A viral engagement story is making waves after a man from Spokane, Washington, decided to skip the jewelry store and go straight to the source. Brandon Parker proposed to his now-fiancée, Melissa Absher, with 100 pounds of raw sapphire gravel shipped from the Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine in Philipsburg, Montana.
Instead of a finished ring, the couple (and their families) spent the post-proposal celebration sifting through the dirt at a Montana barbecue. Out of roughly 105 rough stones found, 43 were gem-quality, including a massive 4-carat sapphire. Melissa plans to use several of these personally-mined stones to design a one-of-a-kind bespoke engagement ring.
The Results
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The Haul: 100 lbs of mining gravel yielded 43 high-quality gems.
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The “One”: A unique 4-carat purple-gray-blue sapphire with peachy undertones.
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The Value: While 100 lbs of gravel costs roughly $200 (plus shipping), the resulting stones could be worth thousands after cutting and treating.
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The Experience: The couple described the “panning party” as a meaningful way for family to contribute to the creation of their future heirloom.
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