The necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
My time in ‘the tents’
Last week I went on my first official business trip, to the gem shows at Tucson and what a trip it was.
My first blog when I started at National Jeweler last fall was about going to see the American Gem Trade Association’s Spectrum award pieces and how it was a great first experience to expose myself to gems.
I still stand by that but, in terms of exposure to colored stones, this trip was incomparable.
I spent a lot of time while I was in Tucson at the AGTA’s GemFair, attending seminars, walking the show floor and taking a look at the booths. Most were offering loose stones, and exhibitors were more than happy to talk to me and answer my questions about their selections. There were also a few finished jewelry collections showcasing and I went to visit some of the brands.
But slowly throughout my three days there, I began venturing further and further outside the convention center, ready to explore the tents. I had no idea what to expect, but I was not disappointed.
Right across the street was the Gem & Jewelry Exchange (GJX) show. There were gems for days. My eyes were glazing over as I looked through booth after booth of gems. I had the opportunity to see pretty much any gem or stone I could think of there, including many I hadn’t seen in person before like Australian boulder opals and tourmaline (quickly becoming one of my favorite gems) in various colors I didn’t yet know about.
On left, an inside shot of the booths under the tent of the GJX show. I also saw this Paraiba tourmaline, pictured right, inside GJX and couldn’t walk away without snapping a photo.
Eventually, I roamed even further down the road, to a few more tents and on to the Pueblo gem show, which was inside a hotel. They had managed to set up some tents in an inner courtyard, while some had set up their wares inside the hotel rooms and left their doors wide open.
I was able get some quartz crystals and aragonite for my own collection there (I knew if I came back to my roommate empty-handed, I’d be in trouble.)
And I actually did get lost inside--someone else I knew that was there at the same time asked me where I was, and I couldn’t give an answer.
It became apparent as I circled the same booths
Crystals, crystals and more crystals … I found these during one of many circles through the show inside the hotel. The right shot is what the Pueblo show looked like in the courtyard of the hotel.
It wasn’t until my last full day in Tucson that I managed to get my hands on a map of all the gem shows in the area, which confirmed my suspicions that I hadn’t even come close to scratching the surface of all that the city had to offer.
Now that I better know what a trip to Tucson includes, I’ll be able to form a solid plan for next year. All in all, though, I think it was a pretty successful trip-- I learned a lot about gemstones, met some wonderful people and had a great time seeing the city and the shows.
I went to this one, another part of the Pueblo show, in search of geodes.
Who else was there this year? I want to hear your experiences and recommendations as well.
Thanks for a great time, Tucson. Until next year...
The Latest
The two organizations will host a joint event, “Converge,” in September 2025.
Big changes appear to be on the horizon for the diamond miner and its parent company, Anglo American.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
Padis succeeds Lisa Bridge, marking the first time the organization has had two women board presidents in a row.
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
The announcement came as the company reported a 23 percent drop in production in Q1.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
The three-time Pro Bowler continues to partner with the retailer, donating to a Detroit nonprofit and giving watches to fans.
A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
The selected nine organizations have outlined their plans for the funds.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
Emmanuel Raheb recommends digging into demographic data, customizing your store’s communications, and retargeting ahead of May 12.
Located in the town of Queensbury, it features a dedicated bridal section and a Gabriel & Co. store-in-store.
A 203-carat diamond from the alluvial mine in Angola achieved the highest price.
Ruser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.
The “Rebel Heart” campaign embodies rebellion, romance, and sensuality, the brand said.
The overhaul includes a new logo and enhanced digital marketplace.
The money will go toward supporting ongoing research and aftercare programs for childhood cancer survivors.
A new addition to the “Heirloom” collection, this one-of-a-kind piece features 32 custom-cut gemstones.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The move will allow the manufacturing company to offer a more “diverse and comprehensive” range of products.
From now through mid-May, GIA will be offering the reports at a 50 percent discount.
De Beers’ rough diamond sales were down 18 percent year-over-year in its latest round of sales.