In general, collecting loose gemstones is a bad investment. Most individuals will be hard pressed to sell their gemstones for 50% of purchase price. Gemstone dealers do not often buy from private parties because they have spent many years gathering sources where they buy gems at competitive prices. So when it’s time to sell your gemstone collection you may need to sell on EBay or Craigslist and will be competing with sellers who have loyal clients and have worked hard to build their online reputation.
There are a few exceptions though. If you are able to buy your gemstones when a new find is discovered you will do very well in the coming years. Tanzanite is a perfect example of this type of investment opportunity. When this material was first encountered the price was ridiculously low until the mines started to produce less and the price went through the roof. New finds occur every couple of years but the key is to know when they occur and to buy early in the life cycle of the mine. Keeping up with news in the gemstone trade organizations is essential.
Another exception is high-end gemstones such as colored diamonds, emerald, loose ruby, or sapphire in larger untreated sizes. These rare gems often go up in value and you would be able to sell them at one of the larger auction houses like Sotheby’s. Make sure you have very good documentation when you buy these types of gems though. Gemstones are the most portable source of wealth and if you live in an unstable country gems can be an important way to leave with some wealth if necessary.






