Some rings from Alex Sepkus, all colors of the desert sun!
I love the cool turquoise that Dana Bronfman uses in her designs, it sets the mood.
Love meeting new designers who follow me! This is Nathalie Siman Jewelry, check out her work it is amazing!
I was blown away by Brooke Gregson and her designs — with every new piece, she is honing her craft and perfecting her style. I just love these bracelets.
Just in case you’re wondering if you should book your trip for next year…the resort is so beautiful! I hope next year is warmer.
I’ve been a huge fan of Petra Class — this San Francisco-based artist makes everything in 18k or 22k and picks the coolest gemstones.
Wearing delicate jewels of JeweLyrie, a designer born in China and now resides in NYC. I love her pieces!
This matching necklace and earring suite from JS Noor is just incredible! The gold work is very old world and regal.
Another angle of the Alex Sepkus rings — which one is your favorite?
This is Brooke Gregson’s newest collection — love the bold florals and various petals
Here’s a close-up of some rings from JeweLyrie
These earrings from The Rockhound are so unique — geodes set in solid gold with bright yellow polychrome over top
Here’s a better look at the earrings by The Rockhound
Lots of ring options from Kaali Designs — so hard to choose!
This bracelet and brooch from Petra Class complete with green tourmalines might be my absolute favorite!
I know more than five people that have a trapiche emerald on their “ultimate jewelry wish list” and this one from Brooke Gregson is the best example I’ve seen complete and ready to wear!
Here’s what some of the Kaali Designs look like when worn!
Happy to have made the journey to Tucson while being 23 weeks pregnant
A closeup of the rings + earrings from JeweLyrie
Another angle of the Dana Bronfman turquoise cuff bracelet and rings
As if my trip to Tucson wasn’t already filled with lots to see and do, I added a new show to the roster this year — JCK Tucson. As much as I love seeing gemstones, rough specimens and crystals, I had a hankering for jewelry! And since I won’t be able to attend Vegas this year, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to see some of my favorite designers in the desert of Tucson rather than the desert of Las Vegas!
JCK takes place at a luxurious resort called the JW Marriott Star Pass and is about a 20 minute drive from the other shows, to a more secluded area. The last time I checked into this hotel was my first time I ever attended the Tucson Gem Shows, back in 2012. I knew what a glorious place this resort was (and had one of the best massages at their spa) so I was counting down the days! The show is right on the grounds of the resort, so if you’re staying at the hotel, you just need to walk across a small outside bridge, pass by Starbucks and the spa, and you’ll see the escalators that bring you right to the ballrooms. There are two ballrooms, one is mostly all designer jewelry and the other is tools and some loose goods. The jewelry room kept me occupied for hours and it was convenient to have the outdoors right nearby, perfect for photos (as we all know, the lighting at these shows can be brutal for photos). The show was intimate enough to casually pile-on jewelry and walk right out of the show into the outdoors. Security loved me by the end of the day lol.
I saw some of my favorite designers, like Alex Sepkus, Dana Bronfman, Kaali Designs, and Brooke Gregson (who was exhibiting there for the first time). And I got to meet some designers I’ve been following for years and was really excited to see like Petra Class, The Rockhound, JS Noor and Jewelyrie. The laid-back and inviting atmosphere of the show would be ideal for any store looking to add some new jewelry lines to their roster or picking up some new tools, all while feeling like you’re on vacation. I love the educational events that were dispersed throughout the days of the show and the Gems After Dark party was super fun as well. If you’re a social butterfly and like to make connections or reconnect with others in the jewelry industry, JCK is the place to do it! I felt like I was at a reunion and seeing so many friendly faces since I last saw everyone in Vegas. It was so nice to catch up with everyone, especially with the timing of being pregnant — I still had energy to make the most of this trip (although now that I’m home, I’m slowly turning the curve and regressing back to how I felt during my 1st trimester). Glad this all worked out!
Photos by Lauren Newman Photography
Thanks JCK Tucson for having me!
