The Inside Scoop

  • AUCTION HOUSE GRAND OPENING!!!

    by Joe Henley
    INTRODUCING THE AUCTION HOUSE!    Welcome to our newest innovation: The Auction House – an exciting way to buy and collect.  I didn’t realize thi...

  • WE BUY FACET ROUGH COLLECTIONS!

    by Joe Henley
    Everything from exceptional singles to entire collections.  Since no expensive international travel is required, we are able to pay top dollar. We ...

  • Just Say: Start A Box!

    by Joe Henley
    Did you know that folks who have boxes with us receive their own personalized promo code so that they get free shipping after their first order fr...

  • Giving Back - How We Are Helping In Myanmar

    by Joe Henley
          The donation has been made from our last auction to benefit the surviving families of the Hpakant jade mine ...

  • Alluvial vs. Primary

    by Joe Henley
    If you're new to buying rough-like we all were at some point- then it's important to know the difference between "primary" and "alluvial." The mi...

  • The Inside Scoop

    by Joe Henley
    This pile of stones is affectionately called "Tunduru Mix" because this is how they come when mined in the Tunduru area of Tanzania. They are lit...

  • Managing an inventory in the age of Covid ……it’s a challenge. ⁠

    by Joe Henley
    Our customers know that we offer a diverse and affordable selection of rough.  I love nothing more than diving head first into ou...

  • The Heating Process of Cambodian Zircon

    by Joe Henley
    ⁠⠀ Here's something interesting!⁠⠀⁠⠀These 3 stones are all the same thing- Cambodian Zircon⁠⠀The stone on the left i...

  • Major Discovery!

    by Joe Henley
    Becoming a sudden millionaire. Just this week, these 2 gigantic pieces of Tanzanite were found in the Merelani Hills of Tanzania in a mine owned by...

  • New Arrival - Top Color London Blue!

    by Joe Henley
    It seems like we've been waiting forever to restock our most popular color of Topaz- Top color London Blue!⁠⠀⁠⠀Why is this so hard to source? One r...

  • Moving Forward!

    by Joe Henley
    It’s been almost five years since I decided to sell my first piece of rough. Moving from the couch to the kitchen table to an unfinished garage to ...

  • Introducing Sara Trotman Assistant Extraordinaire

    by Joe Henley
    Sara is our newest and most valuable gem. She is a gem cutter and rough enthusiast and we are lucky to have her on our team. She is mostly working ...
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