Just Around the Corner – Tucson 2012

It is just around the corner when thousands of people descend into Tucson, Arizona for the big Mineral, Fossil, Rock, & Gem shows. It is the biggest event to be held here in the United States in this quaint little town, where thousand of people, hundred of shows and millions of tons of rocks, minerals, fossils and everything in-between can be found.

 Up for site will be the latest and greatest the jewelry, lapidary and beading industry has to offer. Hundreds of shows with vendors from all over the world bring their beads, findings, minerals, rocks, slabs, equipment, jewelry, and much much more. It’s the event that sets the stage for the coming year in ‘what’s hot and what’s the trend’ all across the jewelry, lapidary and fossil industry.

Tucson is much more than shows; it’s about the land of opportunity too. Connecting and networking with vendors, miners, artists, instructors, industry professionals; hearing what they have to say and bring it into your own business for success. Listed below are some of the bigger shows among the many at Tucson.


JOGS Gem & Jewelry Show, the largest and most popular independent jewelry trade show in the Tucson, Arizona area. Wholesale jewelry manufacturers, miners and international dealers gather at the Tucson Expo Center, the site of the JOGS show, every February. Buyer attendance is said to exceed 27,000 composing over 4,000 jewelry firms. Visit the site for more details and registration; note that this show is a wholesale only show, but check at the show for a guest pass.

Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers Inc (G&LW) hosts two different shows in the Tucson area. Gem Mall and right down the street the Holiday Inn & Holidome Pavilion. Both are excellent shows and provide a wide range of jewelry industry (finished and raw) vendors. Visit the site for more details and registration; note that these shows are wholesale only and not open to the public.

22^nd Street Show, at the corner of I-10 and 22^nd Street is a new show (only in its 2^nd year) that is fast becoming a well known show for fossils, minerals and rocks. Visit the website for more information, this is both a wholesale and public show.

The Rock Show (formally the Tucson Electric Park RV Gem Show), is where you’ll find all kinds of hidden treasures in minerals, gems and some jewelry. Dealers and miners alike bring in huge flatbeds with large saws to cut slabs and all kinds of lapidary material. This show is open to the public, check with dealers for wholesale pricing. Visit their site for more information and a show map.

Tucson Electric Park Gem Show; browse around huge tents, dig through boxes, bins, barrels, tables, and more. This show is open to the public, check with dealers for wholesale pricing. Visit their site for more information and a listing of vendors.

AGTA, American Gem Trade Association is one of the main shows. It is primarily high-end loose colored gemstones and pearls, with finished jewelry; designer jewelry section; colored diamond and estate jewelry pavilions. This is a wholesale only show and not open to the public, you must register with AGTA to attend.

Want to know more about shows, vendors, times, places and locations, check with the Jewelry Show Guide’s website for more information.