Business Details
38 Years
experience
Benitoite & Fine Gemstones Since 1988
W Scott Forrest Gemstones was founded in 1988 by W. Scott Forrest, who grew up immersed in the mining and gemstone industry through his father Bill and partner Buzz Gray, co-owners of the Benitoite Gem Mine. With over 35 years of combined family expertise, the business began as a gem faceting and jewelry-making operation, evolving into a retail store in Old Town Clovis in 1993. After 27 years of in-person service, the company transitioned to online sales in 2020, focusing on direct-to-customer distribution of high-quality gems and custom jewelry. Our specialization in Benitoite, the rarest gemstone found exclusively in California, reflects a legacy of craftsmanship and passion for exceptional stones. We prioritize transparency, quality assurance, and personalized service, offering a curated collection of fine gems including sapphires, rubies, tourmalines, and topaz.Our commitment to education is demonstrated through detailed YouTube tutorials showcasing the faceting process and history of gemstones. Every piece in our inventory is cut and prepared in-house, ensuring adherence to the highest standards of precision and beauty. We maintain a strong focus on customer satisfaction, providing detailed product information and supporting clients through every stage of their purchase journey. Our decades of experience, combined with a dedication to preserving the artistry of gem cutting, position us as trusted experts in the field.
Services
Benitoite Sales
Gemstone Faceting
Jewelry Design
Online Retail
Gem Education
Details
- Year established: 1988
Highlights and features
- We offer 35+ years of family legacy in gemstone mining and faceting.
- Our Benitoite collection features stones cut directly from the source.
- We provide detailed educational resources on gemstone history and cutting.
- Our online platform offers exclusive access to rare, hand-faceted gems.
- We maintain rigorous quality standards for every piece in our inventory.
Services
Benitoite Sales
Benitoite, California's state gemstone, is the rarest facetable gem found exclusively at the Benitoite Gem Mine. We offer hand-cut specimens in various carat weights, showcasing exceptional clarity and color. Each stone comes with detailed provenance and cutting history for collectors and jewelers.
Gemstone Faceting
Custom faceting services transform rough gem material into polished stones using precision techniques. We specialize in complex cuts for sapphires, rubies, and tourmalines, ensuring maximum brilliance while preserving carat weight for both commercial and private clients.
Jewelry Design
We create bespoke jewelry pieces incorporating client-owned or sourced gemstones. Our designs emphasize durability and aesthetic balance, offering CAD modeling and hand-crafted metalwork options for rings, pendants, and earrings.
Online Retail
Our digital storefront provides direct access to inventory updated with new faceted gems weekly. Features include 360-degree product views, detailed grading reports, and secure shipping options for international customers seeking rare stones.
Gem Education
YouTube tutorials and written guides explain gemstone history, faceting processes, and quality evaluation. Content covers topics like Benitoite mine discovery, zircon refaceting, and sunstone extraction from Shaver Lake, California.
People
W. Scott Forrest
Owner
Third-generation gemstone expert with 35+ years of experience in faceting and jewelry design. Learned directly from Bill Forrest and Buzz Gray at the Benitoite Gem Mine. Operated Clovis retail store from 1993-2020 before transitioning to online sales.
Questions
What makes Benitoite unique?
Benitoite is California's state gemstone, found exclusively at the Benitoite Gem Mine. It exhibits exceptional dispersion and color change properties under different lighting conditions.
Do you offer custom jewelry services?
Yes, we create custom pieces using client-provided or sourced gemstones, with options for CAD modeling and hand-crafted metalwork.
How often is inventory updated?
New faceted gems and jewelry pieces are added weekly to our online catalog.
What gemstone education resources are available?
Our YouTube channel features tutorials on faceting techniques, gem history, and mine discovery stories with over 30 demonstration videos.
What payment methods do you accept?
Payment options include major credit cards and bank transfers for international orders.
How are gemstones graded?
We provide detailed grading reports covering cut quality, clarity, color characteristics, and carat weight for every stone.
Videos
Reviews (4)
Wes Colan
Jun 11, 2021
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Been with this guy for years. He does amazing stuff. If he is ever to open his store again on 5th and Clovis Ave., please don't hesitate to use his services no matter what you think your budget is. He can accomadate.
Jordan Hall
Mar 26, 2020
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Scott is extremely knowledgeable in his craft. I bought a few Gems there and plan on buying quite a few more. The quality of the stones he has in his shop is very high. It's pretty hard to find real high quality stones in the local area. Highly recommend this store if you are in the market for any gem stone.
Matt Phillips
Mar 20, 2020
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Fantastic jeweler. Scott created a one of a kind engagement ring for me and was such a pleasure to work with.
David Olsen
Dec 07, 2017
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Really a great jeweller. He specializes in benitoite. A super rare gemstone only found in one place in the word.
