Advice on gemstone buying?

[makkam2429]

I am looking to buy a loose, larger, 4 plus carat, AAA quality aquamarine for our 19th wedding anniversary? I understand the aquamarine is mined in several countries. Brazil, Africa, India ect. Can anyone tell me which country of origin has the best quality of stones. Who is reputable designer to buy it from? Are there any good online merchants? I would appreciate any professional input you can give. Thank you. Merry Christmas

 

[Rebecca0388]

You might be better to post this in the coloured stones section

 

[WinkHPD]

I am looking to buy a loose, larger, 4 plus carat, AAA quality aquamarine for our 19th wedding anniversary? I understand the aquamarine is mined in several countries. Brazil, Africa, India ect. Can anyone tell me which country of origin has the best quality of stones. Who is reputable designer to buy it from? Are there any good online merchants? I would appreciate any professional input you can give. Thank you. Merry Christmas

There are many good to great on line vendors for color, and there are many many more horrible ones.

All of the countries produce both good and bad quality gems, the trick is knowing what you want and getting an honest description from your vendor of choice. By the way, there is no formalized AAA grade and each vendor professing to use such a standard is making his own standards, not an industry standard and it is definitely a buyer beware type deal, so always, always always have a vendor with a good return policy.

Palagems is one company that deals in better quality goods, and also Richard Homer is a great vendor who uses concave faceting for most of his gems.

When you are looking at gems, do not be fooled by a vendor who puts up generic photos of one nice stone and delivers what ever poopy piece he puts his hands on when filling your order. (This happens with many of the foreign houses with prices that seem, and actually are, too good to be true. Insist on a photo of the gem that you are buying.

This should help you get started.

Wink

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I have bought an aquamarine from this vendor before and believe they are reputable. I had constraints as to size because of an existing setting which made it a more difficult task. But I would tell them you want a very saturated (and well cut) blue stone as those are more valuable than the very light color ones.

http://www.paraibainternational.com/products.php?category=5

 

[chrono]

AAA has little to no meaning because it isn't a standardized system; this standard will vary from store to store and no one except the store knows what makes it AAA, AAAA, AAAAA, etc. The same goes for origin; there are great and not so nice stones from each region so buy what looks good. If it happens to be from Brazil, great. If it happens to be from Africa, no problems, but I would not limit myself based on origin alone.

Aquamarine is generally very clean and price is based on the tone, meaning the deeper the blue, the more desired and expensive it will be. There is no one place to buy the best coloured stone; it will depend on who has what you want at the time you are looking for one.

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