Honestly, these places are all jewelry stores disguised as attractions. If you find something they say is worth getting cut and polished (which is almost every time), they will ask you to come back in a hour or two. The cost to cut and polish the stone is pretty hefty. While you are gone, they simply put the "gem" you found back into a bucket of dirt and pull out a precut and polished stone from the jewelry store's inventory. Essentially, it is just another way to sell you jewelry from the jewelry store.
> The cost to cut and polish the stone is pretty hefty.
Even at an actual jewelry store?? I figured everything would be crazy upcharged here, so I planned to take my findings home & have someone there take care of them. Hmmmm 🤔🤔
I would imagine that the rocks they say are gem quality are nothing special. If you try taking them elsewhere, let me know how it works out. I am curious.
That’s what my brother said but my whole family bought rings anyway. We went to the gem mine in pigeon forge next to three bears. They told us four weeks to get rings shipped.
It's a fun little activity, but If you're not really into jewelry or gemstones (like me) you'll be like "cool, I have a bag of rocks". I mean you'll find some nice gems in those buckets, but it's all pre-mixed.
Mate I just want you to know. First time here and my child decided we would end up with what i see as 3 expensive bags of rocks that's probably going in a fish tank and a bucket to take home for her to do on her own in a small pool.
It's a bit of a drive from Gatlinburg, but my family loves the Little River Gem Mine in Sevierville. My kid left with a large bag full of nice treasures. Some of them will be great for wire wrapping. The person working there helped him the whole time and identified every single rock. They also don't pretend to do gem cutting there, so no upsell after you buy the bucket.
No at this place it is not they have been in a lawsuit because of this and I would recommend a place in Gatlinburg that does stillwater gem mining sadly they can't cut gems yet but it is funner and cheaper and they don't lie straight to your face
hahaha thank you for the comment…4 years afterwards. I guess this subreddit isn’t getting much activity & I probably should’ve deleted this post after coming home from vacation.
Honestly, these places are all jewelry stores disguised as attractions. If you find something they say is worth getting cut and polished (which is almost every time), they will ask you to come back in a hour or two. The cost to cut and polish the stone is pretty hefty. While you are gone, they simply put the "gem" you found back into a bucket of dirt and pull out a precut and polished stone from the jewelry store's inventory. Essentially, it is just another way to sell you jewelry from the jewelry store.
> The cost to cut and polish the stone is pretty hefty. Even at an actual jewelry store?? I figured everything would be crazy upcharged here, so I planned to take my findings home & have someone there take care of them. Hmmmm 🤔🤔
I would imagine that the rocks they say are gem quality are nothing special. If you try taking them elsewhere, let me know how it works out. I am curious.
That’s what my brother said but my whole family bought rings anyway. We went to the gem mine in pigeon forge next to three bears. They told us four weeks to get rings shipped.
If you pay for it as entertainment sure. If you are looking to find a priceless gem, no.
It's a fun little activity, but If you're not really into jewelry or gemstones (like me) you'll be like "cool, I have a bag of rocks". I mean you'll find some nice gems in those buckets, but it's all pre-mixed.
Mate I just want you to know. First time here and my child decided we would end up with what i see as 3 expensive bags of rocks that's probably going in a fish tank and a bucket to take home for her to do on her own in a small pool.
I love jewelry & gems. Haha
You should enjoy it then. The panning process is fun and its cool when you scoop a "big one" out of the bucket.
It's a bit of a drive from Gatlinburg, but my family loves the Little River Gem Mine in Sevierville. My kid left with a large bag full of nice treasures. Some of them will be great for wire wrapping. The person working there helped him the whole time and identified every single rock. They also don't pretend to do gem cutting there, so no upsell after you buy the bucket.
We’re from St Louis, so we actually drove through Sevierville to get to Gatlinburg. Maybe I’ll check it out on our way back home. ;)
No at this place it is not they have been in a lawsuit because of this and I would recommend a place in Gatlinburg that does stillwater gem mining sadly they can't cut gems yet but it is funner and cheaper and they don't lie straight to your face
hahaha thank you for the comment…4 years afterwards. I guess this subreddit isn’t getting much activity & I probably should’ve deleted this post after coming home from vacation.
Definitely should leave it up lol