The Inside Scoop

  • AUCTION HOUSE GRAND OPENING!!!

    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!

    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!

    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

          The donation has been made from our last auction to benefit the surviving families of the Hpakant jade mine ...
  • Alluvial vs. Primary

    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

    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. ⁠

    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

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

    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!

    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!

    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

    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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