In the United States, colored stone dealers report that the strong business seen during Tucson Gem Week in February has carried over after the show. Buyers are interested in a broad range of gem varieties. Lesser-known and more unusual gems are hot. Many of the classics are also seeing good demand. In the always-popular blue category, aquamarine is one of the strongest sellers, as are tanzanite, spinel, and zircon. Sapphire is a staple, of course, but current high prices in better grades are prompting some buyers to explore color substitutions. In red, the appealing prices of garnet and tourmaline are motivating buyers.Cultured pearls appear to be one of the more active sectors. Pearl producers are experiencing growing demand from the global market, pushing prices higher in popular varieties like Tahitians. In this category, multicolor strands are popular, as are strands of single colors