Buying Gemstones
There are no fixed prices for gemstones. In addition to many important criteria, supply and demand, as well as fashion trends, influence the price. Their value is as difficult to determine as that of jewelry or works of art.
Gemstones can be acquired through many different procurement methods. Whether directly and in person at a gemstone wholesaler, during a sales trip, or at a trade fair. An order can also be placed quite conveniently by phone, in writing via email, or with just a few clicks in an online gemstone shop.
Regardless of which shopping method you choose, you should always keep a number of tips in mind when buying gemstones. Especially with online purchases, there are other important points that you should know and take to heart. You can find out more about this at the end of this blog!
At a glance: What to look for when buying gemstones?
- Detailed purchase description
- Choice of gemstone dealer
- The 4 C's (Carat / Color / Cut / Clarity)
- Color nuances of a gemstone type
- Examination of the gemstone before purchase
- Certificate
- Inexpensive and high-quality gemstone types
- Synthetic gemstones
- Treatment methods
- Place of origin
1. Describe as best as possible which gemstone you would like to buy
Are you looking for a special gemstone, are you bound by the specifications and wishes of your client, and do you only have a certain budget?
To make it easier for the seller, it is important to provide the gemstone dealer with as many details as possible so that they can check whether they have a gemstone of the right class available. Information regarding some of the following points is helpful:
Gemstone type | Price range | Size | Carat | Clarity | Color | Cut | Treatment
2. Keep your eyes open when choosing a dealer
Buying gemstones is a matter of trust. See what information the gemstone dealer provides. Only buy where transparent and trustworthy information regarding origin, production, and ethical conditions is provided, and if necessary, where the professional advice and personal rapport are right during an in-person meeting.
3. Know and observe the 4 C's
Since beauty is known to be in the eye of the beholder and therefore cannot be used as an objective criterion for determining the value of a gemstone, other quality characteristics must be used to determine the high quality of a stone.
To determine the value of a gemstone, gemstone experts such as a gemstone cutter, dealer, gemologist, or an institute are usually required. They examine the stones according to the following quality characteristics:
- Carat - What is the weight of the stone?
- Color - How intense and special is the color?
- Cut - What is the stone's cut? How is the optical play of light?
- Clarity - How many inclusions does the stone have? How pure is it?
When determining the value of diamonds, all four quality characteristics are weighted equally. For gemstones and colored diamonds, the finest differences and nuances have a decisive impact on pricing. For example, in colored gemstones, color as a criterion accounts for up to 50 percent of the value of an specimen. But clarity and cut also have a high weighting. For carat, the monetary value generally increases exponentially for the same quality.
In addition to the 4 C's, there are other factors that affect the determination of quality and value, such as occurrence and rarity, as well as origin and current demand.
4. Color nuances of a gemstone type
As included in the 4 C's, color is an important indicator of the high quality of a stone. Color is a criterion that is obvious. Usually, a certain shade is considered particularly valuable for a gemstone type—you should know these popular color nuances. If, for example, you want to buy an aquamarine, a deep “Santa Maria” sea blue is usually more valuable than a light blue.
In our blog posts about a specific gemstone type, you will always find information about the color variations of the stone and which of them are most popular. In our article “Tourmaline - The most colorful gemstone,” it is clear, for example, that Paraiba tourmaline with its intensely luminous turquoise-blue color is so high-quality that it is purchased as an investment.
5. Examination of the gemstone before purchase
Before you decide to buy a gemstone, hold the stone up to the light. If possible, look at the stone closely with a magnifying glass and examine it for unwanted irregularities in the color; observe the light refraction and, if applicable, the color gradient. Also, check the stone for inclusions and clarity, and of course the cut—are the facets cleanly met, do they converge precisely?
Visit us at our company headquarters in Kirschweiler (Rhineland-Palatinate, DE). Get an idea of our gemstone collection, take a tour through the traditional cutting workshop of HC Arnoldi, and take a close look at our specimens. Or make use of our offer to have a gemstone selection sent to you free of charge so that you can find the right gemstone and look at it in peace beforehand.
6. An independent certificate
For high-quality and multi-carat gemstones, an independent certificate can be requested, which has been issued by an internationally recognized gemstone laboratory, such as the German Gemmological Institute (DGemG) in Idar-Oberstein. This serves as proof of the accuracy of the information regarding treatment, natural purity, and high quality. Often, the gemstone cutting workshops or gemstone dealers handle the process. Simply speak to your partner about it!
On request and above a certain value of the gemstone, a certificate tested by the DGemG can be requested. HC Arnoldi also offers the issuance of in-house certificates. Feel free to contact us for this!
7. Inexpensive and high-quality gemstone types
The type of gemstone alone can have a corresponding effect on the price. This primarily concerns the occurrence—is the gemstone available in high or low quantities on the market? The rarer a gemstone, the higher its price.
High-quality gemstones include aquamarine, tourmaline, spinel, mandarin, garnet, sapphire, and tanzanite.
Inexpensive ones include amethyst, citrine, and topaz
8. Identify synthetic gemstones
Synthetic gemstones are crystallized, man-made products whose physical and chemical properties largely correspond to those of their gemstone counterparts. Simply put: they are an imitation.
Since the counterfeit closely resembles real gemstones in physical properties, differences are generally difficult to detect.
But how do you know if it is a synthetic or a real gemstone?
- In case of doubt, have an examination carried out by a gemological laboratory. This can determine whether it is an imitation or not with the help of certain instruments.
- Question the price! If it is a so-called “bargain,” it is worth questioning whether it really is a naturally created gemstone.
- Look at the stone very carefully! Observe the light refraction and the color. Few inclusions, for example, can be an indicator that it is a real specimen.
- Do the hardness test! Take a mineral with a lower Mohs hardness and rub it firmly on the stone. A real diamond, for example, cannot be scratched by another mineral (this, of course, at your own risk).
We do not offer synthetic gemstones.
9. Treatment methods and their impact on pricing
Many of the gemstones available on the market are treated to optimize their optical properties, especially the color. As a rule, untreated gemstones are more expensive than treated ones. Familiarize yourself with different treatment methods and know which treatment methods increase value and which decrease it.
In our blog post "Treatment of gemstones and ornamental stones," we discuss the treatment methods and their effects.
10. The origin of the gemstone
The country of origin can be decisive for the price. For certain gemstones, mining locations serve as a quality designation, such as with Santa Maria aquamarine, named after a mine in Brazil. Thus, you may end up paying for the origin, even with less high-quality stones.
We have the same thing with Paraiba tourmaline. A Paraiba tourmaline from Brazil has a significantly higher value than a Paraiba tourmaline from Mozambique. Although the Paraiba tourmaline from Mozambique also has a considerable value.
Buying Gemstones Online
Buying gemstones online is becoming increasingly popular because it is fast and easy. Especially with gemstones, however, it is often difficult to judge the quality from a distance. Even though gemstone dealers usually offer a right of return, you want to avoid a bad purchase and not fall for dubious providers.
