A friend told me about going to Bahrain and buying uncut diamonds, emeralds and rubys for more than half the price i’d spend in America for one. (about $800 less). Then another friend went to visit India and bought four different semi-precious stones (Aquamarine, Citrine and others) for about $400 less than in the Americas. He bought five uncut 3 carat pieces of Aquamarine for $750 and 2 pieces of 5 carat citrine for $630. I’m interested in buying pieces and then making them into my own jewlery but where is the best place to find these things cheap??? Anyone know? Price doesn’t matter really…
You should hook up with established gem dealers in Thailand, the UAE, and Israel. I can’t give you a name because it’s really a matter of trust, but I do know that in these places, you are most likely to find dealers who buy and sell across the whole quality spectrum, and not just jewelry shop level gems.
I had the same issues when I got into crystal therapy and needed lower grade gems that were real but not the highest end because inclusions need to be visible for some work. There are certain sellers on eBay from Thailand, who are very good with a good reputation. I would say buy one or two small things, check them out, and if you like them order more.
Basically, get out there and explore the business. Sometimes you can get started by just visiting your local new age stones shop.
January 16th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
You should hook up with established gem dealers in Thailand, the UAE, and Israel. I can’t give you a name because it’s really a matter of trust, but I do know that in these places, you are most likely to find dealers who buy and sell across the whole quality spectrum, and not just jewelry shop level gems.
I had the same issues when I got into crystal therapy and needed lower grade gems that were real but not the highest end because inclusions need to be visible for some work. There are certain sellers on eBay from Thailand, who are very good with a good reputation. I would say buy one or two small things, check them out, and if you like them order more.
Basically, get out there and explore the business. Sometimes you can get started by just visiting your local new age stones shop.
References :
January 16th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Well my grandmother has a jewelry store- its one of those store where they buy others old/broken jewelry. Jewelry is so over-priced its ridiculous and people half the time have no idea the real quality of jewelry they are buying at like Kay’s and Shaw’s its sad. Back to your question I’ll tell you from experience that stores who buy jewelry from people don’t always sell the jewelry back to the public almost all of it gets sold to other dealers who melt the gold down again and re-sell it and make it into more jewelry which ultimately ends back up at fancy stores. Gems and stones (other than diamonds) have no real value to them, most people pay all that money for over priced gold. Before the gold is sold to the wholesaler they remove all the gems/stones from it and they usually just get tossed. If your just starting out that’s where I would go to get gems. Look for stores that buy unwanted jewelry and start there, they are more interested in gold not gems they probably won’t just hand them over to you but it will be cheap- a lot cheaper than what you listed. They are already cut some might be broken though but its a start. Hope this helps good luck
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