How to buy colored gemstones

There are tales of gem traders from all corners of the world looking for that lucky gem find in Asia and Africa. The scintillation of a diamond and fluorescence of 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. The skilled labor is usually of a higher quality -- thus making an interesting place for buying colored stones and diamonds. 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’s in the showcases of jewelry stores are of all 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 sapphire, emerald, aquamarine, tourmaline, topaz, quartz, tanzanite, turquoise, and lapis lazuli -- to mention a few, are treated to improve its color or clarity. Diamonds and pearls too are treated for the same purpose.

First, to buy a good stone 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 colored backgrounds and compare with comparison set 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. Gemology is a fascinating subject and for obvious reasons it continues to grow and mutate in many formats.

When you are attending a party no one really actually goes around looking at your gemstone or jewelry with a loupe, but may be necessary when you go shopping--for good reasons. At the end of the day you buy a gemstone because you like it. The tale of being able to sell it at home or abroad fifty 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. The term disclosure may sound a wise and guiding statement, but most won’t even bother to do so for obvious reasons. Gentle probing should be the way. Good gem education + product knowledge + effective social skills should work to your advantage.