Looking for a Precious Gemstone Buyer? A Seller’s Guide to Turning Diamond, Sapphire, or Emerald Rings into Cash

Gemstone and gemstone jewelry can be the ultimate style icon, seldom going out of fashion. It takes an artist to turn these colored stones into eye-catchers that can become the talk of the town. But how do you know if the stone you have is a precious stone, or even if it does look like one, is it natural and untreated, or lab-grown and treated? To save you from the hassle, there are precious stone buyers and appraisers who can expertly determine the type of gemstone you have and how much it is worth. 

Although gemstones and other semi-precious stones may have some innate value, they may be used in pieces of jewelry that you don’t find suits your fashion style. Maybe it’s too old, maybe it’s too flamboyant. You might have a loose gemstone lying around which needs to be incorporated into a piece of jewelry. Or you simply don’t have the need for a certain gemstone and are looking to sell it off, as some cash in hand is always appreciated. Whatever the case may be, it is fairly easy to turn your precious and semi-precious gemstones into cash. 

Pricing the Stones Correctly

Let’s assume you have a stone that doesn’t mean much to you and you would like to sell it. As discussed earlier, these stones may have some value of their own, but that is not the only factor that determines their price. Let us discuss what other factors go into pricing these stones.

• Carat Weight

One of the most important factors when it comes to pricing the stones is the carat weight of the stone. You might have often heard diamond buyers and jewelry buyers talk about how many carats a piece of diamond is. Speaking in terms of gems, a carat is equal to ⅕ of a gram. Each gemstone is usually categorized into these carat weights. We often hear people talk about the carat weight of the diamond engagement rings people purchase for their spouses, which makes sense, because the carat weight directly relates to their price in the market. The more carats in a stone, the more precious and expensive it is. 

When included in jewelry with other precious metals like gold and platinum, the complete weight of the jewelry is never weighed in carats. Rather, the metal is weighed in grams. So you can get two different quotes while selling your jewelry, one for the size of the stone and the other for the type and amount of metal used. Most gemstones such as diamonds, garnet, amethyst, topaz, and others are weighed in carats.

• Purity

Purity as a term is loosely associated with gemstones because impurities in a stone can increase its value. Impurities allow these stones to get their characteristic colors, which can skyrocket or crash the prices of the stone. 

Taking the example of diamonds, a pure white diamond is the benchmark of gemstone appearance and prices, and it already has a high market value. However, colored diamonds, like red and blue diamonds, are valued much higher due to their extreme rarity while yellow or brown diamonds, being much more common, usually hold the same value as natural colorless diamonds. 

The purity of a gemstone isn’t only affected by compounds that alter its color. Impurities can also be things like crystals inside the gem or other features that are not a part of the gem, and they can also alter the value of the gemstone. In some cases, these inclusions may be extremely difficult to see and, therefore, do not have a major impact on the price. But in some cases, the inclusions may be big enough to be seen by the naked eye, which can depreciate the price of the stone. 

• Cut

One of the most important factors that determine the price is the number and precision of cuts in a diamond. In other words, the artistry that goes into the stone to make it the work of art everyone desires. The cuts in diamonds determine how well they look under well-lit conditions. Therefore, a good cut grade is of utmost importance to fetch a high price. Cutting a stone is 50% mathematics and 50% art. The cut has to symbolize the beauty of the stone and showcase the wearer’s impeccable taste in jewelry. It has to be perfectly symmetrical, with the perfect proportions of the table, crown, and girdle. These facets make sure the light is reflected perfectly, making a diamond’s shine visible from a distance. 

Although cuts are not exclusively limited to diamonds, they also determine the prices of other gemstones like ruby, tanzanite, aquamarine, blue sapphire, or any other gemstone that depends on reflecting light to truly showcase its beauty. A stone should appear bright and have a distinctive pattern, and a specific appeal for it to hold up to the high market standards and be resale-ready.

• Certification

Selling gemstones can be difficult. Since these stones are difficult to grade, owing to the complex processes involved in the mining and post-processing of the stones, having a certified gemstone is a sure-shot way of ensuring that the stones you’re trying to sell are worth their money. Grading institutes like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) take into account the inclusions and the cut of the stone to grade it according to their standards. 

These grades determine the worth of the gemstones in the resale market and as a general practice, a gem graded by GIA will fetch a higher resale price than an ungraded one. A graded report also states whether the stone is natural or lab-made, which can help you prevent overpaying for a gem that claims to be natural but is, in fact, artificial. A grading report can include a lot of information about the gem including its origin, purity, cut, and symmetry, which can simplify the reselling process for you and the buyer. If you have an ungraded diamond, it’s worth spending a few extra bucks to have it graded in one of these labs. 

Also, since GIA is a globally reputed and recognized certifying authority, a GIA certification holds precedence over any other certificates. This certificate is respected by almost all dealers in the U.S. and it is worthwhile to get your precious stones certified by the GIA. 

Natural vs Manmade

How a gemstone is made has a significant impact on the final selling value. In earlier times, gemstones could only be extracted from nature, but over the past century, scientists have developed ways to create manmade gemstones with essentially the same qualities and completion as natural ones. 

The fact that they are manmade, though, and the fact that the manufacturing process tends to be significantly cheaper than gemstone extraction, limit the value of a lav diamond to as little as ⅓ of the price of an equivalent natural diamond. 

Region of Origin

How did a particular gemstone come to be? Where was it mined? These questions have an outsized impact on the final selling price. Some regions are well known for the quality and availability of specific gemstones – Myanmar, for instance, is a celebrated source of rubies, and Burma rubies command a significant price premium over alternatives. 

Ready to Sell the Stones? 

Although everything stated above tries to be as objective as possible, while actually selling these stones, the prices may be subjective. Even among jewelers and diamond appraisers, the prices can vary. This is due to the complex nature of grading the stones. There is a lot of subjectivity involved in the gemstone market, and even for professionals, it can be difficult to come to a set price for the given carat weight, due to the intricacies of the cuts, the inclusions, and the impurities present. Getting a second opinion can be a way to go, after which you can determine where you’re getting the best price for your stones and sell them. 

Vasco, Your One-Stop Shop for Buying and Selling Precious Stones

Don’t let the world of gemstones overwhelm you. The market is huge and there are as many people willing to buy as there are to sell. All it takes is some market research to make sure that you’re getting what your gem is actually worth and you’re golden. This is where we at Vasco can help you make the tough decisions regarding selling your precious stones. We have several in-house gemologists who can determine exactly how much the stones are worth and give you a price unmatched by other diamond buyers. Graded or not, we know how much your stones are worth and how much they mean to you. Be it garnet gemstones, agate, lapis, or any other type of stone, if you’re looking to sell it, we are happy to buy it. No matter the stone, there is always a market for them. Come Visit us at Vasco to get the best deals on your gemstone beads or connect with us on our socials to know more.