Score Loose Stones on Green Street

You’ve been meaning to reset grandma’s ring since roughly the Obama administration. The mall case won’t cut it, and the jeweler on Lake wants a small fortune to try. What you want is a whole room where the stones come loose and the markup comes off.

Enter the International Gem & Jewelry Show, parked in Hall B of the Pasadena Convention Center through Sunday.

InterGem’s traveling marketplace packs the floor with loose gemstones, beaded strands, and pearls; watches, chains, and charms; antique and estate jewelry, everything from the truly rare and exquisite to everyday pieces. Admission is $6 online or $8 cash at the door — good all three days, no refunds, no transfers.

Two house rules worth knowing: no kids under 9, and no photography, so leave the phone in your pocket.

Here’s the part your wallet will appreciate. InterGem stocks the floor with wholesalers, manufacturers, designers, and independent retailers, and you’re buying directly from the exhibitors themselves. The pitch is simple: competitive pricing and variety under one roof, and the whole thing bills itself as America’s Jewelry Marketplace.

Not after a finished piece? The floor runs deeper than rings. Work the tables of loose stones, beaded strands, and supplies, then build something nobody else owns. Call it a supply run with better lighting.

For the estate hunters, this is the good stuff. Antique and estate cases mean somebody else already did the sourcing, and now it’s yours for the asking. Bring patience and a sharp eye — the best find of the day rarely announces itself.

There’s a side door for the trade, too. Licensed wholesale buyers get in free with pre-registration and a business license, and schools can arrange free access as well. Miss it this weekend and you’ll get another shot: the show is a regular on Green Street, and InterGem keeps circling back through town.

Getting there is easy. The Convention Center sits on Green Street, with the underground garage at 175 S. Euclid Ave. handling the car. Riding in? It’s about a 10-minute walk from the Memorial Park and Del Mar stations, so the whole valley’s covered.

Saturday runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last call at 4. Bring cash, bring a loupe if you own one, and bring the ring.

Pasadena Convention Center, Hall B, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena. Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. (no entry after 4 p.m.). intergem.com. $6 online, $8 at the door, cash only.