The Bright Shining Lie

P.J.Joseph writes:

Get the facts before you are seduced by the lustrous promises of gem deals.

There are tales of gem traders from all corners of the world looking for that lucky find. The scintillation of a diamond and fluorescence of a ruby can excite people to high stakes and most often they become victims of misfortune in the markets of unpredictable Asia and Africa.

For the past several decades Thailand has become one of the leading centers for gems and jewelry. But buying gems and jewelry can be fraught with danger if you don’t know what you are looking for. This is where education becomes a prerequisite.

A large proportion of what is in the showcases of jewelry stores are of different gemstone species and qualities. The ones who are not familiar with the gemological jargons take it for granted that they are all real or genuine stones. The most popular colored gemstones such as rubies and sapphires, emerald, aquamarine, tourmaline, topaz, quartz, tanzanite, turquoise, and lapis lazuli—to mention a few—are treated to improve color or clarity. At times diamonds and pearls are also treated for the same purpose.

First, to buy a good gemstone or piece of jewelry, it makes sense to deal with people who have been in the business for a long time, who know the trade very well. They are here to stay. They are not like the fly-by-night jewelers or gem traders who belong to a different human species.

Beware that gemstones look different under different lighting. Incandescent light tends to enhance red stones; fluorescent light tends to enhance blue violet stones. One should look at them with different control stones, if you have one. Rough (uncut) stones are not for the novice. They fool even the experienced gemologist. So do not buy them at the mines unless you are experienced.

When you are attending a party no one really actually goes around examining your jewelry with a loupe, but such a magnifier may be necessary when you go shopping—for good reasons. Still, at the end of the day, you buy a gemstone because you like it.

The tale of being able to sell at home or abroad for 50 times the price or more is a joke. Also beware that the term natural, enhanced, treated, synthetic, assembled and imitation can mean different things to different people.

Be culturally sensitive when you buy or sell gemstones. Gentle probing should be the way. Good gem education and product knowledge, plus effective social skills, should work to your advantage.