Gems of Tucson -1-
To buy stones, I went to Tucson, Arizona, USA. As a lover of art and architecture, the Tucson Gem Show is one of the events I get excited about every year. I went to this special place again this year, so I'd like to share with you its charms.
The Tucson Gem Show is one of the world's largest gem and mineral exhibitions, held in Tucson every year from the end of January to February. The entire city becomes the show venue, with thousands of exhibitors gathering at over 50 venues. The colorful natural stones, unique jewelry, and sparkling mineral specimens lined up in each store create an atmosphere like a gem theme park. Not only buyers and designers but also general jewelry fans can visit, so it's an attraction that anyone can enjoy.
The reason why the Tucson Gem Show is an indispensable event for buyers from all over the world is that there are things that can only be found here. The attraction is the overwhelming selection of rare natural stones and cutting-edge jewelry, where mines and dealers from all over the world gather in one place. Another fun thing is meeting friendly dealers from Brazil and Italy. The Brazilian man in particular loves persimmon seeds, and when I bring them as a souvenir, he always eats them with gusto, saying "This is it!" This kind of interaction is also one of the fun parts of buying.
Tucson is a desert city. Although the temperature difference between day and night is drastic, the air is dry and the climate is comfortable. The scenery of the cacti towering against the blue sky is very attractive, and just walking around the city makes you feel happy. Another charm unique to Tucson is the wonderful discoveries you can make in unexpected places, such as art painted under bridges.
For this purchase, we carefully selected the natural stones that we wanted to deliver to you. I am excited to see what kind of jewelry we will make from them. In the next issue, we will introduce you to the actual purchasing process. Please look forward to it!
I went to Tucson, Arizona, to source gemstones for my Japanese jewelry brand. As someone who loves art and architecture, the Tucson Gem Show is one of the events I look forward to every year. This year, I had the chance to visit this special place again, and I'd love to share its charm with you.
Held annually from late January to February, the Tucson Gem Show is one of the world's largest exhibitions of gemstones and minerals. The entire city transforms into a massive showcase, with over 50 venues hosting thousands of exhibitors. Each booth is filled with colorful gemstones, unique jewelry, and dazzling mineral specimens, creating an atmosphere that feels like a gemstone-themed amusement park. The event welcomes not only buyers and designers but also jewelry enthusiasts, making it an exciting experience for everyone.
The reason why the Tucson Gem Show is essential for buyers from all over the world is simply because there are things you can only find here. With miners and dealers from various countries gathering in one place, the overwhelming selection of rare gemstones and cutting-edge jewelry is truly impressive. Another highlight is meeting familiar vendors from Brazil and Italy. In particular, a Brazilian vendor loves kaki-no-tane (a Japanese rice cracker snack), and whenever I bring it as a gift, he always enjoys it with a delighted “This is it!” These small interactions are part of what makes gemstone sourcing so enjoyable.
Tucson is a desert city, where the temperature fluctuates greatly between day and night. However, the dry air makes it a comfortable place to be. The sight of towering cacti against the bright blue sky is simply stunning, and just walking around the city is an enjoyable experience. You'll also find unexpected artistic touches, like murals under bridges, making every stroll a chance for new discoveries.
For this trip, I carefully selected gemstones that I'm excited to bring to my Japanese jewelry brand, CHIKAKO YAJIMA. I can't wait to see how these stones will transform into beautiful pieces!
In the next post, I'll share a closer look at the gemstone-sourcing process. Stay tuned!
