Why We Don't Attend Gem Shows: A Deeper Look at Ethical Sourcing

Gem shows promise rare finds and unbeatable deals, but behind the scenes, they often hide unethical sourcing, inflated prices, and questionable business practices. Many vendors operate with little transparency, reselling mass-produced crystals with unverifiable origins. Illegal activities, worker exploitation, and environmental harm are rampant. At Beyond Bohemian, we refuse to participate in an industry model that contradicts our values. Instead, we work directly with small-scale miners and cooperatives to ensure fair wages, ethical sourcing, and sustainability. If you care about where your crystals come from, keep reading—we're breaking down the hidden truths of gem shows and how you can make more informed choices.

1. The Dark Side of Gem Shows (Yes, It’s Worse Than You Think)

Have you ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes at gem shows? At first glance, they seem like a dream—aisles upon aisles of dazzling crystals, rare specimens, and vendors from all over the world. But the reality is far from glamorous. Many large gem shows have become a magnet for unethical practices, and as an ethical business, we refuse to participate.

🚩 Illegal activities – Money laundering, tax evasion, and under-the-table deals are rampant. Some crystal companies are even fronts for organized crime.

🚩 Exploitation of workers – Many vendors source from wholesale suppliers, which means they may be unknowingly (or knowingly) supporting child labor, unsafe working conditions, or unfair wages.

🚩 Environmental harm – Unregulated mining leads to deforestation, water pollution, and habitat destruction—yet many vendors don’t vet their sources.

This isn’t fear-mongering—it’s the sad reality. And it’s why we’ve chosen a different path.

2. The Illusion of ‘Great Deals’ (And Why They’re Often Too Good to Be True)

Gem shows have a reputation for offering amazing deals, but the reality is often different. Here’s why:

📌 Vendor overhead is sky-high – Booth fees at major shows like Tucson and Denver can be thousands of dollars per day. Add in travel expenses, hotel stays, and shipping costs, and vendors have to raise their prices just to break even.

📌 The ‘cash-only’ red flag – Ever notice how many vendors prefer cash? That’s because cash transactions leave no paper trail, making it easier to evade taxes and operate shadow businesses. Ethical businesses want to be accountable—not hide their transactions.

📌 Bait-and-switch tactics – We’ve heard countless stories of buyers spending thousands on “high-grade” crystals, only to receive lower-quality material (or worse, nothing at all) when their shipment arrives. Without proper documentation, there’s little recourse for these buyers.

3. The Shift in the Industry (And Why Gem Shows Aren’t What They Used to Be)

A decade ago, gem shows were essential for sourcing. But times have changed. With the rise of global trade networks and digital communication, we can now work directly with miners and lapidaries around the world—no middlemen needed.

Think about it:

·       Technology has made sourcing easier. We can video chat with lapidary partners, tour mines virtually, and receive real-time updates on available inventory.

·       Covid-19 accelerated this shift. When travel became restricted, many suppliers moved online—and they’re not looking back.

·       The quality of vendors has declined. The best, most reputable suppliers don’t need to attend gem shows anymore. Instead, they build lasting relationships with trusted partners.

4. So, Where Do We Source Our Crystals?

Great question! Instead of relying on gem shows, we:

✅ Work directly with small-scale miners and cooperatives.

✅ Co-own a lapidary in Peru, Gemrock, giving us full visibility into our supply chain and a voice in the direction of the company.

✅ Require sourcing documentation from all of our suppliers.

✅ Support ethical mining initiatives that promote fair wages and environmental sustainability.

We believe in quality over quantity and people over profits—something that’s hard to find in a gem show setting.

5. The Problem with Transparency (Or Lack Thereof)

Can you really trust where those crystals come from? One of the biggest red flags at gem shows is the lack of transparency in sourcing. Many vendors don’t have direct relationships with miners or lapidaries. Instead, they operate as resellers, meaning they have little to no knowledge of how the crystals were mined, who mined them, or the conditions in which they were extracted.

At the last major gem shows we attended, we estimated that 95% or more of the products were simply resold from the same handful of wholesalers. While ethical miners, lapidary artists, and independent jewelry makers do attend, they are often overshadowed by mass-produced goods. Finding them in these massive events can be a monumental task.

💡 Things to consider:

·       If a vendor can’t tell you exactly where a crystal was mined, how can they claim it was ethically sourced?

·       How many hands has that crystal passed through before landing at their booth?

·       Are the miners being paid fair wages, or are they being exploited?

·       Can they provide any documentation to back up their claims?

These are questions that often go unanswered at gem shows. And for us, that’s a dealbreaker.

The Bottom Line

We don’t attend gem shows because they don’t align with our values. Instead, we focus on building long-term relationships with ethical suppliers, ensuring that every crystal we offer is sourced responsibly.

Because at the end of the day, our goal isn’t just to sell crystals. It’s to change the industry for the better.

Want to learn more? Explore our ethical sourcing criteria here and discover how you can make more informed choices when buying crystals. 🌿💎