Estimated Value Of U.S. Natural Gemstone Production, By Gem Type

This table provides a detailed overview of the estimated monetary value of natural and synthetic gemstone production in the United States, categorized by gem type for the years 2020 and 2021. This information is crucial for understanding the economic contribution of the gemstone sector to the broader mineral industry, highlighting trends in both natural resource extraction and synthetic gemstone manufacturing. Such data supports industry stakeholders, policymakers, and market analysts in assessing market dynamics, guiding investment decisions, and formulating resource management strategies.

Analysis of the data reveals that the total estimated value of natural gemstone production slightly declined from $9.82 million in 2020 to $9.48 million in 2021. Notable decreases occurred in turquoise, dropping from $1.1 million to $846,000, and in both macrocrystalline and cryptocrystalline quartz varieties, which fell from $625,000 to $518,000 and $971,000 to $750,000 respectively. Conversely, garnet production value surged significantly, nearly tripling from $19,000 to $57,000. Synthetic gemstones showed robust growth, with total values rising from $55 million to $79.3 million. Synthetic diamond and moissanite production values increased markedly, with diamonds rising from $25.7 million to $40 million and moissanite from $29.2 million to $39.2 million. These trends underscore a growing market preference and industrial reliance on synthetic gems, while natural gemstone production remains relatively stable but with some shifts in individual gem types.