Lakeside Gems

I was in town with some friends when we came across this shop and we were very pleasantly surprised by the selection and prices of all the different items they had. There’s a little bit of everything for everyone and me and my friends all got a little something before we left. The shop attendant was very helpful and kind and we all had a very nice shopping experience. Definitely a great place to check out with friends and family!

Great shop, and Linda and Chris are amazing people! Lakeside Gems is like a second home in Bancroft. Don't forget to check out their stunning crystal shop when you pass Bancroft, Ontario!

We drove from Burlington Ontario to Bancroft to visit the Princess Solidite mine / gift shop and do some rock hounding. We were not overly impressed with the experience. We could only imagine the disappointment of children visiting the site on a summer long weekend. On our return trip, we decided to partake in a treat at the Kawartha Dairy. We were told about this "Gem" of a shop and decided to press our luck.

The shop is open, warm, and inviting. The displays are well lit and offer excellent information on the artifacts on display. We spent a long time with the attentive team member, making a selection of our gem de jour, the quartz agate. We selected several to take home to crack on our deck during the long weekend.

Overall, the experience made up for the previous disappointment. This is a wonderful gem and mineral paradise nestled in the heart of cottage country.

The prices are reasonable. The selection is amazing. The team is knowledgeable. And it is close to ice cream 🍦. What's not to like?

Linda, Chris, and Destiny are the most kind and down to earth people you’ll meet! They’ve worked so hard to bring the best quality of gems and customer service to the wonderful people who come into Lakeside Gems. You can really tell that they have so much passion in their work and what they do. Lakeside Gems has grown so much and i can’t wait for another great summer here.

A huge collection of gems. I’m love with this place since it has beautiful pieces. Definitely worth visiting. The price ranges from low to high. It depends on the material, but still it’s worth it.

An impressive selection of mineral specimens. Normally I find prices are marked up quite high on minerals sold in shops, but here they are very reasonable. Not just the typical amethyst, sodalite, rose quartz, fluorite neither. Sorted very neatly in many drawers their variety is vast, so there is alot to look through and even more advanced collectors can find something they dont have. They also sell what appear to be higher quality rock hammers and other rockhounding accessories so I will be stopping by start of next season to replace my cheap amazon hammers.

Fantastic experience at this fabulous shop! Staff was extremely helpful in assisting with the purchase of a perfect graduation gift for my niece. This store is beautiful and has something for everyone. It is a true shopping experience and tourist destination. Congrats to Linda and the team!

We spend the day with Chris on a mineral field trip and it was very fascinating. Chris is a walking encyclopedia if it comes to archeology, and his passion will probably get rubbed off on you.

Coming from Europe and being used to fancy looking gem stores with very reasonable pricing, we were negatively surprised seeing most shops and prices out here in canada.
Lake Side Gems finally made us feel great again!!!
Great service, a very nice setting and fair pricing.
A definitive must see! Its worth the drive!

This is the coolest gem store! The owner is a gem herself as she has incredible knowledge of the stones, crystals and gems. Local artists have painted slate with nature scenes and for sale as well.

The day trip rock hunting was awesome! Definitely reccommend visiting here!

Friendly, informative and very accommodating.
Spectacular find! Family who was visiting Bancroft for the first time, and who is passionate about rocks, crystals and geological finds, was visiting when Lakeside Gems was closed for winter but open by appointment only. I contacted them through their website, they immediately responded by phone and were flexible to open just for us and at our convenience. This, and the extraordinary inventory made our Christmas extra special. Thank you!

Had a great day with Chris Fouts, we were a group of 13 of ages 2-77 years. He explained the types of rocks, how to find them, and where we would be trying to locate them. We were armed with picks, rock picks, and some brick trowels. Highly recommend gloves and benadryl in case of bees. If Chris says to watch out for bees/wasps please listen. He is very knowledgeable about the rocks and local areas. We had a good discussion on explosives and their usage in mining. Highly recommend doing this tour!! Chris is a great guide!!

We have visited Lakeside Gems several times when we have visited the Bancroft area. Staff is always helpful, the owner is honest and courteous. Last visit, we disagreed on the price of an item. Student at counter did not recognize it as a typo, though it obviously had 2 numbers reversed. Owner came in and settled the matter instantaneously. We left with the item and with a new appreciation for the owner. Will stop in again next year during the Gemboree! Love this store!

I ordered a single barrel 12lb Lortone tumbler & my order was filled & shipped out the same day. UPS delivered it the day after that. Great price,very friendly owners & staff that personalized my order. I will be taking all of my tumbling business here in the future

Beautiful little shop! My 9 year old daughter absolutely loved it! Linda was very friendly and full of information about places to check out in the area! Would highly recommend stopping in if you're in the area!

They were absolutely great! It's completely stuffed full of fantastic specimens and gorgeous gems. We had even just been at the sodalite quarry down the road, and they generously went through our finds to tell us what we had. They even wrapped up some of the nicer pieces for us for the long drive home. 100% 10/10 would recommend stopping in!!

We purchased a rock tumbler from Lakeside Gems many years ago and haven’t used it now for 3 years as my son went to BC to study biology. I totally forgot how to put the lid on securely…🤓there is a trick to it!! I called Linda and she was sooo patient with me and helpful and didn’t say, ‘you called me last year with the same question!!!’, she walked me through it step by step AGAIN and made me feel comfortable to call again with ANY questions😊
Incredibly high quality products with personal and friendly service!!

Most friendly staff and experienced and knowledgeable! Their new shop is amazing. If they don't have it, they will get it. I love the new online shows they do. Shipping is fast and reliable. You won't be disappointed!

Some of the most knowledgeable and kind mineral collectors in the area with a superb collection of Bancroft area minerals, in addition to many other localities. Great supply of rock hammers and other tools too!

I’m travelling from Thunder Bay, ON and found this gem of a place on the outskirts of the town of Bancroft. Love this little quaint Rock Shop. So many crystals and so many other beautiful gift ideas or personal items available here.