Welcome to U.S. Gemstone

Our Story

Forty years ago, we found our first diamond, and that was it - we were hooked. From then on, we were always looking down, searching for nature's hidden treasures. Fossils, Petoskey stones, geodes, agates, even shark's teeth - if it was in the dirt, we wanted to find it.

Then we discovered Texas Topaz, further deepening the obsession. Years of digging, panning, and getting covered in mud yielded garnets, aquamarine, and quartz. But nothing beat the moment we hit the mother lode - Montana Sapphires.

From shovels and picks to a full-fledged operation, we gradually turned a hobby into something much bigger, unearthing our deep love for uncovering nature's hidden gems.

Our Montana Connection

Mined from the rich landscapes of Montana, these sapphires are a testament to American craftsmanship and responsibility. When you choose a Montana Sapphire, you're not just selecting a stunning gemstone - you're investing in a piece of the United States natural heritage.

All of U.S. Gemstone's Montana Sapphires are sustainably and ethically sourced from our mining claim in Western Montana, where the Missouri River winds through mountains that have held these treasures for millions of years.

Our Process

The sapphires are found in the bottom 8 inches of gravel, just above the bedrock. We start each run by clearing overburden down to about 24 inches above bedrock, then remove the pay layer and process it through our screening and jigging operation.

Our two-stage trommel separates the gravel into three fractions: smalls for gold recovery, oversize for manual inspection, and the middle fraction where the sapphires are found. The jig uses pulsed water to stratify the gravel by density, with heavier materials like sapphire collecting on the bottom.

At the end of each day, we clean out the jig and collect sapphires, garnets, and the occasional little gold nugget - each one a small piece of Montana's natural history.

Mining operation - trommel and wash plant

Quality & Craftsmanship

We inspect every stone to determine if it's cuttable, then carefully select the right cutter for each piece. Small stones go to our trusted cutter in Sri Lanka, who handles large volumes economically while maintaining the quality we expect.

Larger stones, typically anything we expect to finish at 1 carat or larger, go to one of several domestic artisan cutters who give these special stones the extra attention they deserve. Every stone is cut to maximize its natural beauty and color.

We adhere to all BLM requirements for site reclamation and preservation, ensuring that when we're done, the area is restored to its original condition for future generations.

What Makes Montana Sapphires Special

Montana sapphires are unique as one of the only precious stones produced commercially in the United States. They exhibit color shift and color change properties not commonly seen in sapphires from other locations.

They come in a huge variety of colors - the teal and aquamarine colors that are fairly unique to Montana, along with blues, greens, yellows, pinks, and even purples. Each stone tells its own story of the geological forces that created it.

Most importantly, Montana sapphires are ethically sourced with no slave labor or abusive working conditions, since they come from the United States under strict environmental and labor regulations.

American Heritage

When you choose a Montana Sapphire from U.S. Gemstone, you're not just buying a beautiful gemstone - you're supporting American heritage and craftsmanship. These stones were found right here in the United States at a small family-owned mine.

There are no conflict stones, no giant nameless corporations controlling the market, just a handful of small miners digging in the dirt to find some sapphires. It's the American way - hard work, family values, and respect for the land.

We're proud to be part of this tradition, and we're committed to making U.S. Gemstone a well-known name for providing the finest Montana sapphires, one stone at a time.