At the end of this week, many jewelry buyers will undertake a familiar odyssey through the Sonoran Desert. They will kick things off in Phoenix, at the Centurion show, before moving on to Tucson, home to dozens of concurrent buying fairs showcasing everything from fossilized dinosaur eggs to million-dollar rubies. For most fine jewelry retailers, only a handful of shows truly matter. Below, we offer details on the biggies.
Centurion
For guild jewelers in the U.S., the Centurion jewelry show in Phoenix signals the start of the year in earnest. Stock up on new wedding jewelry collections, statement diamonds, and colored stone staples from some of the finest manufacturers in America, such as Verragio, at this upscale event, known as much for its social hours and networking opportunities as for its jewelry selection.
Location: Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix
Dates: Jan. 27–31
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Website: centurionjewelry.com
Special events: Retailer breakfasts, keynote speeches, and open-bar cocktail gatherings—this show has it all! Check the website for details.
Ethical Gem Fair
Eight members of the Ethical Gem Suppliers collective, including Perpetuum Jewels, are returning to Tucson to promote responsible sourcing at the fourth annual Ethical Gem Fair. If you’re interested in learning about shortened supply chains and how to buy gemstones that support and respect people in the mining and cutting communities where they are sourced, this event’s for you!
Location: Scottish Rite Cathedral, 160 S. Scott Ave., Tucson
Dates: Jan. 27–30
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Website: Ethicalgemsuppliers.com
Special events: A Sonoran Happy Hour on Sunday, Jan. 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. featuring food, drinks, and casual networking.
Melee the Show
Nearly 30 designers—including Amáli, Brooke Gregson, and Melee cofounders Lauren Wolf and Rebecca Overmann—show their wares at this Tucson outpost of the long-running designer jewelry fair, which serves as a useful complement to all the loose gem showcases in town.
Location: Stillwell House, 134 S. Fifth Ave., Tucson
Dates: Jan. 29–31
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Website: meleetheshow.com
Special events: Opening night party, sponsored by De Beers, on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Out of the Jewel Box Experience
The OJB Experience moves into the Scottish Rite Cathedral when the Ethical Gem Fair moves out. The brand-new show features an intimate cohort of seven jewelry vendors—including Gold and Smoke, Remy Rotenier, and PCD Pearls—who wanted an event that allowed them to showcase their goods in a secure and professional setting yet gave them the flexibility to get out from behind the booth to shop, mingle, and network organically. “The venue is conveniently located within a five-minute walk of AGTA and GJX,” says Kelle Phoundoulakis, founder and designer of Gold and Smoke. “Preregistered guests can meet with the exhibitors and/or utilize the lounge for networking with their own colleagues—or simply stop in, kick up their feet, and take a breather.”
Location: Scottish Rite Cathedral, 160 S. Scott Ave., Tucson
Dates: Feb. 1–3
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (until 5 p.m. on Saturday)
Website: ojbexperience.com
Special events: Happy hour 4:30–7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, to include a live painting demo by Remy Rotenier. And gemstone and jewelry giveaways—to enter, submit an entry form on any day of the show, including at the happy hour. Winners will be announced via Instagram on the last day of the show.
AGTA GemFair Tucson
The granddaddy of them all, the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) GemFair has drawn buyers and sellers of important gems to Tucson for more than 40 years. Home to gemstone dealers, pearl specialists, and designers of finished jewelry, the event is an essential stop on every gem lover’s circuit. Don’t miss the educational sessions, covering everything from responsible sourcing to heat treatments.
Location: Tucson Convention Center
Dates: Jan. 30 to Feb. 4
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday–Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Website: agta.org
Special events: Opening night party 6–8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30; AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards Gala 6:30–11 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3
GJX
The Gem and Jewelry Exchange (GJX) is GemFair’s international counterpart. Dealers from Australia, Brazil, Germany, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, among other far-flung locales, set up shop in what’s affectionately known as “the Tent.” It’s another essential gem destination famed for its fine stones, good deals, and all-around sense of discovery.
Location: 198 S. Granada, Tucson
Dates: Jan. 30 to Feb. 4
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, except Sunday to 4 p.m.
Website: gjx.rocks
Top: 14k gold earrings with Australian opals, Montana sapphires, and diamonds, $6,045; Parlé
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
