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.

Rose Quartz is one of those stones almost everyone recognizes. Soft, familiar, and easy to live with, it often becomes the first crystal people own — and one they return to again and again. This February Stone of the Month explores why Rose Quartz feels so approachable, meaningful, and perfectly suited for Valentine’s Day and beyond.

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.