Gemstones Galore: Gemstones as an Investment

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Gemstones as an Investment

The price of gold has reached over $1800 per ounce and has now dropped back into the $1700s. Has it peaked I wonder? News of the EU economy is bleak, generally confirming the widespread "stuffed" viewpoint. The question arises how should we more safely preserve our wealth? Having a diversified portfolio is considered wise, by owning diversified stocks, bonds, fixed interest deposits, diversified real estate, cash and why not some GEMSTONES?

A few choice diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, alexandrites and tanzanites can easily take care of $100,000 or even a million when set in jewelry, and that's just for starters. Gemstones represent the most concentrated form of wealth possible and have always been in demand for transporting wealth from A to B in times of political strife and war. This may not be your problem, but the value of a gemstone portfolio should comfortably outdo the inflation of your domestic currency.

Investment in gemstones is not for the novice. You have to know where to buy them and where to sell them, when need be. They must be genuine, hence an understanding of gem testing is required by the investor/collector. Valuable items must have their Certificate of Authenticity from a recognized Gem Testing Laboratory. Prized gemstones can be set in jewelry and enjoyed by the wearer. You can't make a dress out of a stock certificate or computer printout. Men too can join in the fun by investing in up-market rings with alexandrite and chrysoberyl cats eyes, star rubies and sapphires and so on. In my next post I shall list a range of reputable Online Gem Dealers so that you can get a feel of what gem material is on the market.

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Red Beryls for Sale

eBay has 311 entries for red beryl sales, with specimen material from the Thomas Range, Utah and of specimens and faceted gems for the Wah Wah Mountains, Utah. Choice specimens are up to $10,000, and there is one faceted gem of 4 1/2 carat, asking $40,000. However, average size of natural faceted red beryls is 0.15 carats, and the largest known one is 8 carats.

Hydrothermal synthetic red beryls are offered by the Morion Co, USA, as slabs, i.e., crystals sawn through the seed plate, at $5/carat, slabs weighing 10 to 75 carats.

Brighton Co, Massachusetts, offer a range of faceted hydrothermal red beryls e.g., 6 x 4 mm, oval, $22.

Tairus Created Gems supply to the trade various colored hydrothermally grown beryls (green, blue, purple, red etc thru several distributors.
See Tairus Created Gems,

Amber Crafts

Colour of Mexican amber varies between clear yellow, cognac, red, cream and black. Clear yellow amber with insect inclusions is highly prized for pendants and display specimens. Polished amber pieces are set in silver jewelry. Local silversmithing is excellent with the usual range of pendants, necklaces, cabochons in rings and earrings. Large pieces, 6 to 10 cm size, are carved into figurines, birds, animals, frogs etc. Some expensive necklaces have amber combined with either lapis lazuli or jade. Much of the low cost amber for sale on street stalls is pressed amber, made by heating under pressure small, otherwise useless fragments.