I just got back from a trip that felt like a jeweler’s pilgrimage, a visit to the annual Tucson Gem Show for stone hunting.

This show is actually made up of hundreds (and I do mean hundreds) of smaller shows happening all over Tucson starting at the end of January, and lots of jewelers will do a majority of their stone shopping for the entire year there. Gem and mineral vendors from all over the world bring their entire supplies of stones, and it can be the one of the few chances a jeweler has to find really unique and rare treasures.

New York City and its Diamond District are just a train ride away, but the Tucson Gem Show is a whole other creature — you’ll find incredible patterns, colors, and shapes, plus crystal specimens both big (like, bigger-than-me big) and small that can’t be found in the city. Gemstone suppliers from across the globe go to Tucson, so you’ll find stone sources that you otherwise wouldn’t by just hitting up the Diamond District.

Tray of aquamarine — Trays (and trays and trays) of aquamarine to sift through

In the 3 days I spent hopping from show to show I was overwhelmed with just how much of everything there was. It makes sense that some people spend a week or more there. This was my first time going, so I took my time settling into a rhythm: walking every row of every tent (oh my God, so many tents), taking endless notes about who had what stones, and narrowing down who to re-visit and actually buy from. Kind of like those Magic Eye puzzles, I had to let all those regular ol’ diamond, ruby, and sapphires (who am I even, calling those stones standard?) settle into my peripheral vision so I could better find the really interesting stones.

Neverending trays of stones — How do you even decide?!

I was particularly enchanted by Montana sapphires in colors ranging from yellow-y olive to deep, swirling blue, and Oregon sunstones with metallic peach flecks or sage-to-clay-colored gradients. A new love for Mexican fire opals was kindled, too, from the faceted, bright orange ones to the smooth, rounded stones that look, as Lauren of King + Curated says, “like dinosaur eggs.”

Mexican Fire Opal — Faceted Mexican fire opals in intense reds and oranges

Smooth (instead of faceted) Mexican fire opal cabochons

Two sapphires and an Oregon sunstone that came home with me

Needless to say, I went a little crazy buying stones — I am powerless against sparkly things.

My time in Tucson was also an awesome chance to see jeweler friends and to meet people I’ve only ever known through Instagram. There was tons of catching up over the most delicious Mexican food, comparing the day’s stone haul with friends, and gossiping over honey cinnamon lattes and freshly baked pastries.