The Sapphires of Montana

When the first prospectors set out for the American west, they were looking for gold, and in Montana, they found their share. But some of these unwittingly lucky miners also found another dense precious mineral — sapphires. Most of the sapphires found in the 1800s in Montana were for industrial use. But in the late 1900s, heat treatment processes were developed that made Montana sapphires one of the most important American-mined gems. Join GIA researchers Nathan Renfro and Aaron Palke as they unearth the history and gemology of these stunning jewels.