Should I seek gemstone provenance?

[Upgradable]

I'm working on mounting a spessartite, and I have a mounted spinel.

The spess was represented as probable Loliondo by Jeff White. I have an AIG cert for the spinel, but it has no origin info. It was sold as Mahenge.

Would it be worth seeking documentation of origin for them? Is the potential value based on provenance worth it?

Who performs such assessment? What lab do you recommend (with link)?

I appreciate your opinions.

 

[Arcadian]

ONLY seek it if you need it to determine its value for insurance, appraisal or resale, or, if you're just willing to pay the money because you want to know. Its not a mega cheap thing to do.

http://www.aglgemlab.com/Services/rates.aspx

I'm doing this for one stone based off what I know about it, and knowing that the value is also wrapped up in its location. I have a brief but its really not enough for me.


-A

 

[PrecisionGem]

Generally, unless you paid thousands of dollars for the stone, I would say no.

 

[chrono]

For what you have listed, I am doubtful that having documentation of their provenance will have a positive impact on anything. Spessartites from Loliondo have a pretty distinctive colour and those easily recognizable bubble sugars. Mahenge spinels, in general, also have quite a distinctive colour. Unless both stones are of very fine quality and large size, it would not increase or decrease its potential worth. If going this route, I prefer AGL to do the assessment and it isn't something cheap.

 

[Upgradable]

Thanks. I do need valuation for insurance purposed. A couple of years ago, I used Rich Sherwood at Sarasota Gem Labs for an analysis and valuation for my star sapphire. He was very thorough. Do you have any other recommendations for a similar purpose?

 

[pregcurious]

Uppy, where are you located so we can suggest an appraiser in your area?

 

[LD]

I think you've probably made up your mind by now but I agree with everybody else that I wouldn't bother getting an origin report because it won't affect the value greatly (even for insurance purposes).

 

[Upgradable]

Pregcurious, I'm in Oklahoma, which isn't exactly a hot bed of jewelry knowledge or appreciation. That's why it is wonderful we can send things anywhere.

I'm thinking, what would a potential buyer want to have in regards to paper?

 

[Aoife]

Are you planning to sell these? If these are primarily for your own pleasure, then I wouldn't worry about what potential buyers might be interested in, and seek an appraisal only for your own insurance purposes, and in that case concentrate on replacement value. IMO, the cost of getting the additional paperwork isn't justified unless you intend to sell them in the short term.

 

[PrecisionGem]

Pregcurious, I'm in Oklahoma, which isn't exactly a hot bed of jewelry knowledge or appreciation. That's why it is wonderful we can send things anywhere.

I'm thinking, what would a potential buyer want to have in regards to paper?

I wouldn't spend the money with the idea that it would help you with a potential buyer. Remember, now you will need to price the stone for what you paid, plus the cost of the report, which depending on you get could add well over $100 to it.

A few years ago I sent several stone out to the AGL to get reports, wanting to see if this would help sell the stone. In my small experiment it didn't at all. I find that a sale helps selling stones.... so in my experience a lower price sells better than a higher price with a report.

You have two stones that there really are not treatments for, and both are very easy to identify with common tools, I don't think a report would any value to the stone at all, just cost.

 

[T L]

Pregcurious, I'm in Oklahoma, which isn't exactly a hot bed of jewelry knowledge or appreciation. That's why it is wonderful we can send things anywhere.

I'm thinking, what would a potential buyer want to have in regards to paper?

I wouldn't spend the money with the idea that it would help you with a potential buyer. Remember, now you will need to price the stone for what you paid, plus the cost of the report, which depending on you get could add well over $100 to it.

A few years ago I sent several stone out to the AGL to get reports, wanting to see if this would help sell the stone. In my small experiment it didn't at all. I find that a sale helps selling stones.... so in my experience a lower price sells better than a higher price with a report.

You have two stones that there really are not treatments for, and both are very easy to identify with common tools, I don't think a report would any value to the stone at all, just cost.

I find AGL reports will help if the stone is very expensive to begin with, like a fine ruby, sapphire, or emerald. Also, if I were to resell something on DB, I do think an AGL or some reputable lab report helps with a colored stone like a sapphire. On stones that are commonly untreated, like garnets, I wouldn't bother with a report, unless you were selling it for a great deal of money. People also know who you are Gene, and they trust you, so you don't necessarily have to have a report, as you have a rock solid return policy.
For people like me, or 'Joe Shmoe,' selling a stone independently, then a report helps with that trust.

I don't think garnets are also one of those gems that require an "origin" to help with their value. If you are getting a report, a gem brief or memo should suffice. Now if we were talking a super fine Colombian emerald, then an origin on the report would help, as Colombian gems command a premium.