GEMSTONES
THE BIG THREE
EMERALDS, RUBIES and SAPPHIRES
Coveted for their extraordinary colours throughout history these gemstones have rivaled diamonds for their popularity. No other gemstone can compete with these for rarity, desirability and investment value.
Emeralds, Rubies and Sapphires of exceptional size and quality are still rising in value and are highly sought after by collectors and afficinados. In Australia the demand is on the increase as the sophistication of the market develops. Global prices of coloured gemstones has dramatically increased 100% of the past decade so competition for the best stones is quite fierce.
Unlike diamonds, most gemstone mining is done by informal operators and governments, which means that the market is somewhat inefficient and production is not the same as with diamonds. In addition these small artisanal mines don’t have the market strength of a DeBeers to promote their production. As auction results from Sothebys and Christies has shown recent results on rubies and emeralds can exceed white diamond prices. For every $15 -20bio of diamonds mined, approximated $2-3bio are coloured gemstones, primarily the top three. This leaves a tremendous amount of room to continue an upward trend in prices.
Precious gemstones are widely forecast to boom in the next decade. Sarusi is a reliable and knowledgeable source for the worlds top coloured stones, which is so important when buying these precious beauties.
You cannot overestimate the importance of good provenance with precious stones.
EMERALD
RUBY
SAPPHIRE
“CAVEAT EMPTOR”
An important message from Sarusi
One of the pitfalls of the modern jewellery industry is the prevalence of fraud. Due to the high value of diamonds and gemstones, many ways to fool the buyer have evolved. Many a jeweller has found a tampered stone or synthetic gem in their otherwise normal parcel. It is essential to have a knowledgeable expert like Shimi Sarusi so that you are not caught out by untrustworthy sources.
Certification by a notable entity like GIA or Guebelin is essential when considering investment pieces. Many treatments can be used to intensify colour or conceal flaws and these are widely used and generally acceptable in commercial gemstones. Heat treatment or irradiation can enhance a colour and conceal flaws. Oil is used to fill fissures. And then there are a host of unacceptable treatments that have been used to treat stones, or synthetic stones that are passed off as real. Too many tourists can attest to their disappointment when they have their treasures valued only to discover that they have been duped. The most important jewels are natural, with beautiful colouration and of special size or provenance.
Only a qualified diamond and gem specialist like Sarusi can assess and guarantee the quality of his stones and it should not be left to commercial internet dealers.