Interesting and helpful comment

[T L]

I heard this on another site, and I thought it was very interesting, and really puts things into perspective for me. I won't quote it exactly, but this is how it was worded.

"A jeweler can charge $1000/ct for CZ if he/she wants, and is not breaking the law. If he/she sells that CZ as a natural diamond, then that's breaking the law."

The above comment is why I'm a huge advocate of "shopping around" for colored gems. The prices can run the gamut for a particular species, and while quality is a huge variable, sometimes the quality is over inflated to make a huge profit. That is also why education is so very important.

 

[kenny]

That is exactly why I am sitting on my hands.
I recently almost spent a fortune on a certain colored stone and at the last minute I came to my senses and admitted to myself I don't know enough to be sure the price is fair.

Knowing what price is appropriate is easy for many round white diamonds but gets increasingly mysterious for goods when the price can vary by orders of magnitude because of things which require expertise and even expensive equipment to detect.

The potential to be exploited by a naughty seller is enormous in colored stones.

Over on Rocky Talk when someone gives the advice, "All that matters is that you love it, or Does it speak to you?" I just about want to slap the writer.
Here on CS that advice is even worse.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I think "speaking to you" is a reasonable reason to buy a "non ideal" stone if it's inexpensive (which I realize is relative). I feel like when I hear that advice it's usually in reference to a stone that someone wonders is "too gray" "too yellow" etc. And I"m personally of the opinion that if you want to buy a 20$ sapphire that has funky inclusions that remind you of a meteor because you think it's neat, that's ok.

But I certainly think shopping around is important! Even more so if it's a significant amount of money to you.
And if you don't have time to shop around, PSers are usually happy to voice an opinion!

 

[Indylady]

Good point TL. I agree entirely. Shopping around is integral. Its just the nature of the beast when it comes to colored stones.

 

[Aoife]

I'm slowly trying to educate myself to the pitfalls of buying colored gemstones, and have a few "learning" stones in my jewelry box to prove it. When I hear comments like the "Does it speak to you?" one, I always think: "Well, yeah. The question is, should I be listening to it?"

Shopping around is important, but the truth is, sometimes I just am not sure if I'm paying attention to the right things.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,
Of course you are right TL.

Kenny-- Another saying of some "You get what you pay for" -- Don't I wish that were true

Believe it or not Kenny, I thought of you last night as I was watching a show on the Orient Express going across Europe. I do not mean this to be impertinant, but have you done some traveling in your life? My advise to some of my younger friends is do some traveling with your money before you buy gems. Otherwise, I have to say you are a quick study for CS. But you have a good group here to advise.

Annette

 

[StonieGrl]

There are all kinds of gemstones that are EXCELLENT deals as nonideal examples of their type at a fair price for what they are. Disclosure is key----I like vendors who skip the meaningless superlatives and tell me that facts about the stone. Gene Flanigan is an excellent example of this and its just one of the many reasons I love buying from Gene. Barry is the same when you discuss a possible purchase, he will readily tell you the stone's virtues/problems.

I have frequently taken the "Does it speak to you?" comment as a response to some of the commentary here that takes place about specific perfection in a particuilar gemstone versus what an individual likes... My most recent buy, an 11 mm/7.49 ct spessie, is an example of this. It has the textbook Fanta color but it has a bubble on the girdle that is very visible. Because I got a swinging deal on it ($800), I knew I was going to bezel the stone anyway, and the Fanta color made my squirrels run, I bought the stone.

 

[Indylady]

I'm slowly trying to educate myself to the pitfalls of buying colored gemstones, and have a few "learning" stones in my jewelry box to prove it. When I hear comments like the "Does it speak to you?" one, I always think: "Well, yeah. The question is, should I be listening to it?"

Shopping around is important, but the truth is, sometimes I just am not sure if I'm paying attention to the right things.

Teheheh! So true. The more I know, the harder it is for me to get friendly with gems. There was a sapphire I started a thread about wayy long ago; a cushion cut, gray blue heat only sapphire. Now that I look back, I wonder what the heck I ever saw in it.

 

[Fly Girl]

So true, TL. Yesterday, DH and I were in a jewelry store looking at a sterling pendant set with some pretty (but rather crappy) stones. The design was attractive, but considering the stones were brown/purple windowed amethyst with no sparkle, and I'm sure the red center stone was a garnet, and the rest of the stones were probably marcasite, and they wanted nearly $2,000 for the piece, well, it was very easy to resist. I pointed out to DH that the amethyst should have more life, with red and blue flashes like the ammy that I have at home. A piece should never look dead in jewelry store lighting. But, without seeing some better amethyst and garnets in person, you just don't have any idea what a fair price should be.

On the other hand, after hanging around here for a while, you get better at spotting a good buy. That's really nice when you come across one of those, and can react quickly.

 

[chrono]

The advice to buy what appeals to a person is fine as long as the person is aware of its true quality and value. While we always caution posters when a price is too good to be true, the opposite should also hold true. We should also advise posters when the price is too high for the quality, regardless of if it is from our favourite vendors or an unknown vendor.

 

[movie zombie]

The advice to buy what appeals to a person is fine as long as the person is aware of its true quality and value. While we always caution posters when a price is too good to be true, the opposite should also hold true. We should also advise posters when the price is too high for the quality, regardless of if it is from our favourite vendors or an unknown vendor.

yes, and regardless of who likes or dislikes the statement, beauty IS in the eye of the beholder and that "eye" may be influenced by lack of education or budget.

also, "you get what you pay for" equals don't expect to get a $2000 quality gem for $200. again, education is paramount as is budget. in many cases people are getting what they paid for: window, extinction, and all.

vendors are in the business of parting us from our money; it is our job to discern fact from fiction and spend accordingly.

mz

 

[kenny]

Hi,
Of course you are right TL.

Kenny-- Another saying of some "You get what you pay for" -- Don't I wish that were true

Believe it or not Kenny, I thought of you last night as I was watching a show on the Orient Express going across Europe. I do not mean this to be impertinant, but have you done some traveling in your life? My advise to some of my younger friends is do some traveling with your money before you buy gems. Otherwise, I have to say you are a quick study for CS. But you have a good group here to advise.

Annette

I'm in my early 50s.
Long ago I spend 6 years in the US Navy.
I was never on a ship and lived overseas for about 5 of those years, so yes I have traveled.

I didn't learn anything about gems back then but I do believe living in other countries for extended periods (as opposed to staying in a Hilton hotel for 2 weeks) really opens up a person's mind.
I wish every person spent substantial time in other countries.

 

[kenny]

... about the "Do you love it" thing . . .

I was thinking. (Uh Oh!)
I DO love the diamonds I have bought, but that doesn't mean I'm guilty of turning my brain off and overpaying for what I got.

Loving it is fine - but it's not enough.
IMHO you also should be pretty sure the price is about right AND you should get educated before buying.
That way you'll never buy it, then learn more, then be disappointed with what you bought.

Learn first, then fall in love with suitable candidates.

 

[movie zombie]

[quote="kenny
Learn first, then fall in love with suitable candidates.[/quote]

good words to live by in all areas of one's life, kenny!

mz

 

[lelser]

Very good advice.

The infamous "Thai Gem Scam" which catches people every day hinges on ignorance, greed, and the law. People believe that they are exporting sapphires and can money selling them at home. They don't understand what they are buying, and the law in Thailand (as in most places) has no problem with overcharging so as long as the aquarium gravel in the box is natural sapphire they broke no law.

I got into this business because I fell in love with a necklace in Prague, but was uncomfortable spending serious money on something I didn't understand. Sure, they might have been sapphires, but it was an antique store in eastern Europe. They could as easily have been glass. I was frustrated at not being able to judge it, and here I am years later a GG and gem cutter.

Fortunately for most people, they have the good sense to stop a bit short of this

 

[BWise]

TL, thanks for sharing that comment, it is so true!

I think "buy what you love" is irrational, but people are irrational. To me it must be "buy what you love at the right price". To find out the right place, we educate ourselves and shop around.

I concur that Gene and Barry are my two most favorite cutters who are very reasonable in their pricing. There are numberous vendors who are highly regarded on this forum, post price tags that had me thinking "what the ..." But as long as there are buyers who are willing to pay for that price, there is nothing wrong with the vendor practice - they are in the business after all. I won't pay those prices, but I won't tell someone else not to buy either.

For example, during my recent search for a 2ct+ mahenge I reached out to a highly reputable vendor. When I finally got the hand shot after weeks of trying, the color was nothing like the online vendor picture. I ended up with a mahenge from a eBay vendor with 1/3 of the cost and I am in love with the stone.

You get what you paid for, but you may also get the same thing for less $ if you care to shop around.

 

[Gailey]

Hey TL I see you are spinning again and I might add, with greater clarity! I wonder if TGal is bashing her head against a wall again as well?

 

[Gailey]

Very good advice.

The infamous "Thai Gem Scam" which catches people every day hinges on ignorance, greed, and the law. People believe that they are exporting sapphires and can money selling them at home. They don't understand what they are buying, and the law in Thailand (as in most places) has no problem with overcharging so as long as the aquarium gravel in the box is natural sapphire they broke no law.

I got into this business because I fell in love with a necklace in Prague, but was uncomfortable spending serious money on something I didn't understand. Sure, they might have been sapphires, but it was an antique store in eastern Europe. They could as easily have been glass. I was frustrated at not being able to judge it, and here I am years later a GG and gem cutter.

Fortunately for most people, they have the good sense to stop a bit short of this

So, have you replicated the necklace yet Lisa?

 

[lelser]

Very good advice.

The infamous "Thai Gem Scam" which catches people every day hinges on ignorance, greed, and the law. People believe that they are exporting sapphires and can money selling them at home. They don't understand what they are buying, and the law in Thailand (as in most places) has no problem with overcharging so as long as the aquarium gravel in the box is natural sapphire they broke no law.

I got into this business because I fell in love with a necklace in Prague, but was uncomfortable spending serious money on something I didn't understand. Sure, they might have been sapphires, but it was an antique store in eastern Europe. They could as easily have been glass. I was frustrated at not being able to judge it, and here I am years later a GG and gem cutter.

Fortunately for most people, they have the good sense to stop a bit short of this

So, have you replicated the necklace yet Lisa?

I suffer from the "shoemaker's children" problem. I've fenced off a few stones for myself, but mostly the gems I cut stay in the business. My jeweller friends can at least wear their inventory once in a while - short of crazy-gluing rocks to skin that doesn't work for me!

 

[Gailey]

Very good advice.

The infamous "Thai Gem Scam" which catches people every day hinges on ignorance, greed, and the law. People believe that they are exporting sapphires and can money selling them at home. They don't understand what they are buying, and the law in Thailand (as in most places) has no problem with overcharging so as long as the aquarium gravel in the box is natural sapphire they broke no law.

I got into this business because I fell in love with a necklace in Prague, but was uncomfortable spending serious money on something I didn't understand. Sure, they might have been sapphires, but it was an antique store in eastern Europe. They could as easily have been glass. I was frustrated at not being able to judge it, and here I am years later a GG and gem cutter.

Fortunately for most people, they have the good sense to stop a bit short of this

So, have you replicated the necklace yet Lisa?

I suffer from the "shoemaker's children" problem. I've fenced off a few stones for myself, but mostly the gems I cut stay in the business. My jeweller friends can at least wear their inventory once in a while - short of crazy-gluing rocks to skin that doesn't work for me!

You should see my garden!

 

[Gailey]

Very good advice.

The infamous "Thai Gem Scam" which catches people every day hinges on ignorance, greed, and the law. People believe that they are exporting sapphires and can money selling them at home. They don't understand what they are buying, and the law in Thailand (as in most places) has no problem with overcharging so as long as the aquarium gravel in the box is natural sapphire they broke no law.

I got into this business because I fell in love with a necklace in Prague, but was uncomfortable spending serious money on something I didn't understand. Sure, they might have been sapphires, but it was an antique store in eastern Europe. They could as easily have been glass. I was frustrated at not being able to judge it, and here I am years later a GG and gem cutter.

Fortunately for most people, they have the good sense to stop a bit short of this

So, have you replicated the necklace yet Lisa?

I suffer from the "shoemaker's children" problem. I've fenced off a few stones for myself, but mostly the gems I cut stay in the business. My jeweller friends can at least wear their inventory once in a while - short of crazy-gluing rocks to skin that doesn't work for me!

You should see my garden!

 

[gsellis]

"A jeweler can charge $1000/ct for CZ if he/she wants, and is not breaking the law. If he/she sells that CZ as a natural diamond, then that's breaking the law."

As noted, without awareness, that might seem like a bargain to some until they walked into Penney's or other box store and saw
"Genuine CZ" for much less. Someone doing that might a sale or two to one person, but eventually, the only business you do is to one time customers. It is the repeat customers that would grow your business and expand it.

Now, if someone like Dalan Hargrave had one of his carvings in it, not $1000/ct, but you would want to spend money on it no matter what it was.