Tucson Preview: 5 Things I Don’t Want to Miss
Live gem cutting, supply chain updates, and “the tents” are just a few of the things on Associate Editor Lauren McLemore’s to-do list.
I won’t lie, I’ve been a bit intimidated by the size of the shows but as it turns out, the bigger the event, the more exciting things there are to discover.
With that optimism in mind, here are five things I’m looking forward to during my inaugural trip to the Tucson gem and mineral shows next week.
Supply Chain Research
At the Hardrock Summit last fall, I attended a session dedicated to updates on the data Colorado School of Mines Ph.D. student and research scientist Jenna White extracted during her field research as part of the Transparent & Traceable Gemstone Supply Chains Initiative, a joint project of the school and the American Gem Trade Association.
The fascinating session closed with a promise that more data would be shared in Tucson.
I’m eager to hear more about the project (and colored gemstone supply chains in general), so I’ll be attending the AGTA seminar on Feb. 2, “Challenges and Opportunities in Responsible Gemstone Supply Chains.”
Participants will share field data collected over the past several months from select gemstone mining sites and give a platform to gemstone miners to share their experiences in the field.
Panelists include: White; Nicole Smith, associate professor in mining engineering at the Colorado School of Mines; Kimberly Collins, president/owner of Kimberly Collins Colored Gems and AGTA president; John Ferry, founder of Prosperity Earth; Bruce Bridges, president of Bridges Tsavorite and AGTA first vice president; John Ford, AGTA CEO.
Ethical Gem Fair
Speaking of responsible mining, I’m also looking forward to The Ethical Gem Fair Tucson’s fourth annual event featuring brands and professionals who are part of the Ethical Gem Suppliers Collective.
Participants include Agere Treasures, Anza Gems, Capricorn Gems, Columbia Gem House, Nineteen48, Perpetuum Jewels, Nature’s Geometry and Quore Jewelry, and Virtu Gem.
The trade-only event is slated for Jan. 27–30 at Tucson Scottish Rite Cathedral.
The fair provides a platform for discovering responsibly sourced gemstones while fostering a community committed to positive social and environmental impact.
The Big Winners
After the Hardrock Summit, I wrote about my delight at seeing so many unique gemstone cuts on display.
So naturally, I’m looking forward to tracking down the contenders and winners in the AGTA Spectrum Awards’ Cutting Edge division.
In particular, my fingers are crossed for a glimpse at the suite of Paraiba-type tourmalines from Joseph Ambalu of Amba Gem Corp.
Live Cutting
If I get to revel in the beauty of the cuts, it’s also important to see how the transformation takes place.
AGTA has an intriguing lineup of Live Gem Cutting demonstrations to show just that.
I’m looking forward to the Feb. 1 demonstration, “Recutting to Close a Window.” While there’s no reason I personally need to acquire this particular skill, I do want to observe the cutting process.
Magus Gems’ Justin K. Prim, an American lapidary and gemologist who’s the founder of Faceting Apprentice, an online gem cutting school, will be conducting the demonstration.
Working in Lyon, France, he’s studied gem-cutting traditions all over the world, and for this demo, he’ll show the process of recutting and repolishing using a Sri Lankan-style handpiece faceting machine.
The Mythical Tents
Last, but of course not least, I’m excited to see what this tent business is all about, as making time to explore those is the most consistent piece of advice I’ve received from past Tucson showgoers.
Being at one of the largest gem and mineral shows in the nation, I’m excited to explore various nearby shows like the 22nd Street Show and learn about things like fossils and other minerals that typically fall outside my range of coverage, as well as view specific curations, such as Native American jewelry collections.
Now, after a sunny and humid press trip to Miami and a return to frigid, snowy New York, I’ll be spending the next few days trying to figure out what in the world to pack.
See you in the desert!
The Latest
It’s showtime for these jewels, inspired by the motifs and color palette of the new Tim Burton film.
CEO Efraim Grinberg pointed to a challenging consumer spending environment, particularly in the watch category.
Inspired by a 19th century sculpture, Mandler transformed gold into liquid for these earrings.
Growing your Instagram following organically is more important than ever in today's technological environment.
The model and entrepreneur stars in two new Chopard campaigns.
Members of the founding family partnered with Mexican retail company El Puerto de Liverpool to possibly take Nordstrom private.
The iconic design has joined a lineup of notable pieces featured in the jeweler’s “With Love, Since 1837” campaign.
Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA.
Ralph Simons is now CEO of the jewelry brand started by fashion designer Michal Kadar and her husband, Avraham Kadar, in 2015.
Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen say it’s all about giving your social media feeds a human touch.
The models and friends of founder and artistic designer Valérie Messika showcase the brand’s jewelry in the “Back to Icons” campaign.
“From Italy, With Love” will showcase Roberto Coin, Marco Bicego, and other Italian brands.
The jewelry retailer will also have a diamond-set tennis racket on display at the tournament.
The retailer has moved into a 3,200-square-foot space at The Shops of Highland Park.
The month’s birthstone is vibrant in every color.
The special editions of the Premier, Navitimer, and Chronomat are equipped with a new perpetual calendar movement from the brand.
Fly away with designer Katey Brunini’s butterfly ring, as its spring-loaded wings flutter above your fingers.
The jewelry retailer has a new chief brand officer and chief operations officer.
Its next event will take place in D.C. on Sept. 17 and in New York City on Oct. 29.
“Broken Bangle: The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature” is an in-depth look at the evolution of jade terminology.
It is partnering with retailer Tanishq on educating salespeople, shaping the in-store experience, and a “360-degree” marketing campaign.
Inflation remained a top concern among survey-takers who included write-in responses.
The wireless carrier is now stocking the Ultrahuman Ring Air in select U.S. stores.
In a collaboration with Muzo, Pamela Love hand-selected each Colombian emerald for eight one-of-a-kind pieces.
The certification is based on employee responses about their experience working at a company.
OFAC has issued two licenses addressing the issue, one for diamond-set jewelry and one for loose diamonds.
The gemological lab is looking to raise up to $477 million.