Rough....appraisal possible?

[rparker1998]

Is it possible to get gemstone Rough appraised? I have a good sized piece of Sweet Home Alma Mine (Colorado) Rhodochrosite rough i'd like to get appraised for replacement value and to see if we paid a fair price for it.

I have other rough pieces too.

Thanks in Advance.

I might get photo's done one of htese days. Even if they aren't the "pro" shots i've been holding off on...

 

[Jim Rentfrow]

Typically you would need to send it to a lapidary artist who knows the prices for the material. This is because inclusions and the shape of the rough will dictate the value of the finished product. I am not sure how many lapidaries, do appraisals or likewise how many appraisers do appraisals of rough gemstones because it is an area all its own. Appraisals and evaluations are also impossible to do without having the rough in hand.

 

[rparker1998]

Thanks....

Guess I need to find a local lapidary....Not sure how to do that; as I don't think there is a big market for it here in my city....

Suggestions?

 

[Jim Rentfrow]

Are you going to have it cut or kept as a specimen? If cut you could contact a lapidary for an evaulation of the rough. There are lapidaries online who will evaluate gemstones for cutting. Some lapidaries will cut others rough, some will not. There are multiple posts on here naming which ones do and do not.

If kept a as a specimen I would contact a specimen dealer because that might be more of their area.

 

[ruffysdad]

Here's a good place to start looking. http://www.amfed.org/.. See if there's a local chapter near you and get a hold of some of the members. These are the people that do cutting. Of course there's really no recognized appraisal service and the price of rough is all over the board, but you may find similar roughs for sale at gem shows or online that you can use to document the value of the material you've got.

Pete

 

[PrecisionGem]

I would guess you paid at least a fair price for the stones. Most people selling rough know what they are doing, and never sell a $500 for $50.