Every year, the Tucson Gem Show reminds me why I fell in love with gemstones in the first place. It’s the biggest gem and mineral show in the world, which means if a stone exists, it’s probably there.
This year’s trip was especially inspiring. Here are the ten things that stood out the most while sourcing stones for the next round of Emily Chelsea Jewelry designs here in Philadelphia.
1. Sapphires Everywhere
We found a lot of incredible sapphires this year. In total, we came home with over 100 carats of them. We stuck with what we love most — greens and teals — but also brought back some unexpected colors like funky oranges and purples. Sapphires are endlessly versatile, and seeing such a wide range of colors in Tucson always opens the door to new design ideas.
2. Orange Zircon Is the Surprise Star
One of my personal favorite discoveries this year was orange zircon. It’s vibrant, warm, and incredibly beautiful—and the best part is that it’s still relatively affordable compared to other gemstones in that color range. (Don’t be surprised if you start seeing more orange stones showing up in our future collections.)
3. Origin Is Becoming Everything
One big shift I noticed this year: people are leading with origin first when discussing gemstones.
Ten years ago, that wasn’t always the case. Now it’s often the very first thing mentioned. I love seeing that shift toward transparency—something that aligns with Emily Chelsea’s commitment to clear sourcing practices. It wouldn’t be surprising if, in another decade, we start seeing the miner’s name listed alongside the stone’s origin. (Mark my words.)
4. Gold Prices Are a Real Concern
If you work in jewelry right now, you know gold prices are intense. It was definitely a topic of conversation in Tucson, especially among small independent designers. While it’s challenging, it also pushes us jewelers to be more thoughtful with materials and design decisions.
5. Bicolor Australian Sapphires Are Back
Gemstone availability changes every year depending on what’s coming out of the ground. This year we saw bicolor Australian sapphires making a comeback, with beautiful color zoning appearing again. When stones like these appear, they’re always worth grabbing.
6. Nadine Marshall’s Cuts Never Miss
We were able to pick up a handful of stones from Nadine Marshall, one of our favorite gemstone cutters. She creates her own unique cuts, and they’re always stunning. Each stone feels like a tiny piece of art.
7. We Went Bigger This Year
This year we didn’t shy away from larger sapphires. We didn’t bring back a huge quantity, but the few we did secure are truly special — and I have a feeling they won’t stay in the studio for long. Sometimes bigger really is better.
8. A Few Personal Favorites
Every Tucson trip has a few stones that stick with me immediately. Some stones just have that “it” factor the moment you see them. This year my favorites were: Oval Montana Sapphire (930-814), Emerald Cut Montana Sapphire (930-813), Emerald Cut Sri Lankan Sapphire (930-760), Oval Blue Yellow Bicolor Sri Lankan Sapphire (930-768), and Cut Point Marquise Cut Tanzanian Sapphire (930-815).
9. A Crystal That Made Me Cry
One of the most emotional moments of the trip came from a crystal specimen displayed at the Alfie Museum. It was Malachite on Copper, and honestly, it moved me to tears. When you really think about it, these crystals formed millions of years ago, survived unimaginable changes in the earth, and somehow made their way to the surface for us to admire. It’s humbling.
10. The Wildest Gem: Poudrette
The most memorable stone I saw this year was poudretteite, which appears on Forbes’ list of the most rare gemstones in the world. Seeing something that rare up close is always unforgettable.
What This Means for Emily Chelsea Jewelry
Every Tucson trip shapes the next chapter of what we design. The stones we found this year will slowly make their way into the studio, becoming one-of-a-kind pieces and custom designs that carry their own stories. And honestly, that’s always the best part.
We invite you to see and feel the beauty of these stones in person. Book an appointment to experience our new arrivals from Tucson.
