Events & AwardsNov 09, 2021
MJSA to Launch Live Seminar Series in Tucson Next YearEvents & AwardsNov 15, 2021
Melee Adds Tucson to Jewelry Trade Show Lineup in 2022
It will overlap with major industry gem shows like AGTA GemFair and GJX.
Melee, the jewelry trade show known for combining a curated group of designers and beautiful venue—as pictured here at New York City's High Line Hotel—is launching a new edition in Tucson next year.
New York—Jewelry trade show Melee is adding Tucson to its event lineup in 2022.
The show is slated for Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the Stillwell House, a historic home-turned-event-venue located in the city’s downtown.
Organized by jewelry designer Rebecca Overmann and jewelry designer and Esqueleto store owner Lauren Wolf, Melee first launched in 2017 as a response to the organizers’ frustrations over not having a proper platform to exhibit their work.
It has become popular for its curated, upscale selection of designer exhibitors, a beautiful venue, and affordable cost relative to other shows.
Melee has been exclusively a New York City event up to now, but the pandemic led to the Tucson expansion, Wolf and Overmann told National Jeweler.
The organizers said that while they were in lockdown in 2020, they were trying to figure out how to host an outdoor event so designers would still have a way to show their work.
At the time, the 2021 Tucson gem shows were still scheduled to happen, so they broached the idea of a show there and “quite a few people were on board with the idea,” they said.
And while plans for a 2021 event fell through amid the cancellation of the industry gem shows, they kept the idea in mind.
“For us, and our designers, it lines up well for designers who are shopping the event and for buyers who are not interested in making the trek to New York City during the winter.”
Wolf and Overmann said Melee Tucson 2022 will feature some of the show’s previous designer exhibitors as well as some new faces.
“The Tucson show will be similar to how we launched the NYC show—with a very small, but mighty, group of talented jewelers.”
The setting of the event has always been just as important to the two as the designs showcased—as one can see in their choices of The High Line Hotel and The Bowery Hotel in New York—and the Tucson venue was no exception.
“The biggest challenge in the trade show industry is the sterile feeling that comes with so many of the big box venues. So, naturally, we were immediately on the hunt for another beautiful venue, with both indoor and outdoor space, along with a central location.”
Stillwell House fits the bill perfectly. The historic venue dates to 1901, offering both a stunning interior space and beautiful outdoor garden area, and is just a short walk to the Tucson Convention Center, where AGTA GemFair takes place, and the GJX show.
“We think there is a lot of opportunity with the Tucson gem shows,” the organizers said. “Obviously, it’s a worldwide industry event, but we think it attracts a different type of buyer and designer as well. While New York City has been our most popular show, we do feel that there is a West Coast and Southwest appeal for designers and buyers alike. We are very excited to be adding Melee to the desert.”
Buyer registration for Melee Tucson, scheduled for Jan. 31-Feb. 2, opens today.
Industry shows coinciding with it are AGTA GemFair and GJX, both running from Feb. 1-6. Select Tucson will take place Jan. 30-31 at La Paloma Resort & Spa.
Melee, meanwhile, will also hold another winter show in New York from Feb. 7-9 at The Bowery Hotel.
For more information, visit MeleeTheShow.com.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
Policies & IssuesOct 08, 2026
Third Wave of IEEPA Tariff Refunds Begins This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
SourcingOct 08, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair Heads Back to BrooklynThe trade-only event includes buying opportunities as well as educational sessions on artisanal mining, the new Paraíba source, and more.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
AuctionsOct 08, 2026
Reba McEntire’s Jewelry, Watches Head to Julien’s AuctionsThe live charity benefit sale in Nashville will also feature gowns, boots, and other memorabilia from the country music legend.
Weekly QuizOct 01, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Supplier BulletinOct 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Helps Jewelers Turn Custom Design into a Hands-On Selling ExperienceSponsored by Overnight Mountings
Policies & IssuesOct 07, 2026
The Plumb Club Amplifies Its Voice as Geopolitical Pressures MountThe supplier organization recently joined JA and JVC to have more input on political issues affecting the jewelry industry.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
Blue Nile, Royal Asscher Collection Highlights Natural Diamond BeautyBlue Nile, a Signet Jewelers-owned brand, is now Royal Asscher’s exclusive licensed retailer in North America.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
4 Standout Pieces in Audemars Piguet’s First High Jewelry Collection “Royal Oak” pays homage to the brand’s most popular watch model using 18-karat gold as well as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.
MajorsOct 07, 2026
Empire Safe & Vault Promotes Juan Morales to CEOAs part of the transition, Joseph Nicosia has stepped into the role of COO.
SourcingOct 07, 2026
AGTA Extends Deadline for 2026 Spectrum Awards EntriesParticipants now have until Oct. 14 to complete their submissions.
Policies & IssuesOct 06, 2026
6 Charged in Connection to String of New Jersey Smash-and-GrabsThe alleged thieves used crow bars and sledgehammers to smash into jewelry stores across the state.
ColumnistsOct 06, 2026
Sherry Smith: Is the Consumer Really Trading Up?Ahead of the holidays, Smith urges jewelers to take a hard look at who’s buying jewelry, what they’re purchasing, and who’s stopped buying.
SourcingOct 06, 2026
DDG Taps Influencers for ‘My Diamond Does Good’ CampaignIn the new consumer-facing campaign, four fashion and lifestyle creators share the stories behind their natural diamond pieces.
MajorsOct 06, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names COO, CMOFGI President John Orrico is also leaving the company after more than 13 years.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
De Beers to Take Full Ownership of Gahcho KuéIt is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.
AuctionsOct 05, 2026
The Star Cats of the Sandy Lerner AuctionThese jewels stood out at Bonhams’ sale of the cat-loving tech entrepreneur’s collection of objects depicting the feline form.
CollectionsOct 05, 2026
Sorellina Writes Another Love Letter for ‘Postscript’ CollectionThe fine jewelry brand has expanded the collection that debuted at Couture with four new designs based on its most popular styles.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
Bruce Bridges Joins CIBJO BoardThe AGTA president was elected for a two-year term on the board of directors.
SourcingOct 02, 2026
De Beers, National Geographic Society Renew Okavango Eternal Partnership The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.
MajorsOct 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New $150M Manufacturing Facility in VietnamThe new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.
TrendsOct 02, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Heart PendantThe special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.
CrimeOct 01, 2026
Police Looking for 4 Suspects in $600K Smash-and-Grab RobberyDubai Jewelers in Springfield, Virginia, was once again the target of an armed robbery.
SurveysOct 01, 2026
Rolex Ranks Among Most Recommended Brands in US, Survey Says YouGov’s 2026 U.S. Most Recommended Brands report’s out, and a fast-fashion giant is sitting at No. 1 while Rolex is just shy of the top 5.
SourcingOct 01, 2026
Columbia Gem House Opens ‘Cutting Toward Change’ FundraiserProceeds from its jewelry raffle will benefit an organization working in India to combat silicosis, a lung disease affecting stone cutters.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes’ Championship Ring Reveals Hidden Hockey Puck PendantThe rings, crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills, celebrate the hockey team’s Stanley Cup win with design elements that honor its traditions.
