What You Should Know About the Company Mining in Yogo Again
Yogo Mine in Montana, which produces the popular Yogo sapphires, was dormant for nearly four decades.
The mine, which produces the popular Yogo sapphires, was dormant for nearly four decades.
A few years ago, Yogold USA entered the arena. The mining company first entered into an exploration agreement, which ended December 31, 2022, and then it transitioned into a lease with an option to purchase.
Its lease and option consist of 1,563 acres of deeded ground, where the company is simultaneously engaged in commercial production and underground development as well as surface exploration, President Jerod Edington confirmed to National Jeweler.
There are two historic workings in the mine.
A British group conducted surface mining on top and eventually sunk a shaft to 250 feet underground.
A group of Americans, meanwhile, went straight into the side of the mountain and back about 700 feet, essentially hand mining the whole way.
The Kunisaki Group then purchased the mine in the 1970s and drove a haulage way parallel to the American mine; the haulage way is approximately 3,000 feet long and is referred to as the “Kunisaki Tunnel,” Edington said.
The first two seasons Yogold operated the Yogo Mine—in 2020 and 2021—the company was doing only surface mining with the intent of eventually moving underground.
This season, Yogold opened the Kunisaki Tunnel and portions of the American mine, which run parallel to each other. The company is about 700 feet back in the Kunisaki Tunnel now.
The team is using low profile underground excavators and hauling underground trucks, so right now they are producing about 75-100 tons of underground ore per day and will increase production as demand for its Yogo sapphires dictates.
This year, they installed buildings at the site so they can mine and process all winter.
Yogold splits cutting up by size—the company has financed its own cutting facility in Colombo, Sri Lanka for the smaller stones (generally under 0.5 carats), and there are three master cutters in the U.S. that focus on the larger stones.
The company is also working with some lapidaries on fantasy cutting—GIA defines this as concave cuts made on the back of gemstones—for some of the thinner stones that wouldn’t necessarily make sense to facet traditionally and could see a higher yield with an alternate cut.
https://www.gia.edu/munsteiner-gem-cut
One thing Yogold would like to be more involved in next year is jewelry production, Edington said. They have custom-made a few pieces to test ideas and develop samples.
For right now, though, its focus is on the wholesale side.
And so far, Yogold has been able to sell everything it produced.
“The demand is substantial,” Edington said. “We can’t even come close to filling all the orders that we have right now. That’s a great position to be in.”
The Latest
The necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
The two organizations will host a joint event, “Converge,” in September 2025.
Padis succeeds Lisa Bridge, marking the first time the organization has had two women board presidents in a row.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shared the “five Es” of building a fan base during his AGS Conclave keynote.
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
The three-time Pro Bowler continues to partner with the retailer, donating to a Detroit nonprofit and giving watches to fans.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
The selected nine organizations have outlined their plans for the funds.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
Emmanuel Raheb recommends digging into demographic data, customizing your store’s communications, and retargeting ahead of May 12.
Located in the town of Queensbury, it features a dedicated bridal section and a Gabriel & Co. store-in-store.
A 203-carat diamond from the alluvial mine in Angola achieved the highest price.
Ruser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.
The “Rebel Heart” campaign embodies rebellion, romance, and sensuality, the brand said.
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares the standout moments from the education sessions she attended in Austin last week.
The overhaul includes a new logo and enhanced digital marketplace.
The money will go toward supporting ongoing research and aftercare programs for childhood cancer survivors.
A new addition to the “Heirloom” collection, this one-of-a-kind piece features 32 custom-cut gemstones.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The move will allow the manufacturing company to offer a more “diverse and comprehensive” range of products.
From now through mid-May, GIA will be offering the reports at a 50 percent discount.
De Beers’ rough diamond sales were down 18 percent year-over-year in its latest round of sales.