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This place was cool. Reasonably priced with lots of polished rocks. The is a sign that says "one adult for every 5 kids" which made me laugh. The poor staff must have to constantly deal with noisy kids knocking everything over...just like I did when a kid. They had panning supplies, maps, crystals, and lots of coins. Also didn't try to pressure us to buy stuff.
What a cute store filled with fun stuff. Lots of gems to choose from. The kids will love this place! I got two pair of earrings for less than $30. An agate and a charka set of earrings. I get lots of compliments on them. The place is busy and the woman behind the counter was more than willing to help me and answer my questions. I would come back if in the area. August 2023
My munchkin loves this store anytime we are in Old Town and this store is open. However, it seems there is only 1 check-in recorded for yelp.. in any event, He gawks at the Megalodon teeth each time. However if you are into gemstones, rocks, fossils like shark teeth then thisnis the perfect place for you. We have also done the rock dig. They have prepackaged bags you purchase and they take you out back and give you space in their area and show you how to shuffle the sand/dirt to get the rocks. Otherwise this place is per gram and some prices are for the entire gemstone... but mostly by weight. Pricing wise, I have noticed that prices seem high when comparing to the gem show that comes into town bi-annually. In any event, an awesome store to go through and see some history if you are trolling around old Town.
I can't say enough about this place. We've been coming here for about 10 years. It never disappoints. Our kids love the panning for gems. When we're in San Diego, we have to stop by and pan for some gems. Staff is super friendly and very knowledgeable. Thank you!!
PROS: this place had fossils, teeth, stones, casts, and all for decent prices. This is the largest display in the area making them the #1 stop on my list for gems CONS: the two owners there were grouchy to me and didn't seem to care about helping me. They acted like they didn't want to be there OVERALL: merchandise is amazing and worth buying, but as for the help use google
I have to say, if you are into geology and stuff, you will like this place. They sure have a lot of cool stuff including fossils, collectable mineral specimens, gemstones, and cabochons. Some are well priced and some are quite pricey. The place is a little tight inside, especially with all the tourist around. As an educator, I was interesting in the literature and history of the place. I learned that appointment can be made for school groups two weeks prior to the visit for pan mining demonstration and for a brief history mining era in California with lesson provided in geology as well. They also sell jewelry and the more expensive stuff or "fine jewelry" has its own room. Miner's Gems is located in the old Casa de Pedrorena de Altamirano building, located in the heart of Old Town. I picked up a few ounce of pyrite to share with the students. The staff was very friendly, especially the lady at the cash register.
Loved this place. Cannot WAIT to take the grandkids there. We watched a young lady panning for fossils. She had a big pile of sharks teeth to take home and was just enjoying the hunt so much! Very reasonable price too! We bought bags of assorted fossils as souvenirs for the kids. They are individually bagged and identified and my elementary aged grands just LOVED them. Smart fun!
We really like this gem and mineral store in Old Town. This little store has a wonderful selection of gems, minerals, fossils, and some unique home decor items. We always try to stop here when we're in the San Diego area. Although some of items can be a bit expensive here, there are plenty of beautiful things that are less pricey. My son and I enjoy looking at all cool items throughout the store, and there is a great section devoted to reasonably priced rocks and minerals for students. The cases are always full decorative items like bowls, vases, and bookends. Their shelves are also filled with plenty of amazing gems, ready to be made into fine jewelry, and there are also some really unique pieces of jewelry throughout the store. Whenever we've purchased items from here, the sales associate always puts a pre-printed description (along with the gem or mineral) into the bag so we don't forget the item's name after we get it home. This is a great service! It keeps us from forgetting exactly what we purchased here. I think this is so convenient for the customer. For a great selection of gems, minerals, rocks, fossils, and jewelry, Miner's Gems is a fun place to stop when you're near Old Town!
One of the cool places we checked out during our visit to Old Town. This place has a big selection of gemstones, minerals, rocks, and fossils. We also found a small bowl of shark teeth that could easily be made into necklaces which we thought was cool. The items seem to be organized for the most part, but the store feels a little cluttered. We were probably in this store a good 20 minutes or so looking at everything. My god daughter found an assortment of gems that were shaped into animals. There were turtles, penguins, dogs, tigers, bears, and more. She ended up choosing a squirrel due to the fact that we love the Disney Pixar movie Up. The squirrel came with an educational reference sheet that had info about the stone, the hardness factor, and so forth. Since the store is situated in Old Town, it wasn't a shock to see that most of their items were overpriced. This is pretty much the case at most stores and restaurants located in tourist areas such as Old Town. The staff was friendly and overall, our group had a great time at this shop.
The store is very strict when it comes to kids, but in their defense, there are a lot of tempting things for kids to reach for and knock over. Despite that, my kids insist on making this a regular stop to "pan for gold". Its a fun experience for both kids and adults and an opportunity to satisfy those curious young minds about the different types of stones from all around the world. Highly recommend it. Cash only for the planning because as they put it, they "don't make money from this". I highly recommend it.
Lots of gems, rocks, jewelry, stones and more. I loved that all displays had descriptions & that you could touch & feel many items. I loved the history of this store and knowledgeable employees. They are located in old town SD. read more
1 year ago
This has been a location I have visited dozens of times. For many years I've visited this location and have been greeted by the most kind, inviting, sweet, and beyond knowledgeable. Visited in February and left with bunch of items. From, stones, to coins for the kids, to fossils. Visited yesterday and I must have left with my now.... most favorite gem in a beautiful setting. I've been stopped all day to ask what stone and where did I get this ring from. Returned today because there was a third ring... I could NOT bare to leave on the 27th without. I did not grab the young lady's name. But, she has a gorgeous accident and for two days she walked me to each cabinet, unlocked them, allowed me to try multiple rings on. I felt so guilty lol!!! But, she was just amazing at helping me find the exact ones I was looking for. I can't wait to return in November and December!!!! Thank you again!!!! Best birthday gifts to myself! read more
A must stop in old town! Their shop is full of both stunning and curious collections at excellent prices, but the panning experience is what brought us in. My kids absolutely loved this setup. It's very simple but value is excellent. If you have a gem loving child with an eye for detail, the panning for gems is a great activity. My kids happily hung out here for almost an hour, though one of my kids could have stayed another hour still. Depends on their interest and focus. Staff is friendly, the shop is well organized, and they have a great location in the walking area of OT. We'll be back! read more
This place was cool. Reasonably priced with lots of polished rocks. The is a sign that says "one adult for every 5 kids" which made me laugh. The poor staff must have to constantly deal with noisy kids knocking everything over...just like I did when a kid. They had panning supplies, maps, crystals, and lots of coins. Also didn't try to pressure us to buy stuff. read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
What a cute store filled with fun stuff. Lots of gems to choose from. The kids will love this place! I got two pair of earrings for less than $30. An agate and a charka set of earrings. I get lots of compliments on them. The place is busy and the woman behind the counter was more than willing to help me and answer my questions. I would come back if in the area. August 2023 read more
4 years ago
My munchkin loves this store anytime we are in Old Town and this store is open. However, it seems there is only 1 check-in recorded for yelp.. in any event, He gawks at the Megalodon teeth each time. However if you are into gemstones, rocks, fossils like shark teeth then thisnis the perfect place for you. We have also done the rock dig. They have prepackaged bags you purchase and they take you out back and give you space in their area and show you how to shuffle the sand/dirt to get the rocks. Otherwise this place is per gram and some prices are for the entire gemstone... but mostly by weight. Pricing wise, I have noticed that prices seem high when comparing to the gem show that comes into town bi-annually. In any event, an awesome store to go through and see some history if you are trolling around old Town. read more
2 years ago
I can't say enough about this place. We've been coming here for about 10 years. It never disappoints. Our kids love the panning for gems. When we're in San Diego, we have to stop by and pan for some gems. Staff is super friendly and very knowledgeable. Thank you!! read more
4 years ago
PROS: this place had fossils, teeth, stones, casts, and all for decent prices. This is the largest display in the area making them the #1 stop on my list for gems CONS: the two owners there were grouchy to me and didn't seem to care about helping me. They acted like they didn't want to be there OVERALL: merchandise is amazing and worth buying, but as for the help use google read more
5 years ago
2 years ago
5 years ago
I have to say, if you are into geology and stuff, you will like this place. They sure have a lot of cool stuff including fossils, collectable mineral specimens, gemstones, and cabochons. Some are well priced and some are quite pricey. The place is a little tight inside, especially with all the tourist around. As an educator, I was interesting in the literature and history of the place. I learned that appointment can be made for school groups two weeks prior to the visit for pan mining demonstration and for a brief history mining era in California with lesson provided in geology as well. They also sell jewelry and the more expensive stuff or "fine jewelry" has its own room. Miner's Gems is located in the old Casa de Pedrorena de Altamirano building, located in the heart of Old Town. I picked up a few ounce of pyrite to share with the students. The staff was very friendly, especially the lady at the cash register. read more
7 years ago
Loved this place. Cannot WAIT to take the grandkids there. We watched a young lady panning for fossils. She had a big pile of sharks teeth to take home and was just enjoying the hunt so much! Very reasonable price too! We bought bags of assorted fossils as souvenirs for the kids. They are individually bagged and identified and my elementary aged grands just LOVED them. Smart fun! read more
We really like this gem and mineral store in Old Town. This little store has a wonderful selection of gems, minerals, fossils, and some unique home decor items. We always try to stop here when we're in the San Diego area. Although some of items can be a bit expensive here, there are plenty of beautiful things that are less pricey. My son and I enjoy looking at all cool items throughout the store, and there is a great section devoted to reasonably priced rocks and minerals for students. The cases are always full decorative items like bowls, vases, and bookends. Their shelves are also filled with plenty of amazing gems, ready to be made into fine jewelry, and there are also some really unique pieces of jewelry throughout the store. Whenever we've purchased items from here, the sales associate always puts a pre-printed description (along with the gem or mineral) into the bag so we don't forget the item's name after we get it home. This is a great service! It keeps us from forgetting exactly what we purchased here. I think this is so convenient for the customer. For a great selection of gems, minerals, rocks, fossils, and jewelry, Miner's Gems is a fun place to stop when you're near Old Town! read more
11 years ago
One of the cool places we checked out during our visit to Old Town. This place has a big selection of gemstones, minerals, rocks, and fossils. We also found a small bowl of shark teeth that could easily be made into necklaces which we thought was cool. The items seem to be organized for the most part, but the store feels a little cluttered. We were probably in this store a good 20 minutes or so looking at everything. My god daughter found an assortment of gems that were shaped into animals. There were turtles, penguins, dogs, tigers, bears, and more. She ended up choosing a squirrel due to the fact that we love the Disney Pixar movie Up. The squirrel came with an educational reference sheet that had info about the stone, the hardness factor, and so forth. Since the store is situated in Old Town, it wasn't a shock to see that most of their items were overpriced. This is pretty much the case at most stores and restaurants located in tourist areas such as Old Town. The staff was friendly and overall, our group had a great time at this shop. read more
The store is very strict when it comes to kids, but in their defense, there are a lot of tempting things for kids to reach for and knock over. Despite that, my kids insist on making this a regular stop to "pan for gold". Its a fun experience for both kids and adults and an opportunity to satisfy those curious young minds about the different types of stones from all around the world. Highly recommend it. Cash only for the planning because as they put it, they "don't make money from this". I highly recommend it. read more
6 years ago
I'm a local and first time shopping at this place. I like that the store was organized making it easy to shop. The little cards explaining the healing benefits of each crystal inside the trays are so helpful. So many beautiful pieces to choose from and a wide range of pretty jewelry items. Spent a good hour in this place:) I usually go to another gem place down the street, but I definitely will be coming to this one when I want new crystals/good vibes! Prices are affordable and ideal depending what you are looking for (if you know). One of my favorite items are the stretchy bead bracelets!! read more
12 years ago
FAVORITE gem store in San Diego! I love the variety of stones, how they give you information cards with each stone, provide you rope to wear your pendent, friendly staff, BEAUTIFUL crystals and gems, an reasonable pricing. I always make sure to come here whenever I get the chance! read more
6 years ago
Such a sweet and energy oasis on the middle of san diego old town! The gem mining 'experience' is great for young children. Beautiful selection with reasonable prices. Remember the crystal finds you read more
6 years ago
Great selection of crystals and fossils!! A must when you're in Old Town or if you're a Crystal Lover!! The employees are extremely kind and the owner is even nicer!! I've gotten MANY items from them but here an example of a few items they have. read more
I bought a heart-shaped turquoise colored and brown colored pendant at an affordable price: $5.00 and $7.00. I like how they packaged the pendant in a little bag with a piece of paper that tells you about the type of mineral and its origin. Miner's Gem is worth a visit, even if you're not really looking to buy something. read more
6 years ago
I hope to come back soon because I had lots of fun! :) They were able to regulate social distancing when mining. It was $6 to have a tray to mine and it was very worth it! You can actually choose to mine gems or fossils (shark teeth)!! I was very excited to hear that I was able to have this option! After mining, there's an area where you were able to look at a chart filled with gems and their names. :) this helped me understand which gems I had in my bag !! (Oh ya, you receive a small bag to put all your gems/shark teeth)!! read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
12 years ago
My sister and I were on the look out for some really cool gem pendant necklaces. We were about to give up and go home, when we found this little place. The second I walked in, I fell in love. There's a huge assortment of gems to pick from that have a little ring to thread some string or rope through. They're reasonably priced too, ranging from $1-$5 a piece or $1-$3.50 an ounce. In total, my sister and I got 11 pieces and spent $27. I think that was WELL worth it, considering necklaces like these cost about $15-$40 a piece. Now, we have the pendant and we just have to go buy some string. The guy sold rope there for $.75 but I didn't like the way it looked so I decided to wait and check out another store. I'm not from San Diego, I'm here for vacation with my family, and I am very sad that it's so far away from me :( I hope I'm back in the area soon so I can buy more! Loved this place! read more
more like 2.5/5 stars. the store seems very clustered and lived up to the stereotype that defines old town san diego. Pricey, outdated and a complete tourist trap. its not a bad place to come by and check out gems, rocks and fossils if that's your thang... there's plenty of odd and random things to look at. there's a conveyor belt that houses more gemstones. the most interesting one i saw was this rock made from the blast of an atomic bomb out in Nevada or something. I ended up buying a heart shaped rock because i thought it looked cute and thought my gf would appreciate it. which she did. thanks miner's gem. you can pan for gem stones in the back. as a side note: (i saw the owner walking out of the backroom carrying a box of what seemed like reject gems...and he was smiling the whole time. i think he gets a kick out of poor tourists stopping by and wasting money on the experience of panning for "precious" gems.) haters goin' hate. The person at the cashier was not friendly at all. He was working on something, and told me to wait while i was trying to buy the heart stone... it took him a while to try and glue something together.... im a patience guy. but doesn't it seem more prudent to assist me and then getting back to work. I'm not there all day man, however...you are. read more
7 years ago
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More info about Miner's Gems
2616 San Diego Ave
San Diego, CA 92110
Old Town
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(619) 688-1178
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http://www.minersgemsandminerals.com
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