I just binge watched in the chronological order. Tomorrow I'll continue to absorb everything, thank you so much, really interesting and happy to dive deep into gems
The concepts that you talk about and explain are so in-depth and closely related to the market... that now I have begun to realize that I like being called a 'Schmuck' :D Thank you, Peter!
Interesting stuff. I have been searching for a way to evaluate what impact each aspect of the 4 Cs do to a stone value. So far I have found no usable information. I am trying to put together a chart for a role playing game and what to make it realistic. Do you know of any resources that could show me the value of a rough stone then the impact on price of cutting it, what the color would do to the price, same for clarity, inclusions, etc ?
Thats an excellent idea. One reason you haven't found usable information is because the pipeline is fairly opaque, and there isn't a compiled corpus of reliable information. Even inside the industry, the only way to know what price "should" be paid for rough is to have a strong grasp of what price the final stones are moving for, and then reverse engineering the controllable costs (cutting labour etc) and using that metric to negotiate with the miners/ rough dealers. You only profit if you correctly analyze the rough and it comes out at the quality you were hoping for. It's a pretty intense process requiring great connections and a keen eye.
Thank you! Knowledge is a powerful thing. And getting specific information on gemstones seems impossible. I love you. I love you!!!!! And very Great full. Good honest people are hard to find. But once and awhile, rarely, and by accident chance find one. Your are the greatest, Stay amazing l!!! ❤️
Hi Peter. Your content is top class. Question: obviously having a stone certified increases its salability (ie reveals it's TRUE value), but how do you decide what is worth certifying? And what kind of certificate is worth paying for?
Hi Gin~ Thank you for your kind words and support. What is worth certifying/ getting a gem report for? I have some clients that get a report for everything they sell, and know other dealers that have reports for nothing they sell. I suppose the truth in the matter is: how much does your client base trust your word over a 3rd party that they may or may not have ever met? That is a fickle question indeed eh? For myself - there are different levels of lab at different price ranges. If i'm trying to sell a loose stone as "unheated" sapphire, or believe there is value in showing a 3rd party opinion on the stone's origin etc ~ then i'll get a report from one of the labs I trust. The lab I choose depends on the price of the stone itself and what sort of information I need. In Bangkok there are a few good labs that can give you reports for maybe USD15-20, and others that are USD 100-400+ depending on their positioning in the market and what sorts of machines they have (necessary for Type A jade, some loupe clean sapphires, sapphire that is suspected of beryllium treatment, natural pearls etc ). At the end, it's a numbers game: will the price of the report give you an extra push to sell your stone, and is your profit on the stone able to cover the report comfortably? I'm not going to get a USD100 report from GIA or a comparable lab for a gem that is USD 300. I'll definitely consider it for a stone that is USD$1000+ though...
The carpet in the background is beautiful, handwoven Iranian, it will be nice if hanged, I am a Gem and Carpet collector, found your lectures very knowledgeable.
Hello Zahid～ Thank you for your kind words. I bought this carpet in Bangkok from some Kashmiri dealers, but i'm told that their tradition/ style of carpet knotting is the same as the Iranian style. Cool to know that they appear the same~
Could you tell me a little about Tanzanite please? It’s a pretty color generally (after it’s treated), but is it really as “limited” as the hype claim , or has marketing inflated the value of the stone? Seems to me it’s been running out for about 20+ years. What exactly is “D Block” and what do the grades actually mean? It’s confusing. Thanks for your attention.
Great questions Leah, i'll do my best to answer as I can. Tanzanite is indeed a pretty colour, and there are some decent colours that are untreated too, but the VAAAAAAST majority (upper 90 percents) of the gorgeous material is indeed heated. Tanzanite is just the violet to blue varieties of a mineral called Zoisite, just like richer emerald is the green varieties of Beryl (along with Aquamarine and Morganite etc.) So when folks say that Tanzanite only comes from one restricted area in Tanzania - that might be true at the moment, but who knows about the future. Zoisite surely comes from other locations in the world, and perhaps some of those may also be heated to turn violet or blue. I haven't heard any research done about that at the moment, but that is how the logic goes. There are definitely rarer materials out there, but keep in mind that the price of Tanzanite does not rival unheated or even most standard heat treated corundum (ruby and sapphire) in comparable sizes. As to the grades - i have no idea, because the only agreed upon grading system among gemologists is for diamonds. Coloured stones are inifinitely more complex because of the nature of colour, which is the first factor that impacts the price of gems. I've never heard of a D block (sounds like an infamous prison ward), so if someone wants to tell a story, i'd love to hear it. All I can say to sum up is that: there are many things that are confusing, and the best thing i can recommend to you is to continue looking at stones and honing your eye for colour and find dealers that you trust to share useable information with you. People that are willing to share information are typically people that want to cultivate relationships and build repeat business based on integrity, not just make a quick buck and then roll away. Thanks again for the questions, and keep an eye out for more on the channel :D
@@GemologyforSchmucks thanks so much! I do have a trusted jeweler but I really wanted to be personally more informed about what I may consider buying. I appreciate your time and attention...and I watch every single one of your presentations. 🤓
Glad my work was useful~ For value, you'll need to compare your stone with other stones of the same size and quality in the market. Comparison is everything for a current price.
Hi ~ Moldavite is a material in the hands of some specialty dealers. This is not something i've dealt with myself as I focus mostly on crystalline gemstones rather than glass. I believe there are some Czech dealers that center their business on moldavite, but I've not met or dealt with them.
How can i find a good gemstone wholesale compagnie in the Netherlands? I want to buy but not into paying inmense high overated prices. What do you think about Ebay or catawiki?
Most of us don't buy from sellers we dont know online, so my suggestion would be to plan a trip to Bangkok and check out the Jewelry Trade Center. Its a good holiday and you have a large industry (affordable labs etc) to protect you from fraud and scams also. If you buy online from dealers you don't know/ haven't vetted, its always a gamble.
@@GemologyforSchmucks Great and thanks Peter, Bangkok is the place to be for gemstones 🤗 I like to go sightseeing countries with a purpose so i might will do some day. What about nature made natural saltwater pearls and antique old cut stones ? Im also interested in them. Sayonara 👋😄
Properly bought gemstones historically have kept pace with inflation in any of its types, or increased their value in the long term. This is simply because objects of value change their price tag relative to how much currency is flowing around. If I have the 1 ruby that everyone wants (this part is key), I don't care what happens to the dollar or gold or crypto or whatever, I can change the number associated with it until the right number shows up in my hand. We don't want buckets of fish tank gravel. We want qualities of stones that are unique and in demand. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds etc have been around for thousands of years and they've never been "cheap." They're only cheap now looking into the past, because they're so much more expensive for the same qualities now (not always but often).
@@GemologyforSchmucks sir i need your guidence I just completed my degree in colour gemstone from university Now i want to step into business you are my senier and Wallah i learned much from you. How can i contact you in personal just want your 5 mints and i am sure it will shine me .
Hi Bonny~ it depends on a number of things. There will definitely be some dealers that are just trying to liquidate their stock to get out of the market, just like their will be furniture dealers and restauranteurs doing the exact same thing. In economic hard times, some people just try and get to "safety." That said - I expect anyone that has been able to cultivate a high end investment level stock, will just wait it out. The value of stones doesn't really fall (a few natural exceptions) but the major drop in price would be because of people who are afraid and just want to get out. Anyone in any industry right now should be looking to practice stoicism, and being brave in the face of calamity. Those who can do this successfully will come out on the other side stronger, and shining more brightly, like the glorious pearl.
Most of the time meeting the right buyer for the piece of the stone is not easy. Sometimes if you have a good piece , is not easy to sell if you don't have a buyer , so how do I overcome such challenges
I believe that integrity is the first part. A strong reputation is founded in integrity, and then in having the right stones that fit with the right buyer. Many buyers love stones, but trusting the price of the stone comes from integrity, and that is built up intentionally and with effort.
Can you discuss synthetic/man-made emeralds, and pink diamonds? My friend who is a jeweler insists that pink diamonds go through some kind of treatment to enhance their color - I insist they do not (I saw a small one in person once in the sunlight, and it was like looking at Heaven).
Hi Hannah~ Pink diamonds CAN be treated to create the pink colour (this is how ALL synthetic diamonds become pink) but only certain types of diamonds can take that treatment. There are 4 major classes of diamonds that have different characteristics, and without getting into the high science details, we'll just say that treated colour and natural colour pink diamonds both exist. If it is a natural pink diamond, expect the price to be sky high, bc fancy coloured diamonds are WAY more rare than colourless diamonds. What would you like to know about synthetic emeralds? Perhaps that would be a good topic for a video...
So how can someone ignorant on coloured gemstones buy gemstone jewelry and know they're not getting ripped off? do you really need to learn to evaluate every individual stone?
Hi ~ as with anything of value, theres really two paths that we can take to know we're not getting ripped off 1) know the value points as an expert, or 2) coordinate with an expert that you trust. If you buy a house and you know nothing of houses, you engage a realtor and possibly an independent appraiser. These are the experts that we hope to trust because we don't know the full value points of real-estate enough to make an informed decision. With gemstones and jewelry, it's the same. Don't buy from people you don't trust, but look for people that you believe have the expertise and the integrity to properly advise you when you buy.
@@GemologyforSchmucks Ok thanks man. Appreciate the info and the channel. Just binged a bunch of your videos, didnt know there was so much to it haha. Makes sense for sure though.
Thank you for the video, I'm just entering the market within the last year. I live in Vietnam and I'm trying to find ruby and different colored sapphire. I've bought some as trial and error and still don't know the market price in my own country (Australia). Do you have any advice on how I can check the ones I've already bought? I have bought some bi-color blue and pink sapphire, rubies (which is a broad term in Vietnam, and also tourmaline (many colors). I subscribed to your channel and look forward to seeing more vids ;)
Excellent question. Congratulations on getting your skin into the game, because really, its only once you start buying and selling the stones that this data of common price for quality really sticks in your head. There are a few ways you can approach it: you can try and re-sell your stones inside of Vietnam (particularly to other foreigners who come looking for stones) and see what kind of price you can negotiate too and push that line. The price you'll get in Vietnam will likely be lower that what you can get in Australia because its the source country and the rarity of the material is naturally less rare than it would be in Australia. That said - if you can buy and sell a number of stones this way, you can get that all important information about what is possible price wise, and that will help you as you go to set prices and negotiate with people in western non-gem-producing countries. Otherwise you could seek out some other foreigners that deal in Vietnam and cultivate their acquaintance. Some people are happy to give a general evaluation of what they think the price should be. Talk to a LOT of people. Thanks for the question.
Thanks Anura. Selling is done much the same way it is with any other industry: show value to those who have the capacity to buy. Building your place in those markets is the major challenge of being a salesperson.
I have high quality gemstone the most expensive look like a diamond colour blue light it gliters and shine natural design looks like a diamond I need some one uot there to give good price I want to know per carat how much us dollar
To know the true price of a gemstone, one must know the quality of their stone and compare it to the price of other stones of similar quality and context. Good luck in your search.
I just binge watched in the chronological order. Tomorrow I'll continue to absorb everything, thank you so much, really interesting and happy to dive deep into gems
I'm glad my content is of service~ gemstones are indeed a worthy topic to dive into.
The concepts that you talk about and explain are so in-depth and closely related to the market... that now I have begun to realize that I like being called a 'Schmuck' :D Thank you, Peter!
Wow ,i now understand truly the difference of spending money and time in choosing jemstone . Thanks a slot for this great info . Keep it up .
I'm glad my work is of service to you~
I’m watching your video since the day 1! Love it and thanks for sharing these amazing information!
EXCELLENT to hear ~ i'm so glad to be of service and add value :D Keep watching - I have new (and hopefully better 😂 ) content each week.
Great job breaking it down
Thanks very much~
Love your channel subscribed and looking forward. Thank you for such a good and precise content packed with great understanding.
Thanks for your encouragement Nash ~ It's my pleasure to serve.
I’m loving these videos!
Thanks Nathan~
Interesting stuff. I have been searching for a way to evaluate what impact each aspect of the 4 Cs do to a stone value. So far I have found no usable information. I am trying to put together a chart for a role playing game and what to make it realistic. Do you know of any resources that could show me the value of a rough stone then the impact on price of cutting it, what the color would do to the price, same for clarity, inclusions, etc ?
Thats an excellent idea. One reason you haven't found usable information is because the pipeline is fairly opaque, and there isn't a compiled corpus of reliable information. Even inside the industry, the only way to know what price "should" be paid for rough is to have a strong grasp of what price the final stones are moving for, and then reverse engineering the controllable costs (cutting labour etc) and using that metric to negotiate with the miners/ rough dealers. You only profit if you correctly analyze the rough and it comes out at the quality you were hoping for. It's a pretty intense process requiring great connections and a keen eye.
Thank you. I decided to go with Chat GPT to get a rough idea. Doesn't have to be perfect, just to be in a large ballpark ;) @@GemologyforSchmucks
Thank you! Knowledge is a powerful thing. And getting specific information on gemstones seems impossible. I love you. I love you!!!!! And very Great full. Good honest people are hard to find. But once and awhile, rarely, and by accident chance find one. Your are the greatest, Stay amazing l!!! ❤️
My pleasure to serve, Timi~
Hi Peter. Your content is top class. Question: obviously having a stone certified increases its salability (ie reveals it's TRUE value), but how do you decide what is worth certifying? And what kind of certificate is worth paying for?
Hi Gin~ Thank you for your kind words and support. What is worth certifying/ getting a gem report for? I have some clients that get a report for everything they sell, and know other dealers that have reports for nothing they sell. I suppose the truth in the matter is: how much does your client base trust your word over a 3rd party that they may or may not have ever met? That is a fickle question indeed eh? For myself - there are different levels of lab at different price ranges. If i'm trying to sell a loose stone as "unheated" sapphire, or believe there is value in showing a 3rd party opinion on the stone's origin etc ~ then i'll get a report from one of the labs I trust. The lab I choose depends on the price of the stone itself and what sort of information I need. In Bangkok there are a few good labs that can give you reports for maybe USD15-20, and others that are USD 100-400+ depending on their positioning in the market and what sorts of machines they have (necessary for Type A jade, some loupe clean sapphires, sapphire that is suspected of beryllium treatment, natural pearls etc ).
At the end, it's a numbers game: will the price of the report give you an extra push to sell your stone, and is your profit on the stone able to cover the report comfortably? I'm not going to get a USD100 report from GIA or a comparable lab for a gem that is USD 300. I'll definitely consider it for a stone that is USD$1000+ though...
@@GemologyforSchmucks thank you, that was a most thorough reply. I'm kind of jealous of you for having a $20 local lab. 😁
The carpet in the background is beautiful, handwoven Iranian, it will be nice if hanged, I am a Gem and Carpet collector, found your lectures very knowledgeable.
Hello Zahid～ Thank you for your kind words. I bought this carpet in Bangkok from some Kashmiri dealers, but i'm told that their tradition/ style of carpet knotting is the same as the Iranian style. Cool to know that they appear the same~
Very interesting!
Could you tell me a little about Tanzanite please? It’s a pretty color generally (after it’s treated), but is it really as “limited” as the hype claim , or has marketing inflated the value of the stone? Seems to me it’s been running out for about 20+ years. What exactly is “D Block” and what do the grades actually mean? It’s confusing. Thanks for your attention.
Great questions Leah, i'll do my best to answer as I can.
Tanzanite is indeed a pretty colour, and there are some decent colours that are untreated too, but the VAAAAAAST majority (upper 90 percents) of the gorgeous material is indeed heated. Tanzanite is just the violet to blue varieties of a mineral called Zoisite, just like richer emerald is the green varieties of Beryl (along with Aquamarine and Morganite etc.)
So when folks say that Tanzanite only comes from one restricted area in Tanzania - that might be true at the moment, but who knows about the future. Zoisite surely comes from other locations in the world, and perhaps some of those may also be heated to turn violet or blue. I haven't heard any research done about that at the moment, but that is how the logic goes.
There are definitely rarer materials out there, but keep in mind that the price of Tanzanite does not rival unheated or even most standard heat treated corundum (ruby and sapphire) in comparable sizes.
As to the grades - i have no idea, because the only agreed upon grading system among gemologists is for diamonds. Coloured stones are inifinitely more complex because of the nature of colour, which is the first factor that impacts the price of gems.
I've never heard of a D block (sounds like an infamous prison ward), so if someone wants to tell a story, i'd love to hear it.
All I can say to sum up is that: there are many things that are confusing, and the best thing i can recommend to you is to continue looking at stones and honing your eye for colour and find dealers that you trust to share useable information with you. People that are willing to share information are typically people that want to cultivate relationships and build repeat business based on integrity, not just make a quick buck and then roll away.
Thanks again for the questions, and keep an eye out for more on the channel :D
@@GemologyforSchmucks thanks so much! I do have a trusted jeweler but I really wanted to be personally more informed about what I may consider buying. I appreciate your time and attention...and I watch every single one of your presentations. 🤓
@@leahhoward239 To be personally informed is absolutely a fantastic goal, and I look forward to helping you along that road. ^_^
Thank you for your best explanation, I have one available but how can I know the value.
Glad my work was useful~ For value, you'll need to compare your stone with other stones of the same size and quality in the market. Comparison is everything for a current price.
Another excellent video!!!
:D
Great explanations keep it up
Thanks very much ~ I will indeed.
Very good information 👍
Thanks very much~
Do you know where to get quality moldivite?
Hi ~ Moldavite is a material in the hands of some specialty dealers. This is not something i've dealt with myself as I focus mostly on crystalline gemstones rather than glass. I believe there are some Czech dealers that center their business on moldavite, but I've not met or dealt with them.
How can i find a good gemstone wholesale compagnie in the Netherlands?
I want to buy but not into paying inmense high overated prices.
What do you think about Ebay or catawiki?
Most of us don't buy from sellers we dont know online, so my suggestion would be to plan a trip to Bangkok and check out the Jewelry Trade Center. Its a good holiday and you have a large industry (affordable labs etc) to protect you from fraud and scams also. If you buy online from dealers you don't know/ haven't vetted, its always a gamble.
@@GemologyforSchmucks
Great and thanks Peter,
Bangkok is the place to be for gemstones 🤗
I like to go sightseeing countries with a purpose so i might will do some day.
What about nature made natural saltwater pearls and antique old cut stones ?
Im also interested in them.
Sayonara 👋😄
Love your content mate
Glad you enjoy it~ keep an eye out for more :D
how do you price cut gemstones you already have or want to buy
Pricing is all about market comparisons. You have to know clearly the quality of you have and to look at what is available.
How do gems do historically vs inflation, hyperinflation, stagflation, and deflation?
Properly bought gemstones historically have kept pace with inflation in any of its types, or increased their value in the long term. This is simply because objects of value change their price tag relative to how much currency is flowing around. If I have the 1 ruby that everyone wants (this part is key), I don't care what happens to the dollar or gold or crypto or whatever, I can change the number associated with it until the right number shows up in my hand. We don't want buckets of fish tank gravel. We want qualities of stones that are unique and in demand. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds etc have been around for thousands of years and they've never been "cheap." They're only cheap now looking into the past, because they're so much more expensive for the same qualities now (not always but often).
Great Video. Keep it up.
Thank you~ I shall strive to improve
thank u soo much sir❤
My pleasure~
@@GemologyforSchmucks sir i need your guidence
I just completed my degree in colour gemstone from university
Now i want to step into business
you are my senier and Wallah i learned much from you.
How can i contact you in personal just want your 5 mints and i am sure it will shine me .
What u think about the prices of stones post covid-19..??how much fall u expect
Hi Bonny~ it depends on a number of things. There will definitely be some dealers that are just trying to liquidate their stock to get out of the market, just like their will be furniture dealers and restauranteurs doing the exact same thing. In economic hard times, some people just try and get to "safety." That said - I expect anyone that has been able to cultivate a high end investment level stock, will just wait it out. The value of stones doesn't really fall (a few natural exceptions) but the major drop in price would be because of people who are afraid and just want to get out.
Anyone in any industry right now should be looking to practice stoicism, and being brave in the face of calamity. Those who can do this successfully will come out on the other side stronger, and shining more brightly, like the glorious pearl.
Hi since I live canada and I go africa when I bring gemestone in to Canada where to sell there
Most of the time meeting the right buyer for the piece of the stone is not easy.
Sometimes if you have a good piece , is not easy to sell if you don't have a buyer , so how do I overcome such challenges
I believe that integrity is the first part. A strong reputation is founded in integrity, and then in having the right stones that fit with the right buyer. Many buyers love stones, but trusting the price of the stone comes from integrity, and that is built up intentionally and with effort.
Can you discuss synthetic/man-made emeralds, and pink diamonds? My friend who is a jeweler insists that pink diamonds go through some kind of treatment to enhance their color - I insist they do not (I saw a small one in person once in the sunlight, and it was like looking at Heaven).
Hi Hannah~
Pink diamonds CAN be treated to create the pink colour (this is how ALL synthetic diamonds become pink) but only certain types of diamonds can take that treatment. There are 4 major classes of diamonds that have different characteristics, and without getting into the high science details, we'll just say that treated colour and natural colour pink diamonds both exist. If it is a natural pink diamond, expect the price to be sky high, bc fancy coloured diamonds are WAY more rare than colourless diamonds.
What would you like to know about synthetic emeralds? Perhaps that would be a good topic for a video...
So how can someone ignorant on coloured gemstones buy gemstone jewelry and know they're not getting ripped off? do you really need to learn to evaluate every individual stone?
Hi ~ as with anything of value, theres really two paths that we can take to know we're not getting ripped off 1) know the value points as an expert, or 2) coordinate with an expert that you trust. If you buy a house and you know nothing of houses, you engage a realtor and possibly an independent appraiser. These are the experts that we hope to trust because we don't know the full value points of real-estate enough to make an informed decision. With gemstones and jewelry, it's the same. Don't buy from people you don't trust, but look for people that you believe have the expertise and the integrity to properly advise you when you buy.
@@GemologyforSchmucks Ok thanks man. Appreciate the info and the channel. Just binged a bunch of your videos, didnt know there was so much to it haha. Makes sense for sure though.
Thank you for the video, I'm just entering the market within the last year. I live in Vietnam and I'm trying to find ruby and different colored sapphire. I've bought some as trial and error and still don't know the market price in my own country (Australia). Do you have any advice on how I can check the ones I've already bought? I have bought some bi-color blue and pink sapphire, rubies (which is a broad term in Vietnam, and also tourmaline (many colors). I subscribed to your channel and look forward to seeing more vids ;)
Excellent question. Congratulations on getting your skin into the game, because really, its only once you start buying and selling the stones that this data of common price for quality really sticks in your head. There are a few ways you can approach it: you can try and re-sell your stones inside of Vietnam (particularly to other foreigners who come looking for stones) and see what kind of price you can negotiate too and push that line. The price you'll get in Vietnam will likely be lower that what you can get in Australia because its the source country and the rarity of the material is naturally less rare than it would be in Australia. That said - if you can buy and sell a number of stones this way, you can get that all important information about what is possible price wise, and that will help you as you go to set prices and negotiate with people in western non-gem-producing countries. Otherwise you could seek out some other foreigners that deal in Vietnam and cultivate their acquaintance. Some people are happy to give a general evaluation of what they think the price should be. Talk to a LOT of people. Thanks for the question.
@@GemologyforSchmucks Thanks so much!
Btw the carpet back there is kinda pretty
Thanks - i'm a fan of it aswell.
Hi wow good information pl let me know how can make selling contact
Thanks Anura. Selling is done much the same way it is with any other industry: show value to those who have the capacity to buy. Building your place in those markets is the major challenge of being a salesperson.
✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️💎👽👌🏾
I have high quality gemstone the most expensive look like a diamond colour blue light it gliters and shine natural design looks like a diamond I need some one uot there to give good price I want to know per carat how much us dollar
To know the true price of a gemstone, one must know the quality of their stone and compare it to the price of other stones of similar quality and context. Good luck in your search.
Du you buy gemstones
I often buy gemstones, which is convenient for me as I live near to the gem market in Bangkok.
@@GemologyforSchmucks oooh thanks, have you bought from far like africa or u just but around your country sir?
@@abdulmainaDIYs At this stage, I only buy when I see and verify the stones in person.
@@GemologyforSchmucks ok sir , i am expecting some gemstones maybe by the end of this month inshaAllah, i will let u know by then
The fifth c of gems: cost.
It fits the initials, sure. It's the one C that can change though ~ everything else is dependably consistent within a given stone.
Can I have your email and thanks 😊
You are welcome to contact me directly through gemshepherd.com - there is a button labeled "contact"
@@GemologyforSchmucks cannot getting thru website from Laos. Very difficult and is there other options.
@@avalokitesvaraprameasavanm1093 Sure ~ if the website isn't working, then direct email me at thegemshepherd"AT"gmail.com