How did you become so smart ...

[bookworm240]

... about gems? Do you work in the biz? Read alot of ps? Trial and error? Just always loved sparkles? How do you know so much?

 

[mus]

Started with buying a lot of inexpensive stones on ebay.
Reading books and PS.
Now, only buying good gems.

There is one rule:
most of the time, cheap price = cheap gemstone

 

[sleepyspinel]

Sadly the converse is not always true... high price doesn''t always mean high quality stone.

One fun suggestion I would have would be to visit a museum that has a gem exhibit so you can see with your eyes what are prime examples of different stones. Of course you cant really handle the stones or look at them in differing light but I think that a strong frame of reference is key for buying good stones.

If possible I would then shift to a gem show but the first few times I''d make sure to have a significant other hold the checkbook nice and tight... too easy to get carried away in the moment and its terribly difficult to try to return something in that situation. Also take note what various vendors both in real life and online are charging for the type, color, cut, size stone you are after and so when a good deal does pop up, you will be ready to make an informed buying decision! Good luck

 

[Stone Hunter]

I''m a beginner. I''ve read alot of the archived threads on PS for the stone types I''m interested in. I''ve checked out vendor sites that have education sections to learn about different gems. I''ve only made 2 colored stone purchases and I''m happy with both.

HTH

 

[icekid]

I don''t think I am SO smart yet, but lots and lots of reading.. looking at lots of stones! All of these things help to develop your eye.

 

[T L]

Date: 5/30/2009 4:56:05 PM
Author: sleepyspinel
Sadly the converse is not always true... high price doesn't always mean high quality stone.

One fun suggestion I would have would be to visit a museum that has a gem exhibit so you can see with your eyes what are prime examples of different stones. Of course you cant really handle the stones or look at them in differing light but I think that a strong frame of reference is key for buying good stones.

If possible I would then shift to a gem show but the first few times I'd make sure to have a significant other hold the checkbook nice and tight... too easy to get carried away in the moment and its terribly difficult to try to return something in that situation. Also take note what various vendors both in real life and online are charging for the type, color, cut, size stone you are after and so when a good deal does pop up, you will be ready to make an informed buying decision! Good luck

How true!!!

Speaking of museums, not all of them have nice gems. The Chicago Field Museum gem collection is ptitful IMHO.

I like the meteorites though.

Sorry to get off track!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Speaking of museums, if you''re ever in Pittsburgh, I seem to remember the Carnegie Museum of Natural History having a lovely exhibit of minerals and gemstones I spend a lot of time there as a kid, but don''t remember too much of it now, lol.

I''m very much still a novice, but I enjoyed Secrets of the Gem trade by RW, and of course just hanging around PS reading various threads has been very educational! The closest I''ve come to being at a gem show is going to Thai gem markets as a little kid when I lived there for 2 years, all I remember is that it was very pretty, my mom picked up some things, but I was too young to really be that into the science of gems back then.

 

[sleepyspinel]

I guess I was spoiled... I was envisioned the Natural History Museums in DC (Smithsonian) and NYC

Meteorites are WAY cool... I have a nice pendant and knife (letter opener) made out of the stuff... it is a form of crystalized metal and its gray... thus it should be posted in the Colored Stones forum

Date: 5/30/2009 8:10:31 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover

How true!!!

Speaking of museums, not all of them have nice gems. The Chicago Field Museum gem collection is ptitful IMHO.

I like the meteorites though.

Sorry to get off track!

 

[chrono]

A lot of reading and seeing lots of varying quality of gemstones in person. A fun way is museums, gemshows and high end jewellery stores. It's going to take some time though - it'll help train the eye and expand your knowledge.

Yes, cheap price usually begets cheap stones but not always. Just the same, an expensive gem doesn't necessarily mean it's a fine quality gemstone either.

 

[DiamanteBlu]

I don''t feel very smart when it comes to gems. I know lots more that most but am, by no means, an expert [yet

].

 

[T L]

Date: 5/30/2009 9:59:33 PM
Author: sleepyspinel
I guess I was spoiled... I was envisioned the Natural History Museums in DC (Smithsonian) and NYC

Meteorites are WAY cool... I have a nice pendant and knife (letter opener) made out of the stuff... it is a form of crystalized metal and its gray... thus it should be posted in the Colored Stones forum

 

[CharmyPoo]

I still know nothing but the experts on this forum helped a lot. I honestly don''t think I could have gotten some of my favorite stones without PS! I would have still been buying expensive crappy stones!

 

[T L]

Date: 5/30/2009 10:19:07 PM
Author: DiamanteBlu
I don''t feel very smart when it comes to gems. I know lots more that most but am, by no means, an expert [yet

].

Well, I like your taste in gems!

 

[PrecisionGem]

I shot these pictures several years ago at the Natural History Museum in London. I only had a small point and shoot camera, and had to use the flash. While the collection was large, many of the stones were lower quality, and for the most part look like the Queen bought them in India 150 years ago. Pretty poor very crude cutting. But interesting!

 

[sleepyspinel]

That''s neat Gene, thanks.

 

[PrecisionGem]

more...

 

[PrecisionGem]

Most of the stones had labels, it''s hard to make them out, but on the original photo in full size they can be read. There were also uncut stones, and mineral samples. A very nice collection of rough emeralds.

 

[PrecisionGem]

Some of the emerald collection

 

[PrecisionGem]

I also ran into this pretty large collection of rocks.

 

[cellentani]

Hey, number 52 is missing!!!!

 

[chrono]

The emeralds look fabulous! I wonder if they''ll notice one itty bitty one missing?

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 5/30/2009 10:49:28 PM
Author: PrecisionGem
I also ran into this pretty large collection of rocks.

Bwah hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[chrono]

Date: 5/30/2009 11:49:01 PM
Author: FrekeChild

Date: 5/30/2009 10:49:28 PM
Author: PrecisionGem
I also ran into this pretty large collection of rocks.

Bwah hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don''t think they''ll fit on my finger though.

Not to mention the colour is suspect but at least they are untreated.

 

[T L]

They need precision faceting!!

 

[ma re]

Well Bookworm, since you don''t sound like someone who would mind reading, I''d suggest just reading a lot for starters. There are even free books online, free gemology e-courses, and not to mention all the gem buying guides (just by typing "gemstone buying guide" into Google will get you a zillion results). Then there are articles, online issues of magazines, fashion/jewellery blogs, PS, Youtube, online vendors (try sorting gems by price and comparing the most expensive ones with the least expensive ones to get the idea of what''s desirable), etc., etc. Hope this helps

 

[oldmancoyote]

Date: 5/30/2009 10:50:46 PM
Author: cellentani
Hey, number 52 is missing!!!!

Well, if I read the label correctly, it says "Banana", so it probably went off after a while in the case.

 

[bookworm240]

Would you bezel those or 6 prong?????

 

[bookworm240]

Date: 5/30/2009 10:49:28 PM
Author: PrecisionGem
I also ran into this pretty large collection of rocks.

How would you set those??? Bezel, 6 prong ......so much to learn! Thanks for the replies so far. I am just blown away by the "smarty-pants" on this forum!!

 

[simplysplendid]

I love gemstones and jewelry so I take the time to find out more about them before I make any purchase, afterall, they are not cheap so I think consumers ought to know more about the items that they are purchasing. I am still a beginner after all these years of buying jewelry, I don''t go too deep into the technical details. When in doubt, I post my question on pricescope and a lot of lovely and knowledgeable people here will be able to advise.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

I don''t consider myself the smartest on gemstones, but have learned a lot in the last year. I have read the old posts on this site, educational articles on other sites, as well as the RW wise book. I have also done a lot of window shopping to see some high end colored stones. I think Rodeo drive is the first place I saw some nice examples of colored stones. I kind of imprinted those in my head and use them as comparison points when looking at stones I can afford.