Advice for this Fascinating Hobby?

[CheshireCat]

I am 19 in Chicago, IL and have fallen in love with jewelry and gems over the past couple of years. I'm interested in collecting gemstones and jewelry. I am so thankful that I have found a community of such wonderful, more experienced people that share the same interest in collecting as I. I am basically looking for any advice, any tips, secrets, or stories that you guys have and would be willing to share to me as a beginner for collecting? I don't know what to look for and where to start and I'm looking for tips on everything. I have been browsing through PriceScope, and have been taking advantage of the wealth of knowledge in the PriceScope databases on everything to become more educated about gems. I have looked through many PSers fascinating collections on the forums and it is amazing and I would love to learn as much as I can. I am starting to collect this year. Does anyone know of any good places in Chicago for buying stones? Thanks, everyone!

 

[chrono]

You might have already checked this out, if not, it's a good place to start.
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/[/URL]

Before buying, I suggest scoping out Gem Shows first. A good way to see many gem types, see what's out there, pricing and train the eye all at once without spending a dime.

 

[CheshireCat]

You might have already checked this out, if not, it's a good place to start.
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/[/URL]

Before buying, I suggest scoping out Gem Shows first. A good way to see many gem types, see what's out there, pricing and train the eye all at once without spending a dime.

Thank you so much, Chrono! I am checking it out now.

 

[corundum_conundrum]

You can go to intergem in a few weeks. A helpful PS vendor, Primagems, will be in attendance, as well countless other Gem vendors who will likely be of various levels of quality and trustworthiness. The volume of vendors should be high enough to make it possible to find plenty of good ones.

http://www.intergem.com/shows/upcoming-shows/chicago-il-dec-7-9

 

[CheshireCat]

You can go to intergem in a few weeks. A helpful PS vendor, Primagems, will be in attendance, as well countless other Gem vendors who will likely be of various levels of quality and trustworthiness. The volume of vendors should be high enough to make it possible to find plenty of good ones.

http://www.intergem.com/shows/upcoming-shows/chicago-il-dec-7-9

This is perfect, corundum! I am definitely going to this. I will be visiting Primagems! Are there any other vendors there you can recommend or things I should be on the lookout for? Thank you so much!

 

[chrono]

Vance Gems and Africa Gems. There is a list of trusted vendors here but most will not be in attendance.
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/can-we-start-a-new-thread-with-respected-cs-vendors.169561/page-4']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/can-we-start-a-new-thread-with-respected-cs-vendors.169561/page-4[/URL]

 

[thekid98]

When one goes to a gem show like this, what are prices like? Generally speaking, is it a good place to find bargains?

 

[chrono]

Pricing is everywhere - it depends on how much the vendor's cost is, his overhead and the profit margin he is willing to accept. You will see a wide variety of quality as well, so you need to know how to tell them apart because slight nuances of colour can mean $$$. Unless you know what you are doing, you can be totally ripped off or find a good bargain. Just like online purchasing and buying at a brick and mortar, there are good vendors and not so good vendors at these shows.

 

[SB621]

My only advise is wait a little before you buy. When I first found PS I bought MANY colored gemstones and it took awhile before I really found out what size and colors I really like and will actually wear. I have had to sell several of the pieces at a loss (at least they found homes with other happy PSers) and I"m still trying to unload other gems. I won't wear them but don't want them sitting in my jewelry box either. I guess I will chalk it up to learning experiences.

 

[minousbijoux]

My only advise is wait a little before you buy. When I first found PS I bought MANY colored gemstones and it took awhile before I really found out what size and colors I really like and will actually wear. I have had to sell several of the pieces at a loss (at least they found homes with other happy PSers) and I"m still trying to unload other gems. I won't wear them but don't want them sitting in my jewelry box either. I guess I will chalk it up to learning experiences.

This, exactly! I have cautioned several newcomers to start slowly as I did not and learned the hard way. Who knows? Maybe that's the typical way to learn as you get to see them first hand? I don't know, but in retrospect, like Sarah, I wish I had taken my time...

 

[LD]

My only advise is wait a little before you buy. When I first found PS I bought MANY colored gemstones and it took awhile before I really found out what size and colors I really like and will actually wear. I have had to sell several of the pieces at a loss (at least they found homes with other happy PSers) and I"m still trying to unload other gems. I won't wear them but don't want them sitting in my jewelry box either. I guess I will chalk it up to learning experiences.

This, exactly! I have cautioned several newcomers to start slowly as I did not and learned the hard way. Who knows? Maybe that's the typical way to learn as you get to see them first hand? I don't know, but in retrospect, like Sarah, I wish I had taken my time...

+2

You should see the stones I first started collecting! I wish this forum had been around then but unfortunately I don't think the internet had even been invented at that stage

 

[ChrisA222]

+3....6 trays of gems...six trays......(thats 32 stones per tray) in less than a year of collecting. I am thankfully now down to a much more managable, much nicer tray and a half. LOL.

Start slow....learn as much as you can...and then learn some more! There is some good stuff on this forum, but also a lot of opinions. The factual data is great, the opinions---I caution to take all with a grain of salt. We all don't agree on everything (what traits are best/most desirable..and so on)...so learn and like what you like.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

My best advice is to get a good feeling of the type of gemstones you want to collect and your future plans on setting them. For example I love to admire my gems so I choose rings. I am also clumsy so I choose stones that are harder on the Mohs scale and less brittle and prone to fracturing.

I have gained so much through the pricescope members on what designates a stone as top color and cut. With that in mind I know what the ideal standard may be but take in to account what I love. An example of this is I love pink/red stones such as Mahenge spinels. My eyes love the ideal color of pink/red but also love purple and orange modifiers. So if I have a chance to purchase a well saturated, well cut, neon pink stone I will accept (and love) the less popular modifiers in that stone. The key is that the stone must visually "knock my socks off".

I have committed many a gemstone buying blunder because in my haste I wanted "valuable" stones. Any gemstone is only valuable to the collector if it is looked upon as a thing of beauty. Do not ever buy a stone that you do not love. Send it back if you don't. Aslo learn about how saturation of color effects a stone. What you don't want is to buy a stone that loses it's beauty in sunlight or flourescent light. Choose stones that look good in every reasonable lighting condition.

Know who you buy from to avoid synthetics or treatments that you are not expecting. Get lab reports for more valuable stones. Only spend what you can afford. You might find a heck of a deal on a gemstone but if you can't afford it do not purchase it. This is a hobby that is to be enjoyed and at your age you have plenty of opportunities to develop a wonderful collection. Patience is the key.

Also look at the pre-loved forum for gemstones. You will save a ton of money buying used. With that in mind if you have a particular gemstone and criteria for the gemstone save your money to get exactly what you want. One great gemstone is worth a hundred "meh" gemstones to the collector.

Cheers!