The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show is a rock lover’s paradise - crystals, gems, fossils, rough and finished materials in all forms take over the city for several weeks each winter. The “show” is actually 60+ venues spread out across this wonderful desert town, with vendors from all over the world.
Our annual visit is an opportunity to meet face to face with our gem dealers, to ask questions, see materials in person, connect with new sources and spend time with others in our industry. And of course, shop for beautiful rocks.
We missed this show last year - and I mean this in every way. In early February 2021 I could frequently be found scrolling through old Tucson pictures, daydreaming about the gems that got away. Thanks to our stockpile of treasures from years past and the great relationships we’ve built there over the years, we were still able to launch a new collection in 2021 and meet our clients’ jewelry needs.
If all goes as planned, we’ll be returning to Tucson at the end of the month with a long list of gems and minerals.
One of the things we’re most excited about this year is the return of the Ethical Gem Fair. This show premiered in 2020, and then went virtual in 2021. The short list of vendors who will be at this show are some of our most important suppliers since they offer the highest standard in responsibly sourced materials.
Visiting with Anza Gems at the Ethical Gem Fair in 2020 was our first opportunity to learn about the Moyo Gems Project, which is now featured heavily in our collection.
We can work with these suppliers remotely, but there’s nothing like seeing the materials in person. This year we’ll be shopping specifically for gems for pieces in our signature collection and we are excited to share the whole process with you!
Many of our designs incorporate lapidary work that we do in-house using minerals, rocks, and fossils. Our visits to Tucson are essential for sourcing rough materials, as they are challenging to find outside of in-person rock shows.
Shopping for this rough material is our favorite part of the Tucson experience. There’s a learning curve to being able to look at a rock and determining if there’s viable material inside. And sometimes we just don’t know until we get it home and saw through it!
We’re excited to bring you along with us this year as we chronicle our visit on Instagram.