Desert Gardens International is the sprawling centerpiece of the Quartzsite gem show season, stretching across two full months from January through February. As the largest open-air gem and mineral marketplace in the world, the show draws an estimated 2,000 or more vendors to the Arizona desert, selling everything from bulk rough and tumbled stones to mineral specimens, fossils, lapidary equipment, and finished jewelry. For wholesale buyers willing to navigate the dusty outdoor vendor rows, Quartzsite offers some of the lowest prices available anywhere in the gem and mineral trade.
The sheer scale of Desert Gardens rewards buyers who come prepared with specific sourcing lists and the willingness to spend multiple days working through the vendor areas. Rough material from Brazil, Madagascar, India, and Africa dominates the bulk offerings, with prices that reflect the low overhead of outdoor selling. Agate slabs, jasper rough, amethyst geodes, and quartz points are available by the flat, pallet, or container load. Finished cabochons, beads, and wire-wrapped jewelry also fill hundreds of vendor tents, making Quartzsite relevant for retail-oriented buyers as well.
Wholesale buyers planning a Quartzsite trip should budget several days and bring cash, as many outdoor vendors do not accept cards. The peak buying period runs mid-January through mid-February when vendor density and inventory levels are highest. Combining Desert Gardens with the other Quartzsite shows, including Tyson Wells, the QIA Pow Wow, and the Gold Show, allows buyers to cover the entire market in a single extended trip.