Wild Rocks

Gemmology, the saying goes, is Geology in high heels with a nicer handbag. 

Me? I like rocks. Common or garden diamond and sapphires have their place, but I like to wear things that say something different. I want jewellery with a story. With meaning. With a place attached to it. Things that people want to reach out and touch saying, 'What's that?' 

The Tucson Gem & Mineral show comprises 40 different shows with over 4,000 vendors, from mining companies selling by the truckload to small family firms who cut gemstones and beads. If you want a ton of Tourmaline rough from a Brazilian mining company or a bathtub made of Amethyst, it's the place to go. We go to buy material and meet up with workshops we use. But as we wander around we also collect a few things that are unusual or rare to share with our customers.

Stringing and photographing single rows of something isn't very economic.

We do it because it's fun.