Gaumer’s Jewelry has been in business since 1967. Founded in partnership between Al and Mabel Gaumer and their son John and his wife Terry, the business has continued to grow with the addition of a third generation of jewelers and rockhounds through Bill Gaumer.  Gaumer’s carries a great selection of fine gold and silver jewelry, original hand-crafted jewelry, semiprecious and precious stones, lapidary equipment and jewelry-making supplies. The giftware portion of the business offers books, coasters, vases, unique decorative items and beautiful hand-crafted jewelry boxes.  The Gaumer family interest in gems and minerals has been actively pursued for four generations as John O. Gaumer was a gold miner in Northern California for 25 years. His son Al continued the tradition with formal education in the field of mining engineering before returning to gold mining with his father and a lifelong pursuit of prospecting and rockhounding throughout the western United States.  

The family passion for rocks turned a hobby into a full time business when John and Terry decided to open a store utilizing the family’s extensive rock collection and John’s jewelry making skills. This combination served Tehama County until 1993, when Bill came on board and really shook things up. Four years later, the business remodeled, adding an 800 square foot mineral and mining museum and additional retail and manufacturing space.  In 1999, Bill finished his course work with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and received the prestigious Graduate Gemologist diploma.  Gaumer’s Mineral and Mining Museum features over fifty years and four generations of collecting. Beautiful, rare gem and minerals specimens from around the world , stone carvings, fossils, Native American artifacts, a fluorescent mineral display, and a detailed replica of an old mine tunnel complete with ore car, tracks and mining equipment. The free museum is open to the public during normal business hours; group tours are available for schools and special interest groups. Business hours are Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm, with occasional Saturday hours.