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September 2023 by k Frymier (5frys)
Julie makes beautiful silver jewelry. I purchased this Montana garnet set in an intricate silver setting. I absolutely love it. When I need high quality jewelry at a fair price, I head to Virginia City.
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August 2023 by Zeta B.
We stopped here while visiting Virginia City and Julie was so nice and kind! She had a wonderful selection of jewelry and stones and chatted with me about how her and her father make the jewelry themselves! An absolutely stunning collection and I will be stopping back by if I ever am in Virginia City again!!
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September 2022 by Kendra Swackhamer
Julie’s has a great selection! Friendly staff that are knowledgeable. This place was “calling” me. I went in looking for a sapphire ring with the setting being a horseshoe. Didn’t think I would actually find one. I found it! In my size. While in Virginia City, this is a must stop.
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June 2022 by K P.
I was at a show an hour drive away from home and came across Julie and an assortment of her jewelry. It was really nice stuff. Well made and VERY fairly priced. I looked, but didn't buy. After I got home, I was sorry I had passed up a piece I liked. I made a second trip the next day, back to the show, to buy that ring. It was a Montana garnet ring, with nice mount and very nice stones. It was a hit on Mother's Day. Yes, Virginia City is a tourist trap, but Julie is a second generation proprietor of a gem and mineral business her dad started. This is a legacy business in small town northwest America. If you're not ready for a small town vibe or tourist shops...it's OK if you stay on the interstate on your way to California. Montana is known as the "Treasure State," and Julie has some nice local treasures.
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May 2022 by Carol Goswick
Such a great experience visiting Julie in her store in early May of 2022. I loved all her very unique jewelry that she sets herself. Was hard not to fall in love with all of them. She helped me pick out a perfect ring and kept my husband entertained with all the amazing stories she had to share haha. A lot of history in Virginia City and it’s nice to see her still mining her claim and selling jewelry she makes from the gems. All around great experience. Thank you Julie! Support a small local business!
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May 2022 by Ronda Devine
Beautiful, unique jewelry.
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October 2021 by Chelsea Yates
So my purchase was about 2 years ago. my fiancé and I went in to look at rings and found a beautiful one to be my engagement ring. my fiance had it altered with a london blue topaz and it was breath taking. When it was time for the question to be popped, I was so taken aback by it and the scenery. This ring couldnt have been more perfect.
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August 2021 by Brian Beyer
Stopped at Julie's with our 3 kids. 10, 7 and 4We had been hunting for Garnets at the Ruby Reservoir nearby. Julie was in and very knowledgeable and helpful after a long weekend on a Sunday afternoon. We bought some little pieces of Montana gold for the kids from her families claim. Great gal and cool city is Virginia City. I would highly recommend!!!
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May 2021 by Kand K.
While vacationing in Montana, Fall 2020, we traveled the "Ghost Town" route as described in the MT state tour guide. If you must travel to Virginia City MT area; DON'T STOPP, KEEP GOING. DON'T LOOK BACK, KEEP GOING. If you think that you want to be ripped off just through your money out of your window as you pass Julie and her Gems and KEEP GOING. She will be happy to take it! Wave at the shady looking characters literally hanging out the door at the local saloon across the street from Julie's Gems because they will be staring at you as you drive by. Take my advice; the whole state of MT especially this area is not for tourist. You are not safe or welcome. Just stay on the interstate and KEEP GOING. We made the mistake of stopping into Julie's Gems in Virginia City. Bought a Yogo Sapphire ring for $550, a strand of turquoise beads for $12, and Julie insisted we take a free book which we didn't want. Julie overcharged us for the beads and then lied about it when confronted after we got home. I took the ring to my jeweler to be sized and the jeweler looked at it (Microscope) and handed it back to me stating the sapphire had a chip. I confronted Julie and she said sure send it back. I sent it back to her and she gave the runaround on what was happening with it. I requested a refund. Then all of a sudden she stated that it had been repaired and she mailed it back to me. WHAT? Just how did you repair or replace the stone? With what? This is just wrong! I had no say in what was done with the ring. It is my money! I never received the ring so I started to find ways to recover my money. She actually committed fraud with my bank. Every time anybody talked to her about this she presented more lies, was misleading, was misrepresenting, performed scamming and theft. It went from I tried to pry out the stone and damaged the ring to my jewelry damaged it when sizing it. Again the Jeweler never had it in their possession. Also after the purchase while trying to get my funds returned, she stated to me no guarantee on Yogo sapphires, and then suddenly came up with an enormous restocking fee, to overcharging for the beads, to paying for the free book. She even hired an attorney to avoid paying $620 that is rightfully my money. Beware! I have been to the District Attorney and Attorney General in an attempt to resolve this matter and the local Sherriff. They all said Julie broke no laws. YES this is apparently legal in MT. I keep getting told this is legal and it's a civil issue go to small claims. Well guess what? MT does not make it easy for an out of state tourist to file small claims. You have to travel to MT to file the claim then travel again for court. Civil court you need an attorney which would cost more than $620! We never felt comfortable while in this area and with this ordeal it is apparent to me that if you are not part of the "Good Old Boy's Club" stay away. The law is not there to protect you. You are on your own. This is especially if you are a person of color or one of those protected groups. I'm sure if Julie sees this review she will come back with even more lies!
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March 2021 by Taylor Todd
Bought this beautiful ring back in August and I never take it off. It’s such a beautiful piece that makes me smile from the memories every time I look at it. I definitely am hoping to get back to Virginia city to buy a few more pieces in the future.
