Every year, we make the pilgrimage to the Tucson Gem Show, the largest gem, mineral, and jewelry show in the world. For those who love jewelry as much as we do, it's an absolute wonderland—booths overflowing with gemstones in every color, one-of-a-kind artisan pieces, and vendors from all over the globe bringing treasures we’ve never seen before. This is where we source the materials that will become part of our upcoming collections, ensuring each piece we create carries a story of adventure, artistry, and discovery.
This year’s trip was full of early mornings, exciting finds, and a few surprises along the way. Come along with us!
Day One: The Journey Begins
Our day started in the middle of the night—2:30 AM to be exact. Coffee in hand, we made our way down the mountain to catch our flight, bound for Tucson with a layover in Atlanta. As luck would have it, we ran into our friends from Mikki Lynn Jewelry on the flight, a fun and unexpected way to start the trip!
After touching down in sunny Tucson, we hit our first roadblock—our rental car reservation had us waiting in a painfully long line. With over 40 people ahead of us and only two employees working the counter, we made the call to switch to another rental company. A few minutes later, we were on the road in our SUV and ready to start the adventure.
Day Two & Three: The Magic of JOGS
We kicked off our mornings with refreshing runs along the Rillito Riverwalk, a peaceful path in North Tucson that always makes us feel grounded before diving into the whirlwind of the shows.
Our first stop? JOGS Gem Show—one of our favorite destinations to source freshwater pearls, unique gemstones, and even Native American jewelry. Christie from Queenly Global welcomed us as we carefully hand-selected pearls. These pearls will soon be transformed into luminous strands and statement pieces in upcoming collections.
One of the most exciting discoveries this year was a new vendor, First American Traders, based in Gallup, New Mexico. Not only do their Native American artists design and create their own jewelry, but they also cast charms and pendants in-house, allowing for some truly unique pieces. It's always special to support artisans who preserve and continue their cultural traditions.
One of our pearl vendors even extended an invitation to visit their California warehouse for a behind-the-scenes look—and, of course, more shopping. We may need to take them up on that offer!
Day Four & Five: Old Friends & Unexpected Finds
The next few days were filled with connections—both new and old. One of Anne’s closest childhood friends, Sagit, flew in from Albuquerque to tag along. Balancing her career as a CEO of a radiology group, she somehow found time to share in our gemstone treasure hunt. We soaked up every moment together!
At GL&W (Gem, Lapidary & Wholesale), we sourced kyanite, abalone, and other rare gemstones. The show felt busier than usual, a sign that the industry is thriving. We were disappointed that our favorite Czech glass artist couldn’t make it this year but were happy to hear she’s still creating beautiful work, now selling mostly online.
One of the highlights was running into Leslie, a semi-retired vendor from Charlotte we hadn’t seen since 2019. Leslie’s piercing blue eyes were just as unforgettable as we remembered! Though they’ve stepped back from the industry, Leslie was visiting solo while Mary was in India. Catching up with him was a wonderful surprise.
We wrapped up the evening with authentic Mexican food and a well-earned Lagunitas non-alcoholic IPA—a perfect end to a long, exciting day.
Day Six: The Find of the Trip
As our time in Tucson came to a close, we made our biggest discovery—a new vendor from Hong Kong who owns their own turquoise mine. Not only did they have natural turquoise in unique shapes we had never seen before, but they also had breathtaking spiny oyster in rare colors. Their selection of composite turquoise and gemstone blends was unlike anything we’ve come across.
The only downside? We found them at the very end of the show with barely enough time to make decisions! We did what we could, knowing that these pieces will add something truly special to our upcoming designs.
Before heading to the airport, we made one last stop at Federico’s, finalizing purchases and saying our goodbyes to Federico and Fernando.
As we boarded our flight home, we soaked in the last bit of Arizona sunshine, already dreaming about how these beautiful gems and pearls will take shape in our next collections.
Until Next Year, Tucson
The Tucson Gem Show is more than just a buying trip—it’s where we find inspiration, reconnect with old friends, and discover the materials that will shape our future designs. Each bead, pearl, and stone carries a story of craftsmanship, culture, and adventure.
We can’t wait to bring these treasures to you in our upcoming collections—stay tuned!
