Nothing prepares you for Tucson. Forty-plus gem shows, miles of walking, glittering displays, and rapid-fire math in kilograms. We arrived ready — backpack, list, mints — and quickly realized Tucson had other plans. From sensory overload to serious sourcing, we navigated warehouses, tents, and desert dust with intention. Here’s what we learned, who we met, and what made the cut for jujujems.

At White Sands, the sand isn’t what you expect. Made of gypsum — pre-selenite — it feels soft, cool, and silky, slipping through your fingers like powdered snow ✨ Just steps away, that same mineral turns sharp and crunchy in the park’s famous “popcorn field.” Same mineral, wildly different textures — and a reminder that nature loves a good transformation.