TUCSON GEM SHOW February 1 - 16, 2025
The Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase are gem and mineral shows that take place annually in late January and February at multiple locations across the city of Tucson, Arizona. Most of the shows are open to the public, except for certain trade shows which require registration with a business license.
The key event of the Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase is the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show produced by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society. This show has been held annually since 1955 and now occupies 181,000 square feet (16,800 m2) of the Tucson Convention Center. Many museums and universities, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Sorbonne, have displayed at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.
The first Tucson Gem and Mineral Show was held in an elementary school in 1955 and shortly thereafter moved to a Quonset hut at the Tucson Fair Grounds. In 1973, it moved into the Tucson Community Center, first occupying the North Exhibit Hall, then expanding into the Arena and upper Arena concourse. After the completion of the new facility in 1990, which is now called the Tucson Convention Center, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show now occupies the Arena, Exhibition Halls A-B-C, Galleria and Ballrooms. Katherine Rambo estimates that between 1996 and 2010 there was an average of about thirteen hundred total dealers from forty-nine states and thirty-two countries in attendance, annually.[1] The 2021 show was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
The Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase is one of the single highest revenue-producing events for the Tucson economy. The estimated economic impact in 2019 was $131.4 million,according to Jane Roxbury, director of gem show services for Visit Tucson.
Which gem show should you visit?
With so many shows happening simultaneously, choosing which to visit depends on what interests you the most.
For example, the Whole Bead Show and To Bead True Blue are devoted to the display and sale of beads. Others, like the African Art Village and American Indian Art Exposition, feature more cultural artifacts and goods. Still, others specialize in pre-made jewelry or single stones, settings and other tools of the lapidary trade.
If you're more interested in the educational aspects of the show, the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show has numerous workshops and lectures, such as "A Short History About How Impossible Crystals Came to Earth from Outer Space" and "Mineral Photography," in addition to exhibits with the Smithsonian's collection of jewelry and gems and the rare "Ram's Horn" gold wire found in the Colorado Ground Hog Mine in 1887.
Try to set aside at least one or two full days to explore 2-3 shows that sound particularly interesting to you.
Note: Don't be afraid to haggle. While you may find it more welcome at smaller shows or vendors, the gem show is a place where deals are meant to be made and bargaining is part of the experience.
What times are the shows open?
Shows open between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and close between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Refer to the show listings for exact times. (Fall / Winter)