Gemstones Galore

Jim and Jenny Elliot have been mining sapphires on the Central Queensland Gemfields for over 40 years. They started as partners in the Queensland Government project to mine the road reserve between Sapphire and Rubyvale, and in return, to replace the old dirt track with a new bitumen, all weather road. On completion of this project in 1988, they formed their family company, Coolamon Mining Pty. Ltd., and have mined continuously ever since.

Initially the sapphire produced was sold as “rough” to visiting buyers from Thailand.  After cutting, the best material was sold as being “Ceylon”, “Burmese” or “Thai”, and only the  dark blue was sold as “Australian”.   The Asian buyers did this to protect knowledge of the source of their material at a time when Australia was supplying over 90% of the world’s blue sapphire, but this practice resulted in the perception that all Australian sapphire was of a low quality.

The Elliots travelled extensively throughout Australia to exhibit their sapphires at Trade Fairs, Gem Shows and Gemborees, thus making their stones available to jewellers.    When Jim and Jenny, together with Peter and Eileen Brown from the Rubyvale Gem Gallery exhibited at the World Coloured Gemstone Congress in Sydney in 2000, jewellers and dealers from around the world were amazed at the high quality and wide colour range of Australian sapphires.  Interest from Australian manufacturing jewellers grew steadily from this exposure.

Coolamon Mining decided from that time to cease selling their rough stone to the visiting Asian buyers, choosing instead to have the finest quality stones cut locally, while the smaller stones and calibrated sizes are cut in Bangkok.   Since they only cut the stone from their own mining  and that of other local miners, Coolamon  guarantees the origin and authenticity of their product.    As a result of this change, they now supply gems to many manufacturing jewellers within Australia, and to a small number of overseas clients.   These jeweller clients have their own outlets, or sell via the internet, which expands the knowledge of the availability and the high quality of Queensland sapphires.

In order to make it easier for the purchasing public to view the extensive range of the different cuts, sizes and colours available, they also operate the Coolamon Mining Showcase at 1052 Rubyvale Road, Sapphire Central.    Visitors are able to take their time in comfortable surroundings to select well-matched pairs and sets, fine individual stones, or to choose from the wide array of varied shapes and colours in order to have their jewellery made, either by local jewellers, or by their own home–town jeweller.

You are invited to browse among the showcases, take the weight off your feet in comfortable armchairs, have a cuppa and watch a movie of current and historical mining activities, and admire the collection of old tools and other artifacts.   Coolamon sapphires are genuine, natural, and last for lifetimes, so take your time and ensure that your purchase may become a family heirloom.

Visit Coolamon Mining for more information.