Herkimer Diamond Mines And KOA Kampground

World Famous Herkimer Diamonds are beautiful double-terminated quartz crystals found in Herkimer, NY USA. Incredibly, these phenomenal gemstones are close to five hundred million years old. The crystals found in the bedrock have a “natural diamond-like geometrical shape”. Thus, the name recognition of “Herkimer Diamonds”.

The Herkimer Diamond Mines Gift Shop holds 5000 square feet of jewelry, gems and rocks & minerals from every continent! Over 4000 designs, 50 designers and 200 mines from around the world are concentrated in a magical shopping experience. The Mines also showcase its own unusual designs of Herkimer Diamond jewelry in silver, 14 kt white and yellow gold. Although there are some extremely reasonable ($10) and high end ($1000) jewelry designs, most of the selection ranges from $40 - $90 in price point.

Visit our online store at www.herkimerdiamond.com for amazing deals and monthly specials! Also, jewelry as seen on HSN and other internationally televised channels! (Make bold and larger – swap internationally and televised)

Visit our Gem Trade Shows for 2013:

Herkimer Diamond Mines Gift Shop & Museum Hours:

Natural Herkimer Diamonds:

The quartz crystals nicknamed Herkimer Diamonds are from Herkimer County, New York in the United States of America. They range in size from microscopic to over six inches long and are characterized by very shiny surfaces, frequent high clarity, short, stubby bodies and double terminations. A large percentage of them are under an inch in length with excellent clarity, which is the reason they are nicknamed “diamonds”.

Grade AA – crystals in this group are flawless to the naked eye. They are extremely rare and become more so in larger sizes. Typically used for collection and high end jewelry. Available sizes: vial size (smaller than 1/8”), 1/8”, 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”, 3/4”, 7/8”, 1” and up.

Grade A – these gems have only slight flaws. They may have small attachment marks, inclusions, or fractures which do not significantly take away from the overall clarity of the diamond. These flaws should not exceed more than 5% of the total diamond. Both termination points should be present. Typically used for multiple jewelry products. Available sizes: 1/8”, 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”, 3/4”, 7/8”, 1” and up.

Grade B – A crystal in this category should retain the general Herkimer Diamond shape. It may be cloudy from internal fractures, have large attachment marks, and / or termination point damage. The diamond should have reasonably good appearance. Typically used for diamond resale, pouches, pillows, gifts, and bell-capped jewelry. Available sizes: 1/8”, 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”, 3/4”, 7/8”, 1” and up.

Grade C – Diamonds in this group will be more than 40% flawed. Missing termination points, extreme cloudiness and / or fractured sections missing are all common factors to this category. Available sizes: 1/8”, 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”, 3/4”, 7/8”, 1” and up.

Herkimer Diamond Jewelry

Metaphysical Stones: Metaphysically, these crystals are associated with activation of the third eye and an increase in one’s visionary capacity. Sleeping with Herkimers is believed to enhance the dream state and to increase the frequency of lucid dreams. Wearing Herkimer “Diamonds” may bring about greater access to inner guidance and physic abilities. Those whose work involves visual creativity or use of the imagination may find that wearing these crystals facilitates greater fertility of the inner wellspring of ideas. It is also said that these crystals can help alleviate tension and align the energy structures of wearer, creating an overall state of well being. Through meditation, they can be programmed to enhance whatever mental and emotional states one wishes. Herkimer’s combine especially well with Moldavite, and will harmonize with almost any other gemstone.

Enhydros: Herkimer Diamonds with hydro inclusions are truly unique. The value of an enhydro Herkimer Diamond is dependent on the size of the inclusion, size, and overall quality of the diamond, and movement of “floater” bubbles or “sinker” specks of anthraxolite inside the inclusion. A nice hydro inclusion in good quality diamond can make the crystal worth as much as five times of what the diamond would be worth without the inclusion.

Solid Inclusions: Many Herkimer Diamonds will have solid inclusions. Black anthraxolite is the most common of solid inclusions found in the diamonds. The presence of anthraxolite inside a diamond may enhance its beauty. Other minerals which may be found as solid inclusions in the diamonds include iron pyrite, dolomite crystals, calcite, sphalerite, and garnet. Value of a diamond with a solid inclusion is usually contingent on the aesthetics of the inclusion.

Twins & Doubles: Often, two diamonds which are attached to each other are found. These sometimes result in very interesting configurations. Occasionally, two attached diamonds that look very much alike are called “Siamese Twins”. Rarely, you may see what is called “Penetration Twins”. These are two like diamonds which have grown together and the c-axis of its twin. It is not uncommon to find a diamond which has another smaller one attached. These are sometimes called “piggy-backs”.

Clusters: These are groups of diamonds which have grown together. A cluster can make a spectacular display piece. The majority of the time, a group of diamonds which formed together will break apart during the extraction process. When the group appears to have a great deal of aesthetic potential, it can be well worth your time to reconstruct the cluster. A high quality epoxy adhesive may be used to glue the group back together. The diamonds can be puzzled back together by matching the attachment marks. The value of a cluster is dependent on its aesthetics. A nice cluster is valued as much as five times what the value of the diamonds alone would bring. Then again, it may not be worth any more than the diamonds would if sold individually.

Tabulars: These are extremely rare. Only one attractive tabular is found in every five hundred diamonds. A tabular will have two opposing center facets which have grown much larger that the other faces of the diamond. This gives the crystal a flat tabular appearance.

Color Veils: Occasionally, healed fractures inside a diamond will refract a brilliant spectrum of rainbow colors when it is hit by light. The diamond is worth even more if the healed fracture cannot be seen with the naked eye. These may also be called “rainbows.”

Smokies: A smoky crystal will have a very slight gray to black discoloration inside. This discoloration sometimes will look like thin clouds of smoke settled inside the diamond. This smoke is disseminated anthraxolite.

Skeletals: A skeletal has depressed cavern in the center of one of the termination faces. Skeletals have an interesting pattern of multiple fracture lines running parallel with two or more sides of a face on a diamond. The lines appear to have occurred during the growth stage and are usually spaced in such a manner to give a three dimensional, holographic look when observed through on face.

Phantoms: A phantom crystal is one in which another crystal formed inside a larger crystal. The phantom crystal trapped inside can often easily be seen with the naked eye. These are very rare.

Other Specimens: There are other specimens of Herkimer Diamonds which are rare and valuable. Some diamonds formed with more or less the normal eighteen face surfaces. This can result in some very interesting shapes, such as cubicle, rectangular, or octagon configurations.

Matrix: Herkimer Diamonds in the matrix can also be valuable. Unique matrix specimens may have Herkimer Diamonds on matrix with calcite, druse quartz, or iron pyrite. Clusters in the dolomite matrix can also be very beautiful.

Pockets: Although the most popular method of prospecting for loose Herkimer Diamonds is by breaking them out of a single rock, domes pocket mining in the table – layer of rock is usually very rich with diamonds. Some pockets are known to contain thousands of diamonds. Pockets or cups can be up to six feet in diameter and usually no less than one foot. The dome-like tops of the pockets are often lines with small, white cubic-shaped dolomite crystal. Occasionally, the top will be beautiful black druse quartz. Pockets containing diamond crystal are never the same either in size or in quality. Most pockets, as a rule, will contain diamond crystals of various sizes. Some pockets may contain large crystals ranging in size from four to eight inches long and three to four inches wide. Other pockets with medium sized crystals range in size from an inch and a half to three to four inches long and a half-inch to two inches wide. Micro crystals are always found. We sell only one or two pockets per year. Price is dependant upon quality of pocket and size of pocket.

The Corporate Office for the Herkimer Diamond Mines is located directly off the New York State Thruway (exit 30). Please contact Dr. Renee’ Scialdo Shevat at 315-717-0175 for wholesale pricing and special discounts on rough and finished goods. See our extensive wholesale offerings in natural Herkimer Diamond specimens, faceted Herkimer Diamond calibrated shapes, finished Herkimer Diamond jewelry in sterling silver and 14 kt gold and a variety of lines in sterling silver with colored stones. Ask about our shows throughout the world !