About American USA Gems
Buy gems by country of origin. The United States is not known as being one of the important gemstone producing countries, but this was not always the case. In fact, back in the first decade of the 20th century, the US was the world's leading producer of fine tourmaline, with important tourmaline mines located mostly in Maine and California.
Commercial gemstone mining in the US is still active in several other states. Surprisingly, the top state (based on total produced value) is Tennessee. This is because Tennessee is home to the American Pearl Company, which operates the only freshwater pearl farm in America. Other important states include Arizona, Oregon, Montana, Nevada and Arkansas. Hawaii is also known to have some of the world's finest coral, but due to strict coral laws, Hawaiian coral is not allowed to be exported in any amount. There are many fine
American gemstones, but they are becoming increasingly rare, especially when it comes to fine Nevada turquoise and Oregon sunstone, which are two of the most sought-after USA gemstone types.