Summary: Investing in gems should be done with the
intention of building up a magnificent collection of precious stones, and not
for the purpose of getting quick returns on investments. Genuine collectors
would do well to spend some money and have gems appraised and certified by
qualified appraisers before purchasing them, as some retailers tend to quote
incredibly inflated prices in comparison to wholesalers. If proper valuation is
done at the time of purchase, the value of the collection will steadily
increase.
The Need for Having Gems Appraised
The techniques for manufacturing imitation costume (or artificial) jewelry have
been developed to a level where it is almost impossible for an average person to
differentiate between them and the originals. Add to this the fact that some
jewelry retailers ridiculously inflate the price of genuine precious stones and
you can see why it is necessary to have your gems appraised and certified at the
time of purchase. After spending a tidy amount on a gem you have just acquired,
the last thing you would want is to find that your friend has purchased an
identical stone for a much lower price, or that your stone is of inferior
quality! There is no ready market for the resale of gems so you need to get
professional advice and analyze the various gems and their characteristics
before deciding what to buy. Whether it is for your collection, an investment
for resale, or as a gift, get your gems appraised for insurance purposes as well
as for knowing their fair market value.
Grading and Appraising Gems
There are a standard set of rules to be observed in the purchase of any gem,
followed by separate rules for each variety of gems. While the system for
grading and valuing diamonds is well established and dependable because of
steady market conditions and stable supply and demand, the same cannot be said
for most other gems, especially when supply and demand are unpredictable. While
most gemologists can prepare a grading or identification repot on a stone, only
an appraiser can give its exact value. Most appraisers include a grading report
also. Some jewelers subject inferior quality colored gems to enhancement - like
heat treatment, irradiation or oiling - to get a better price for them and a
good appraiser will be quick to notice such embellishments. Some stones have a
high value because of the history or folklore attached to them. Stones coming
naturally in identical pairs or suites fetch a comparatively better value than a
single stone of the same quality.
What does an Appraiser do?
The term 'appraising' refers to the process of evaluating a product on the basis
of specific criteria and for specific purposes. Gems are appraised mainly to
determine their fair market value (FMV) or for insurance purposes. Qualified
gemologists undergo specialized training to be certified as accredited
appraisers of gems. If a gem has been certified by a Master Gemologist
Appraiser, his/her valuation is accepted as final. These appraisers need to have
their credentials revalidated every five years. They need to update themselves
with the latest developments in the field of gemology. Appraisers may specialize
in evaluating different kinds of gems and jewelry. They are even given special
courses in market research and analysis for gems.Appraisers make a detailed
study of the various characteristics of gems. The chemical composition is
analyzed to determine if it is essentially a chemical element, a simple chemical
compound, or a complex compound of chemicals and elements. The crystal structure
is analyzed to determine whether they are crystalline, non-crystalline or
organic. The crystal structure can be cubic, hexagonal, tetragonal,
orthorhombic, monoclinic or triclinic. Gems are studied for their optical
effect. Besides assessing the color, they are analyzed for factors like optic
character, refractive index, birefringence, dispersion, fluorescence,
phosphorescence and clarity of color. Some gems display rare special optical
effects called 'phenomena', which enhance the attractiveness and value of the
stone. These gems are studied for chatoyancy, asterism, iridescence and
aventurescence. Each gem is assessed for specific gravity or relative density.
Durability of the stone is assessed to determine hardness and toughness. Thermal
conductivity is assessed as the ability to conduct heat varies from stone to
stone.
A variety of appliances and accessories are used in the process of appraising a
gem. These include binocular microscopes, refractometers, polariscopes, Chelsea
filter, aka emerald filter, spectroscope, ultraviolet light source, special
specific gravity testing liquids, X-ray photographs, etc.
The Final Analysis
Generally gems are categorized as Precious stones - diamonds, rubies, emeralds,
sapphires, opals and pearls - and Semi-Precious stones - most other colored
gems. But this classification is rather ambiguous as inferior quality 'precious
stones' are much cheaper than top quality 'semi-precious stones'. Even the
general differentiation between diamonds and 'colored stones' is inappropriate,
as some diamonds are colored and some 'colored' stones have no color. Some
unusual gems are further classified as Museum Grade stones and Rare or Collector
stones.
The basic principle of the 5 Cs is applied for all gems - Cost should be
determined by Carat, Cut, Clarity and Color.
The price per carat does not rise proportionately but exponentially. This is
because large gems are difficult to come by. While larger carat weights
naturally attract higher prices, the stones should be of a size suitable for
ornaments to have value.
A gem must be strikingly beautiful in appearance to have real value. Sparkle and
color are the primary considerations and should be evident even from several
yards away. Cut and clarity determine the impact of sparkle and color. The
pattern of cutting differs for diamonds and colored stones, as the optical
properties of the latter are variable. Different types of cuts include heart,
octagon, pear, marquise, round brilliant, oval, square, trilliant, round
cabochon, princess, antique cushion, baguette, emerald cut, and briolette. Good
diamonds should be dazzling with their white fire and good colored stones should
maintain the richness of their color in daylight as well as indoor conditions. A
really good gem will stand out anywhere, anytime!
Some persons claim they can asses a stone with just one careful look. They may
or may not be correct in their assessment, but, when you consider the
professional competence of a certified appraiser, it is much better to be
certain than to take a risk when investing your valuable money in gems.
Certified gems are far more valuable whether they are for resale or for a
collection. It is a good practice to have precious stones appraised and revalued
periodically, so that you can always rest assured that you know the exact value
of your collection.
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