How did we get started? Dumb luck. That is the honest answer.
Before Kent’s Tools became a beloved hub for jewelers, lapidarists, and hobbyists from around the world, we were just two people—Kent and Salle—with experience in buying and selling tools, and a knack for spotting unusual opportunities. For fifteen years, we worked in the new and used tool business, dealing in everything from industrial equipment to secondhand hand tools. We understood how to evaluate, buy, and move merchandise—but we did not yet know that our future lay in beads, gemstones, and the international lapidary community.
That changed about twenty-five years ago, thanks to a quirky chain of connections that began with a friend of a friend of a friend—the kind of twist that only seems to happen in Tucson. Through that connection, we ended up purchasing a storage locker packed full of beads. It was a mix of high-end gemstone strands and Mardi Gras–style costume beads by the thousands.
We were not exactly sure what we had, but Salle jumped in with both feet. She began selling strands—everything from faceted garnet, citrine, amethyst, and onyx to the famously affordable fifty-cent Mardi Gras strings—at Boatner’s Gas Station, a quirky outdoor venue during Tucson’s February Gem and Mineral Showcase. Salle set up tables, arranged beads by color and cut, and quickly developed a loyal following. Meanwhile, I stuck to selling industrial tools. At the time, we figured it was just a fun side business during show season.
But one thing led to another…
Our friends in the jewelry design and manufacturing business eventually sold Salle their closeouts, and before long, she was officially in the jewelry business. Salle had already taken jewelry-making classes and studied with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). This was before the era of YouTube tutorials and easy online research—you had to hunt for knowledge, take classes, read books, and learn by doing. Salle did all of that and more. She eventually opened her jewelry store, selling fine silver and gold jewelry, offering custom designs, doing repairs, and carrying a rotating collection of mineral specimens.
Then came another unexpected opportunity…
We were offered the chance to buy out a semi-truck full of new jewelry, lapidary tools, and supplies from a store that had gone out of business eight years prior. Everything had been sitting in storage, untouched. We took the plunge and bought the entire load. And, not to be outdone, I followed up by purchasing ninety fifty-five-gallon barrels of rough rock. Yes—ninety barrels. Salle may have thought I was off my “rocker,” but, ever the researcher, she began sorting and identifying the stones. We cleaned them, learned about their origins and value, and started selling rough rock alongside tools, minerals, and jewelry supplies. That purchase became the foundation of a new phase of our business.
From those scrappy early days at roadside shows and swap meets, Kent’s Tools evolved into a fixture at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Showcase, serving both beginners and professionals with the same hands-on, knowledgeable service. We have sold tools to hobbyists just getting started, and we have helped seasoned lapidaries replace their worn-out trim saws. We have sourced hard-to-find supplies for metalsmiths, educators, rockhounds, and traveling gem dealers alike.
Today, we are proud to run a full brick-and-mortar store: Kent’s Tools, Jewelry, and Lapidary Tools and Supplies.
Our storefront continues to serve the local and international community, not only with a vast and eclectic inventory, but with the opportunity to handle and test tools in person—something online stores simply cannot offer. Salle’s jewelry is featured and sold at the store, alongside our ever-growing collection of new and used tools, minerals, and lapidary supplies. We still participate in the Tucson shows every year by hosting our gem shows at our brick-and-mortar location, 2745 North First Avenue in Tucson, Arizona—a show each August and October, and we open for a two-and-a-half-week show during the big Tucson Showcase in January-February.
We absolutely love hearing the stories of customers who have been with us since the beginning (or who just discovered us for the first time).
People often call us the “Candy Store for Jewelers,” and honestly, we love that nickname. It captures the excitement, variety, and treasure-hunt spirit that we have always tried to cultivate. Our business may have started with a little dumb luck, but we have stayed in it because of passion—for the tools, the stones, the art, and especially the community.
Life is strange. And in our case, it is also beautiful, hands-on, and full of rock-solid surprises.
Discover Kent’s Tools, Jewelry, and Lapidary Supplies! Explore their Xpo Press business profile for easy access to contact info, store location, Google map directions, and upcoming show dates and locations.