Business Details
48 Years
experience
Handcrafted Yogo Sapphire Jewelry in Montana
Montana Gem is a family-owned business rooted in Montana's rich mining heritage. Founded by GIA Gemologist Randy Gneiting, our legacy spans five generations of miners, beginning with gold and copper operations in the early 1900s. For the past 35 years, we have specialized in Yogo Sapphires, hand-mined from our claims in Yogo Gulch. Our expertise encompasses every stage of the process, from extraction to cutting and jewelry design. We maintain rigorous quality control by personally overseeing each step, ensuring our sapphires remain untreated and sustainably sourced.With decades of hands-on experience, we combine traditional mining techniques with modern craftsmanship to deliver unique, high-quality gemstones and jewelry. Our commitment to transparency and customer education reflects our belief that informed clients make the best decisions. As a small, family-operated business, we prioritize personalized service and strive to share our passion for Montana's natural treasures with every customer.
Services
Jewelry Design
Gemstone Mining
Faceting Services
Custom Creations
Gemstone Sales
Details
- Year established: 1978
Highlights and features
- We have been hand-mining Yogo Sapphires for over 30 years.
- Our family has five generations of Montana mining experience.
- We personally oversee every step from mining to jewelry production.
- All sapphires are sustainably sourced and untreated.
- We offer direct access to our mining history and expertise.
What people say
Great people to work with
Excellent quality
Family-owned experience
Services
Faceting Services
Montana Gem offers professional gemstone cutting through trusted partners in Thailand. With over 30 years of collaboration, we ensure precise faceting for rough stones. Each parcel receives individual attention, including sorting, photography, and secure delivery to expert cutters for optimal results.
Yogo Sapphire Mining
We hand-mine Yogo Sapphires using traditional methods on claims in Yogo Gulch. Our process involves manual excavation, gravity separation, and meticulous hand-washing to recover untreated sapphires. This low-impact approach preserves the environment while maintaining the stones' natural quality.
Custom Jewelry
Our custom jewelry service transforms Yogo Sapphires into unique pieces. From concept to completion, we handle design, metal selection, and craftsmanship. Clients receive one-of-a-kind creations that showcase Montana's rarest gemstones with personalized attention to detail.
Gemstone Sales
Montana Gem sells both loose Yogo Sapphires and finished jewelry. Available in various cuts and carat weights, our inventory includes parcels for collectors and individual stones for custom projects. Each gemstone comes with documentation of its origin and quality.
Mining History
We provide educational resources about Yogo Sapphire history, including the 1895 discovery and early mining operations. Through our website and publications, we share insights into the region's geological significance and preservation efforts for future generations.
People
Randy Gneiting
Founder
GIA Gemologist Randy Gneiting established Montana Gem's sapphire focus after decades of family mining experience. He oversees operations and maintains quality control for all mined and cut stones.
Tony
Miner
Tony contributes to daily mining operations with extensive hands-on experience. He works alongside Randy to extract Yogo Sapphires using traditional methods passed down through generations.
Jack
Miner
At age five, Jack represents the fifth generation of family miners. He assists with basic tasks while learning the heritage and techniques of Yogo Sapphire extraction.
Questions
What makes Yogo Sapphires unique?
Yogo Sapphires are naturally cornflower-blue, untreated, and found only in Montana. Their uniform color and high clarity result from unique geological conditions in Yogo Gulch.
Do you sell loose gemstones?
Yes, we offer loose Yogo Sapphires in various cuts and carat weights, including parcels for collectors and individual stones for custom jewelry.
How are your sapphires mined?
We use traditional hand-mining methods with picks, shovels, and gravity separation. This low-impact approach preserves the environment while recovering high-quality stones.
Can I get custom jewelry made?
Yes, we create custom pieces using Yogo Sapphires. Our process includes design consultation, metal selection, and craftsmanship from our family-owned workshop.
Do you offer faceting services for rough stones?
Yes, we provide faceting through trusted partners in Thailand. Stones are sorted, photographed, and delivered securely for professional cutting and polishing.
What's your return policy?
We offer a 30-day return period for most items. Custom orders may have different terms. Contact us directly for specific return instructions and conditions.
Reviews (5)
Jennie M.
Apr 20, 2018
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Awsome, they are a rock lovers dream of jewelry. Beautiful stones and settings.high quality. I bought a really sweet piece of Labordorite pendant. Great owners and service.
Drake Learning
Oct 24, 2017
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The staff is very friendly and helpful. I was able to find a yogo. My husband bought it for me. It will be my Christmas, birthday, New Year's, Easter, anniversary present for as long as he can milk it. They had a lot of good stuff braids yogos as well.
Sheila Roberts
May 12, 2017
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Had to pick out my Christmas present, staff was very friendly and helpful. Very knowledgeable of all items. Beautifully crafted items, locally owned.
Bob Shanahan
Mar 22, 2017
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Top notch personal service because they really care about bringing their customers the best in gems and jewelry. Incredibly knowledgeable, they clearly love what they do and we learn something new every time we stop in.
Andrea Jones
Mar 15, 2017
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My first experience with Montana Gem was having my Montana sapphire wedding ring made by them and because of their wonderful service, beautiful work, and competitive prices, they have made a lifelong customer out of me and my family members.
