Cut Gemstone Investment

[A#1]

I know how to invest in silver, gold precious and scrap metals. Generally I mean. I ain't a pro or nothing. I just know how to buy and sell it if I choose to do so.

I buy and save silver of various types, and sooner or later some gold will be along.

I have lots of shiny things in my treasure chest.

I want some sparkly things too.

I'd like to buy some sparkly cut gemstones.

Is this an investable market? Could I dabble in it, in a similar fashion to buying junk silver? I ain't looking to make money exactly, but ain't lookin to lose it neither.

How do I do it?

 

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[smokeythecat]

It's near impossible. Most things normal income folks can afford, there are a zillion of, like garnets from India. I used to cut my own with a faceter, but couldn't get hardly anything for them due to overseas competition.

 

[A#1]

It's near impossible. Most things normal income folks can afford, there are a zillion of, like garnets from India. I used to cut my own with a faceter, but couldn't get hardly anything for them due to overseas competition.

I really kinda figured as much

Maybe what I'm looking for is a bit of "collecting"?

Finding cool gemstones of a lesser quality and lower price....just to say they're pretty sparkilin in my chest.

 

[Kray Gelder]

Smokey is right. Exceptional specimen stones, with documentation, and examination by GIA or AGI, with papers, will probably hold their value, but as a limited market, dependent on a cash rich economy, things can change. Run of the mill colored stones are a dime a dozen. Diamonds are strictly controlled. If you're looking for stones that have value, in case the apocalypse comes, to barter with, go with emeralds or rubies, 1 carat or larger. No matter what, people will covet those stones.

 

[JohnWhite]

Smokey is right. Exceptional specimen stones, with documentation, and examination by GIA or AGI, with papers, will probably hold their value, but as a limited market, dependent on a cash rich economy, things can change. Run of the mill colored stones are a dime a dozen. Diamonds are strictly controlled. If you're looking for stones that have value, in case the apocalypse comes, to barter with, go with emeralds or rubies, 1 carat or larger. No matter what, people will covet those stones.

I'm not sure IF my little Tia Juana had anything to do with the implementation of the Kimberly Process or not...But I believe it is a sham to keep small time prospectors out of the diamond industry...Oh well...As IF a small time prospector could really discover diamond in this day and age...Didn't that happen in Canada though

Ed T

 

[A#1]

I suppose what I really care about, is that I could buy, enjoy, and save a fair quality, moderately priced gemstone. One that my heir could sell someday, and still have some monetary value stored in it.


Or perhaps I'd be happy with costume quality yet real stones at low end Ebay kind of prices?

I mostly just wanna have fun with it, but If there's a "better" way to accumulate a bunch I'd like to learn.

I suppose something similar to buying collectible art type things, or antiques......or should I be thinking baseball cards?

 

[Kray Gelder]

I'm not sure IF my little Tia Juana had anything to do with the implementation of the Kimberly Process or not...But I believe it is a sham to keep small time prospectors out of the diamond industry...Oh well...As IF a small time prospector could really discover diamond in this day and age...Didn't that happen in Canada though

Ed T

South central Wyoming, northern Colorado, is believed by the USGS, WSGS, to have great potential. They have even done geologic surveys and mapped out areas holding diamonds. Federal lands. If I was a young man, I'd be there.

 

[JohnWhite]

South central Wyoming, northern Colorado, is believed by the USGS, WSGS, to have great potential. They have even done geologic surveys and mapped out areas holding diamonds. Federal lands. If I was a young man, I'd be there.

I have heard some rumors that Montana is a promising area for diamonds...And I have it on good authority that there is a promising area near Reno, NV...But none of the rumors have been confirmed...lol...After all...It has not been proven that my little Tia Juana was actually a paragon diamond...I am not an educated geologist after all...What little I know I have learned on my own...

Besides...I also claim that I have discovered Platinum...I wonder IF my Platinum ore is Rhodium bearing

Ed T

 

[Kray Gelder]

Drawing a blank on your Tia Juana. Must have missed that.

 

[gunsil]

90% or more of colored gemstones on the market today are treated for color in some way. Dyed, irradiated, or heated, and then there are many synthetic stones like ruby and sapphire which were first made in the 1920s. Gem stones are not like metal where a person of moderate means can invest a little at a time and make profit over time. The only investments in stones that will definitely grow are those rare stones in huge sizes. More common smaller stones will likely not perform like metals even if they are GIA certified. I make some good jewelry but stay away from faceted colored stones simply because there are too many treated stones around that have little value even if they look nice and sparkly.

 

[A#1]

90% or more of colored gemstones on the market today are treated for color in some way. Dyed, irradiated, or heated, and then there are many synthetic stones like ruby and sapphire which were first made in the 1920s. Gem stones are not like metal where a person of moderate means can invest a little at a time and make profit over time. The only investments in stones that will definitely grow are those rare stones in huge sizes. More common smaller stones will likely not perform like metals even if they are GIA certified. I make some good jewelry but stay away from faceted colored stones simply because there are too many treated stones around that have little value even if they look nice and sparkly.

Could you suggest a place (website) where a feller could but some stones?

Can I trust ebay?

I've decided, based on the input here, not to look at this as a form of investment, and just collect me up some sparkly things.

I guess I want low cost, REAL, and untampered with stuff that will be fun.

 

[RTR]

Emeralds from Columbia would be my choice ...Some reading on how & what to look for... https://www.diamonds.pro/education/emeralds/

 

[A#1]

Is something like this the real thing?


https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/163941257492

 

[RTR]

At that price Its probably "Real" glass.

 

[Kray Gelder]

Is something like this the real thing?


https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/163941257492

Laboratory grown. Chemically a ruby. GIA certified to be what? Doesn't say. Natural rubies that size would be into five figures. If you look closely at those, a very low quality cut and finish.

I used to have hundreds of colored stones on hand for making jewelry. High end commercial grade stones. They were good looking gems, but unexceptional. Worked with the 2 and 3mm accent sizes, all the way up to a big dog 15x20 mm blue topaz, with pink tourmaline accents ( for my wife ). Other than the jewelry I made for my wife, daughters, and friends, sold it and gave it away. My middle daughter got like six trays of loose stones, which she now incorporates into her Etsy jewelry offerings. The stones are getting sold by her, piece by piece.

I am holding no gemstones. I have to agree with gunsil, buy metal.

I LOVE cut colored gems. There's just nothing more beautiful. Buy them for that reason.

 

[Kray Gelder]

Could you suggest a place (website) where a feller could but some stones?

Can I trust ebay?

I've decided, based on the input here, not to look at this as a form of investment, and just collect me up some sparkly things.

I guess I want low cost, REAL, and untampered with stuff that will be fun.

If you dig deeply enough online, you should be able to cut out about 3 layers of markups. Find a wholesaler in LA, with Thai roots. A good sized firm that's been around awhile, should offer a full range of calibrated stones in all species, and 3 or 4 grades, as well as one of a kind cut stones. They will give individual descriptions of these unique stones, and generally can be believed.

If they are bloviating about investment value, and as I mentioned about the economy going T.U., find someone else that's just in the business of selling stones, and lots of them.
Now, I'm pretty sure you can go directly to the source countries. When I was really into it, the dealers still sent out monthly gem lists ( paper ). I bought directly from Thailand, India, Sri Lanka. The turn around times were unbelievable...up to 2 months.

I was working on the cheap, only buying a few hundred dollars at a time. My guy in Thailand would ship by air, the Indian people thought it was perfectly OK to use a four legged beast to get it to the port, where they put it on some 12 knot freighter for the USA. Unbelievable. And those folks were pretty casual about sending you EXACTLY what was ordered. Sometimes you got 90% of it, and about when you'd forgotten about the rest of it, it would arrive, usually with a bunch of extra free jewelry and stones ( the stones usually worth exactly that).

Sorry, rambling. Good luck to you. And don't buy the cheapest grade. A grade or better.

 

[A#1]

I LOVE cut colored gems. There's just nothing more beautiful. Buy them for that reason.

I do buy metal, a little every week. The gems I want are honestly to go in the box I keep it all in, my treasure chest.

I might sound silly, but I'm having fun with it. Plan to add some jewelry at some point too

It's all about the fun for me with this.....and laying away some wealth where I can. if I can't do it with gems, oh well, but I still want a few.

 

[Kray Gelder]

OK, A-1. I remembered a company, GemSelect, in Thailand. I have not ordered from them, but they have a terrific website for ordering stones. Their prices seem reasonable. Take a look.

 

[RTR]

"Real" Colombian Emeralds(all but 2 on the 1st page are Colombian) ...Check out these prices... https://www.leibish.com/emerald-gemstones?a_aid=y

 

[smokeythecat]

I have a small collection of cut stones, both faceted and cabochons all from the US and Canada. I studied all the US stuff for years. A few things I found and either cut myself or had a pro do it. I just got a new faceter and have yet to cut a first stone on it. Things like Maine tourmaline, NY garnets, NC garnets, Maine amethyst, California tourmaline and a couple Arkansas diamonds (little ones.) Even a few cut Herkimer diamonds from NY. By limiting to US and Canadian locations, I hope I have done ok.