Author: Jeffrey Hapeman

Overview We are often asked about clarity grades and clarity ratings on colored gemstones.  There is a lot of confusion on this topic, so we’ve put together this article to discuss the topic and outline how we describe clarity here at Earth’s Treasury. Industry Standard Clarity Grades?  Guess what–there is NO standard! This fact comes as…

What About a Lab Report? To start, while we are asked about certificates from labs, it should be pointed out that all labs only issue reports, not certificates–and those reports are professional opinions, not guarantees. When it comes to guarantees, we guarantee that our stones are exactly as stated with regards to gem species and…

Overview Earth’s Treasury has had a special focus on Montana Sapphires since our founding, and we are proud to be the largest source of fine Montana Sapphires in the world. We maintain a constant inventory of thousands to choose from, and every year cut and sell more than a thousand of these wonderful American gemstones….

Introduction We’re often asked about why and how certain gems are treated, particularly heat treatment.  This short article will help explain why we heat some of our Tanzanite. Tanzanite is the trade name applied to blue-violet zoisite from Merelani, Tanzania. This gem is fascinating because of its rarity–so far it’s only ever been found in in…

Introduction This page has been written to provide an overview of the heat treatment of Montana sapphires, as the topic is one that is still little understood by many. In the following sections I’ll explain why some sapphires are heated, what is done during the heat treatment process, how it changes the gemstones and how…

Overview I’m often asked about the various characteristics of the wide variety of colored gems by customers looking for the “perfect” gemstone.  The choice of what gemstone might be right for you depends on a number of factors.  In this brief article, I will try to outline some key considerations when selecting a gemstone.  Hopefully…

Overview Aquamarine is the blue-green to blue gem variety of the of the mineral beryl.  It’s been known and used as a gemstone since antiquity.  The color of aquamarine can range from a very pale blue-green to a deep strong blue (“Santa Maria” blue is some of the finest blue aquamarine known); the value increases with the depth of…

Overview Emerald is one of the most well-known and desired colored gems known to mankind.  There is evidence of emeralds being mined and used in jewelry going back to over 3,500 years before present. It is a variety of the gem beryl, colored green by minute traces of chromium, vanadium or both.  While emerald has…

Overview Tanzanite is a trade name for deep blue to violet zoisite, colored by the presence of trace amounts of the element vanadium.  It was first discovered in 1967 in the Merelani Hills of Tanzania and was named and marketed by Tiffany’s.  While zoisite is found around the world, and is sometimes even gem-clear, the…

Overview Tourmaline is a remarkable gemstone, coming in an incredible variety of colors. Tourmaline can also be found in multi-colored forms, which is relatively uncommon in gemstones.   It is actually a family of minerals that share a similar chemical structure.  Most gem tourmalines are of the elbaite type, although certain dravite and liddicoatite tourmalines…

I source all of my Montana sapphires directly from the mine owners, so I have full confidence in the gems I offer.  The largest active mine in Montana is located in the Sapphire Mountains, in what is referred to as the “Rock Creek deposit,” located just west of Philipsburg, Montana.  The area is wild and…

In a recent post about ethical sourcing I touched on the concept of chain of custody, and I’d like to expand on that here.  I’ll start by explaining the idea behind chain of custody: quite simply, its the knowledge of every set of hands a gem has passed through between the moment it is dug…

In the image above we see people working under what looks like very difficult conditions, and indeed they are.  In the foreground we see men and women working with hand tools to turn over fresh soil, hunting for gem gravels containing precious deep blue sapphires–worth many thousands of dollars per carat when they are finished…

  Introduction I had the good fortune to spend significant time in this area in the past few years, including a period of time working underground in the Oceanview Mine, currently the only mine where there is active drilling and blasting taking place.  The tourmaline mines in San Diego County have produced more tourmaline than…

  Introduction: Photographing Gems and Jewelry I thought I’d write a post about photographing gems and jewelry, since getting excellent photos of both is crucial for my business–and takes a significant amount of my time.  It’s also a topic I frequently see discussed online.  No matter what anyone tells you, getting good photos of gems…

Welcome to Earth’s Treasury–your source for fine gemstones, jewelry and gem mineral specimens. Earth’s Treasury was founded in 2012 as the realization of many of my passions: gems, minerals, jewelry, photography and more.  I want provide the public with a focused collection of gems and jewelry created primarily from natural stones and materials mined from…