Every February, the Irden Design team heads to Tucson, Arizona with the same mix of excitement and purpose: it’s time for the AGTA GemFair. For those outside the jewelry world, Tucson might seem like an unexpected destination for one of the most important weeks of the year—but for designers, gem buyers, and collectors, it’s nothing short of legendary. The city becomes a glittering hub of creativity and commerce, where rare stones change hands, relationships are strengthened, and the next season of fine jewelry begins to take shape.

In 2026, our trip felt especially meaningful. Not only did we attend one of the industry’s most respected events, but we arrived with something even more exciting than our own wish list: our clients’ requests. And this year, we’re thrilled to say we were able to find and source every single one.

The AGTA GemFair: A Tucson Tradition with Global Influence

The AGTA GemFair—hosted by the American Gem Trade Association—is one of the premier gem and jewelry trade events in the United States. While Tucson hosts many gem shows throughout the season, AGTA stands apart for its focus on quality, ethics, and professionalism. It is known for bringing together vetted dealers, trusted suppliers, and some of the most extraordinary stones available anywhere in the world.

The atmosphere is electric. You’re surrounded by people who speak the same language of color, clarity, and cut. Conversations move quickly from origin stories and mining regions to subtle differences in hue and brilliance. A tray of gemstones can feel like a miniature museum exhibition: glowing spinels, richly saturated emeralds, crisp diamonds, and the kind of sapphires that make you pause mid-sentence.

For Irden Design, AGTA isn’t just a buying trip—it’s a cornerstone of our sourcing philosophy. It’s where we can see stones in person, evaluate them under proper lighting, ask direct questions about provenance, and build long-term relationships with the dealers who help us bring exceptional pieces to life.

Preparing for Tucson: Client Requests Come First

Before we ever step on a plane, the real work begins.

One of the most rewarding parts of the AGTA GemFair is that it allows us to shop with intention. In the weeks leading up to the event, we invite our clients to submit requests—everything from “a vivid pink sapphire for an anniversary ring” to “an unusual pair of matching stones for earrings” or “a vintage-inspired piece with a one-of-a-kind center stone.”

These requests aren’t casual. They’re personal. They represent milestones, memories, and dreams—future heirlooms in the making.

We approach each request like a mission. We review desired stone types, size ranges, shapes, tones, and budgets. We gather reference photos. We clarify details like whether the client wants something timeless and classic or bold and editorial. We discuss practical considerations too, like durability for daily wear, setting style preferences, and whether the stone needs to match existing pieces.

By the time we arrived in Tucson, we weren’t simply browsing. We were hunting.

2026: The Year We Found Every Request

Every AGTA trip is productive, but 2026 was something special.

There’s always a bit of suspense when you’re sourcing for clients. Sometimes a request is straightforward. Other times it’s incredibly specific—like the perfect shade of green in a tourmaline that must be neither too blue nor too yellow, or a sapphire with a rare cut that needs to fit an existing setting design.

This year, we’re proud to say: we sourced every single request.

That doesn’t happen by accident.

It happens because we’ve built relationships with trusted vendors over time. It happens because we know what to look for, and we’re willing to spend hours comparing stones side by side. It happens because we take the sourcing process seriously—inspecting stones in multiple lighting environments, checking for symmetry, brilliance, and life, and making sure each stone has the personality and quality worthy of becoming a forever piece.

Most importantly, it happens because we never treat a client request as “just a stone.” We treat it as a story waiting to be set in gold.

The Art of Sourcing: What It Looks Like Behind the Scenes

From the outside, gem sourcing can look glamorous—and it absolutely can be. There’s something undeniably thrilling about opening a parcel paper and seeing a line of sapphires sparkle back at you. But behind that moment is a lot of skill and careful decision-making.

At AGTA, we evaluate gemstones with the kind of detail that most people never see.

We look at color first, of course—but not just “blue” or “green.” We’re looking at tone, saturation, and whether the color is even across the stone. We examine how the stone performs in different lighting: bright daylight, indoor warmth, softer shadow. We check brilliance, transparency, and whether the stone has life or appears flat.

We also assess the cut. Even a beautiful stone can lose its magic if it’s cut poorly. We look for symmetry, balanced proportions, and the way the facets return light. We think about how the stone will sit in a setting and whether it will allow for a design that feels elegant and secure.

And then there’s the question of origin and treatment—especially important for stones like sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. We ask questions. We review documentation. We confirm details. We work only with dealers we trust, because trust is everything in this business.

This is where AGTA shines. The show is known for its professionalism, and it provides a setting where sourcing is not just exciting, but responsible.

A Week of Color, Craftsmanship, and Connection

One of the things we love most about Tucson is the rhythm of the days.

Mornings start early. There’s always a plan—appointments with specific dealers, targeted searches for certain stones, and lists of booths we need to visit. We move quickly, but we also know when to slow down. When you find a stone that might be “the one,” you take your time.

Afternoons are often about narrowing choices. Comparing options. Negotiating. Reviewing paperwork. Making sure every selection meets our standards. And somewhere in the middle of all that, you’ll catch moments that remind you why this industry is so special: a dealer telling you the story of a stone’s origin, a cutter explaining why they chose a particular facet pattern, or a quiet moment when you realize you’re holding something truly rare.

Evenings bring a different kind of energy. Tucson becomes a place of reunions—industry friends and colleagues, longtime vendors, gemologists, designers, and creatives who all return year after year. The show is about buying, yes, but it’s also about community.

Attending the GIA-Hosted Gala at the Museum of Art

One of the highlights of our 2026 trip was attending the GIA-hosted Gala at the Tucson Museum of Art.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is one of the most respected institutions in the world of gemstones, known for education, research, and its role in setting standards for gem identification and grading. Being invited to a GIA-hosted event is always an honor, and this gala felt like a beautiful celebration of the entire industry—where science, artistry, and passion meet.

The setting couldn’t have been more perfect.

The Tucson Museum of Art offered a stunning backdrop for an evening that felt equal parts elegant and inspiring. There’s something deeply fitting about gathering in a museum during gem week. After spending days surrounded by gemstones and jewelry, the gala gave us the chance to step back and view the craft through a wider lens: as art, history, and culture.

Exploring the Museum’s Gemstone and Jewelry Collection

A particularly memorable part of the evening was the opportunity to enjoy the museum’s gemstone and jewelry collection.

Seeing fine jewelry in a museum setting is different from seeing it in a showroom or a case at a trade fair. In Tucson, we spend a lot of time thinking about gemstones as components—center stones, accent stones, matched pairs, potential designs. But in a museum, you see the finished story. You see how jewelry reflects the era it was created in, the techniques available at the time, and the aesthetic values of the culture.

The collection offered a sense of perspective. It reminded us that jewelry is not only about beauty, but about meaning. A ring can be a symbol of love, status, celebration, identity. A necklace can represent artistry, craftsmanship, and the desire to preserve something precious.

For our team, it was a grounding moment—one that made us even more excited to return home and begin transforming our Tucson finds into pieces that will become part of our clients’ own histories.

Why Tucson Matters to Irden Design

It’s easy to talk about Tucson in terms of gemstones—rare sapphires, vibrant tourmalines, glowing spinels—but what the trip really represents is something bigger.

Tucson is where we renew our commitment to what Irden Design stands for:

Thoughtful sourcing
Exceptional quality
Honest relationships
Design rooted in meaning
Jewelry made to last

In an age where so much can be bought online with a click, the AGTA GemFair reminds us why seeing stones in person matters. Why asking questions matters. Why holding a gem up to the light matters. Why knowing who you’re buying from matters.

And perhaps most importantly, Tucson reminds us that the best pieces are never rushed. They are chosen carefully, with intention, and with a deep respect for the materials.

The Joy of Saying “Yes, We Found It”

One of the most satisfying parts of the 2026 show was knowing that our clients would soon hear the words every jewelry lover wants to hear:

“Yes. We found it.”

We found the stone you described.
We found the color you couldn’t stop thinking about.
We found the matching pair that seemed impossible.
We found the piece that feels like you.

That moment—when a client sees the stone we sourced specifically for them—is what makes the entire trip worth it. It’s the reason we walk miles of show floors, compare dozens of nearly identical stones, and obsess over tiny details.

Because for our clients, these aren’t just gemstones.

They’re future heirlooms.

Looking Ahead: A Tradition We Treasure

As the 2026 AGTA GemFair came to a close, we left Tucson feeling energized, inspired, and grateful.

Grateful for the vendors who help us access extraordinary stones. Grateful for the community that gathers each year with shared passion and expertise. Grateful for the opportunity to attend events like the GIA-hosted gala and experience Tucson’s cultural offerings alongside its gem-centered magic.

And most of all, grateful for our clients—whose trust and vision make our work so meaningful.

We returned home with carefully selected stones, exciting new pieces, and the kind of inspiration that fuels our designs for months to come. Tucson always delivers something special, but 2026 will stand out as a year of true alignment: a trip where preparation met opportunity, and every request found its perfect match.

We already can’t wait for next year.

Because for the Irden Design team, the AGTA GemFair isn’t just an annual event—it’s a tradition we look forward to all year long, and one we’re honored to be part of.

A Tucson Tradition: Irden Design’s Annual AGTA GemFair Experience (2026)