2022 Tucson Bead & Jewelry Trends Report

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With 40+ shows taking place in ballrooms, tents, and roadside stands around Tucson during the gem shows, you see at least a little bit of everything. As Visit Tucson says, it’s like “a time portal, a trip around the world, and a treasure hunt all rolled into one.” Here’s an overview of some of the trends we saw at the shows. Visit Tucson Show Guide for more articles and insights about the Tucson gem shows and to sign up for updates.

ABOVE: Czech glass beads from Raven’s Journey at the Gem Mall Cactus Tent in Tucson.

On-Trend Color of the Year: Very Peri

Everything’s coming up periwinkle. We spotted the Pantone Color of the Year, Very Peri, trending in finished jewelry, beads, and stones at nearly every show. The beautiful chalcedony necklace shown above is by Helen Serras-Herman, contributor to Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist. Helen exhibited her jewelry and carved stones at the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) GemFair at the Tucson Convention Center. Other periwinkle stones on display included sapphires, blue quartz, and tanzanite.

Large-Hole Pearls

We were shopping for trendy large-hole pearls at the gem shows and, by Tucson coincidence, some friends were looking for them, too. We all found what we were looking for at Ta Pearls. Gorgeous colors that will look great with thick wire and leather cord alike. If you love pearls, be sure to listen to Jewelry Artist Podcast: Passionate about Pearls with Tammy Jones. We used Tammy’s tips for buying pearls, which are based on the 7 Pearl Value Factors outlined by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

Easy Bezel Settings

We love the look of this on-trend brass gallery wire from Beadalon. It’s very malleable and provides a nice alternative if you don’t want to solder to set a stone. There are also proliferation sterling silver gallery wire pendants that are sized to fit standard cabochons. Of course, this being the land of stone cabochons, we saw a variety of jewelers making one-of-a-kind soldered silver handmade bezel settings, too. 

Multicolor Stones

Aquaprase™ is the first new gemstone of the 21st century. Mined in South Africa and cut in India, this stone contains shades of blue and green that seem to change under the light. It fills a unique niche in the world of multicolor stones. We spent a long time examining all the beautiful variations of the stone at Gem and Jewelry Exchange (GJX). Other multicolor standouts at the shows included chrysocolla and fluorite.

Trendy in Tucson As Always: Cactus

Saguaros give off magical vibes and we love seeing them in the Sonoran Desert every year. But they’re really having a moment right now, from trendy cast pewter TierraCast components to decorations for your home. You’ll see these giants around town, and you can visit the Tucson Botanical Garden to discover their impressive collection of cactuses and succulents. We spotted cactus themes on beaded keychains, lampworked beads, and metal charms.

Art is Everywhere

The City of Tucson is at the forefront of the movement to bring art into everyday settings. There are more than 100 murals around town to inspire the community. Joe Pagac created the mural shown here, along with many of the other colorful, large-scale murals in Tucson. This is a trend we hope to see spreading across other communities. Imitate New Orleans and throw beads into the trees? Or create little metal fairy doors for your neighborhood?

Enjoy your jewelry journey,

Katie Hacker
Content Manager, Bead & Jewelry

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