourth time.I hope to get one with the colors I want—more Pink and Yellow Stones.How many more color combinations in this Necklace can there be? (Laugh) I have to take a sabbatical from all purchases for a while as I have to start paying down my Charge Card. I’ll still be keeping in touch with you though, and watching all of your upcoming Shows—window shopping only, and I may be able to buy one piece at a time every now and then.
Regarding Dana’s Rainbow Calcilica Necklace, she was so excited about it that she came into the office on Friday, Feb. 25, to show it to me, and we compared it to mine. They are very similar in color only hers has more red lines in it. She absolutely loves it! I am so glad that I was able to encourage her to try it—and so is she! I have had to return one of your Mookite Necklaces, Item No. 965-193, three times already because the colors were not as shown on your Site.
Thank you, Jay, for letting me be able to get your Tiger’s Eye One-Strand Necklace repaired at your Foundry in N.M., and at no charge. That was so nice, and very generous of you. What happened to the new Strata Stone Necklace that was on your Site? I wanted to write a nice Review on it. The 13-Strand Brown Suede Necklace really complements and goes just perfectly with this neat stone! My husband’s R.D.H., Dana, received your Rainbow Calcilica Necklace, Item No. 237-312, last Thursday, Feb. 24.
Hi Jay. I tried to get a hold of you at home on Monday evening, Feb. 28, only to find out from one of your friends that you had already left on your trip that early morning which included a trip to China. I’m so sorry I called. I didn’t intend to bother anyone. I thought you said on your last Tucson Gem Finds Segment last month that you would be leaving on another 6-week trip on March 3. So, I was hoping to talk with you before you left, but, evidently, you had to leave earlier.
I am an avid collector of your stones(jewelry). I have tried to get a clean version of your apricot stone necklace–I wear tons of that color in my wardrobe year round. The 1st one I received was dirty(inside of bag was dirty as well) and had black all down in the stone. Returned that one, and now this one has grey, dirt-looking all through the stones on it(also a chip on the back of the pendant). Is there any way I can get a clean one?
Thanks for your kind help!
Hi just go to HSN customer service and enter Jay King this will tell you how to send us your personal info. We’ll contact you and take care of your problem. Thanks for letting us help you in this matter. Best J
Hi Jay:
I forgot to mention in my previous post that when it arrived, my box was not signed by the artist. Is there any way to find out who made it at this point??
Your the second person who said their box wasn’t signed. It should be on the inside back lip. I’m sorry but this was a monster project to get done and the first of it’s kind for me. I’m working out the kinks. There were several artists on this project. Thanks for your input. Best J
Re: Mesquite Burlwood and Turquoise Box: Beautiful treasure box, well-crafted and solid. It is gorgeous. Thank you for the Made in USA art by our talented, fabulous artisans. I know it a “global economy,” but we are hurting at home, so home should come first. Well done.
I’m glad you like it and so far the response has been great. I really do everything I can in the states and we employ lots of people here, but I can’t do it all here. I do listen to everyone and trust me as Americans were all in the same boat. Best J
Hi Jay:
My box arrived today, and I can only say WOW!!!!! I have a collection of wooden boxes, but this one is the star of my collection. The mesquite burl is beautiful and the addition of the turquoise is fantastic! How about some personal crosses (to be worn) made out of mesquite burl with inlay turquoise?? I know it would be labor intensive, but I think they would be beautiful.
Thanks for all you do for us folks that see your creations and realize that we just can’t live without a piece
Glad you like it. Thanks for the idea I’ll get a proto type made. Best J
Oh, Jay!!!!! My Mesquite Burlwood box arrived today and I am thrilled to my core!!!!! FABULOUS!! I thank you so very much!!!!! After DH and I enjoy it for the rest of our lives, DS and his family will get it; SO, it will go on to be loved and LOVED evermore!
I agree!!!! I purchased two wall crosses of mesquite burlwood while vacationing on the Northern Wisconsin penninsula and was astonished to see it’s same artist! This guy is the BEST. My crosses are about 10″ long and one is embedded with turquoise and the other with abalone and malachite. BEEYOOTEEFUL! Hope you keep these sorts of items coming!!!
I’m glad you love it and thanks for your support. I have many more designs in the works Best J
I bought the Jay King Salmon Sea Bamboo Coral earrings and braclet but missed getting the necklace. Any chance I can get the matching necklace or something that would be a similar design with the same coral? Loyal customer, Jackie
Hi Jackie just watch HSN.com and see if we get any on there in the next few weeks. If not e-mail me back and I’ll see what I can do. Best J
Hello Jay, I have purchased the Sea Bamboo Coral necklace and it matches the earrings and bracelet perfectly. I have also picked up the Jay King Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Rectangle errings, ring and pendent. Now I understand why everyone loves the color. I look forward to your next show with an update on the Sleeping Beauty mine. Safe travels! Jackie
hi jay
i love your jewelry! i have been wearing jay king since you started with hsn! i hope this next trip is successful. can’t wait to see you in march! i would like to know what to do with pieces that have broken. can they be repaired? i keep asking but noone seems to know how i go about this process. can you please help? can you please design some new pieces with the larger pendents like you used to make? thank you, and love you jay!
Hi I’ll repair ANYTHING you buy from me for free. If you go to HSN Customer service. Enter keyword Jay King. This will tell you how to send us your personal information.Then we can tell you how to send it to us. It’s real hard to make things like I use to when silver is six times the cost. I’m trying. Thankyou for your interest and support. Best J
Hi Jay – I know you are off on your next adventure – stay safe. I got my burlwood Mesquite box today and am blown away. It is stunning. The workmanship is unbelievable. The way the turquoise in laid in the channel and covered it will always stay as beautiful as it is today and I won’t have to worry about it falling out. Now my biggest decision is which one of your beautiful pieces will I store in it? Please don’t ever stop making the world a more beautiful place because of your work.
I’m glad you love it. I wasn’t sure we were going to get it done for a while there. I store all my stuff from my pockets the night before in mine. You can’t imagine how much time that saves me in the morning sometimes. Thanks so much for your interest and feedback Best J
Dear Jay – Got your Today’s Special earrings this afternoon and WOW are they gorgeous! I’m so glad I purchased both the Turquoise and Amber and am on waitlist for the Lapis! They are the perfect earring! Please bring them back in even more colors! Can’t wait to see what you come up with next! Take good care.
I’m glad you like them. I really thought they were the perfect earrings. So far everyone seems to agree. Thanks for shopping with us. Best J