What to do with gemstones?

Meltdown

Can anyone reccomend a shop or dealer that deals with this type of thing?
I've shopped them around town here a little bit over the years and most jewelry stores flat out don't want them.
The diamonds are small, many other stones are too big and therefore not desirable for wearing... the market is soft, etc... I've heard all kinds of different things and had a couple seriously lowball offers in my opinion.
I'd like to convert their value into gold/silver bullion at some point. Is ebay my only shot at getting a fair value out of this type of stuff?

Pokermandude

Can't say I know too much about gemstones, but from my understanding it's a highly manipulated market (especially diamonds). Seems there's an incredible supply of stones (very low wholesale value) and really not a large demand for high quality ones. Most of the demand is created artificially through pricey jewellery markups. Most jewellery stores simply get wholesale pre-made products and aren't in any need of raw stones.

Might have some luck if you can find an old-school jeweller who actually makes his/her own quality stuff. That in itself might not be an easy task.

I can't imagine they'll sell for anything even close to the numbers I see on those holders if you list them on Ebay. I'd guess 10% of those numbers (before fees) if you're lucky.

Maybe try craigslist offering a swap for junk silver / bullion?

gecko109

You couldnt even get 10% of what your listed prices are (I personally wouldnt pay you even $100 for all the stones in your pictures). I had a great little collection of maybe 800-1000 stones and ended up giving them to my younger sister. Bought mostly from TV shows in bulk quantity. You can buy a nice assortment of perhaps 10-15 different type stones in 200ct batches for about $150 a batch (stones range from .25ct up to 10ct or more). Gemstones have almost zero liquidity and should be enjoyed purely as a hobby without regard to future value.

Meltdown

<< <i>You couldnt even get 10% of what your listed prices are (I personally wouldnt pay you even $100 for all the stones in your pictures). >>



That's good because I personally wouldn't sell them to you even for $200.


I did not price these, that's the way I received them 10+ years ago. I am not so ignorant as to expect the prices on the plastic... but I would be interested in suggestions as to where I might find a fair price for them.

gecko109

<< <i>

<< <i>You couldnt even get 10% of what your listed prices are (I personally wouldnt pay you even $100 for all the stones in your pictures). >>



That's good because I personally wouldn't sell them to you even for $200.


I did not price these, that's the way I received them 10+ years ago. I am not so ignorant as to expect the prices on the plastic... but I would be interested in suggestions as to where I might find a fair price for them. >>





$100 would not be a "fair" price.....it would be a very generous offer.

johnny9434

nice stones. i like the topaz in the second pic.

gecko109

See what im sayin?



Your oval citrine might bring $10. Your imperial topaz pear is prolly worth $15. Your diamond lot might bring $10. And your saphire could be a decent stone depending on color saturation and lack of "banding"....but still, there are so many treated sapphires that yours may be worth $20 on the high side.


All said, all done, you MAY have $50-$100 of actual value there. Ever stop to wonder why all the jewelry stores turned you away?

Coulport

It's a one way market.
Take a look how much stuff is on eBay. Many get no bids or go for the .99 open.

The first thing that goes by the wayside in a bad economy is jewelry.
Our jeweler still has his emerald and ruby creations in his case for over two years.
He manages to keep in business doing repairs and alterations. That is not just walk ins but includes chain stores.
Our jeweler won't even buy any colored stones. He only wants diamonds and those have to be 1 carat or more.

The local refinery gives us a call if they have a scrap item with a 10 point or bigger diamond. Anything smaller goes out with the flux.
Colored stones are poison.

If they bring you pleasure to look at then that is what they are worth.

lightcycler

All I can say is I learned a heck of a lot from this thread. Dang sure won't be buying any stones in the future. Gawdy gold and silver stuff for sure!!!!!!

tydye

With the exception of the larger diamonds my dealer gives them away to kids. My daughter has a sizable box full of different stones including emeralds and rubies that she was given free. I would just stash them in a drawer someplace - they dont take up much space

Meltdown

Thanks for the replies... I suppose some part of me was hoping there was a market for them someplace.
This is just a small sampling of what I have had in a large ziplock bag for a number of years.

I might get a few of the larger sapphires certified and maybe try and ebay the diamonds as one large lot.

Mission16

Only twice have I made money on colored gemstones. 20 years ago I bought 20,000 carats of blue topaz. Natural dark blue stuff, absolutly spectacular stuff. Now most of it is treated for that same blue.

Used to buy unused postage for 80-85% of face and send it to a dealer for stones. After a few years, I would send some of what was left back to the dealer and get (depending on stone) up to 110% of what I paid for the stones.

Kip

Now...if you had a "D" block Tanzanite VVS AAAA...I am a buyer

yellowkid

The dirty little secret that you won't hear from DeBeers is that after you buy that "investment" ring, your " investment " has plummeted to about 20% of it's selling price. The diamond business ( and probably any other gems) is a good place to stay away from.

"Diamonds are Forever" because you are stuck with them

fastrudy

I agree with the replies here. Gemstones wholesale at very low prices. Diamonds are controlled by deBeers monopoly. I wouldn't even want tanzanite because it is a soft gemstone and is prone to cracking into pieces if dropped or banged against something. I get wholesale prices on gemstones and would never, ever buy one in a jewellery store. Diamonds I purchase appraise at 300% of my purchase price.

roadrunner

One of my local coin shops is also a jeweler. For a good quality diamond in a gold setting (1/2 carat?) he probably pays around $500-$600 and gets close to $800-$1000 for it.
Your chain jewelry stores will mark/appraise that same ring for $3000 and then allow you to nibble them down to $2500/$2000/maybe even $1800 when they sell it to you.
If I feel like blowing money on jewelry, he'd be the first place I'd start with.

roadrunner

scotty1419

Dont invest/buy diamonds with an attempt to make any money! Pretty much sums it up!

I would say the 20% loss upon purchase is probably very conservative.

The Atlantic - Have You Ever Tried to Sell a Diamond? - The Atlantic

Baley

"What to do with gemstones?"

Bury them with the owner, for the purchaser (unless a retailer) is buried in them from the start.

one way market for the most part

Spooly

What do you think pawn shops give for 1 cart diamonds? (Avg CCC) 50% of retail?

Spooly

scotty1419,

That was a great article!

yellowkid

<< <i>Dont invest/buy diamonds with an attempt to make any money! Pretty much sums it up!

I would say the 20% loss upon purchase is probably very conservative.

The Atlantic - Have You Ever Tried to Sell a Diamond? - The Atlantic >>



Read it again, I said 20% of the selling price, and maybe I'm being conservative.