ENCHANTING HERKIMER HUNTS
Collecting Diamonds and Making Memories
tactics. These are only a few of the tricks used by some less honest rough gemstone brokers. Do not be discouraged; there are plenty of reliable and trustworthy rough gemstone brokers in the industry.
A professional rough gemstone broker knows that their business relies on repeat customers and transactions that give the buyer confidence and assurance. When looking for a rough gemstone broker, finding one with the following qualities is important.
When I found a good source for rough gemstones, I developed a strong business relationship with the broker. Periodically, I would stray from my trusted sellers, and often I would end up regretting this deviation in my purchasing. On occasions, I would find new and trusted gemstone brokers, but I was most disappointed. It is not that all the less-than-good brokers are dishonest, but most problems occur because they are less educated on grading facet-level gemstone
rough than the customers. For this reason and others, I stay with seasoned and established gemstone brokers.
It is my recommendation that once you find a good gemstone broker, that you stay with them and support their business as they support yours. As with any business relationship, building mutual trust and honest communications go a long way in getting what you need. Opportunities will come and go, but remember, if it is too good to be true, it probably is a scam.
Several times a week, I am contacted by rough gemstone brokers trying to sell me gemstones. The majority of these brokers have no reference to gemstones on their social media or websites. They profess to carry the most amazing gemstones at absurdly low prices. The first thing I ask myself is, “Why am I so lucky that this person would randomly select me to offer a deal of a lifetime?” It is evident from the onset that these folks are out to take advantage of the uneducated and inexperienced. In order not to be distracted by these dealers, I set up boundaries for purchasing rough gemstones. I do not buy from an unknown international source. I only use PayPal when purchasing. I do not exchange any financial or personal information unless I am making a purchase. The broker must meet the eight criteria that I stated above. I do not like to take chances with my money, but on the other hand, I like to think I can trust most people.
I keep my boundaries and, occasionally, will take a chance with an inexperienced rough gemstone broker.
REASONS FOR BUYING ROUGH
When buying facet-grade gemstone rough, make sure that you have a purpose for the rough. I have often seen new faceters buy many more rough gemstones than they need or before they have the experience to know what they are buying. This practice leads to having money tied up in gemstones that may not be faceted for a long time. The primary reasons for buying facet grade gemstone rough are:
Once you start accumulating rough facet-grade gemstones, it is best to keep them organized and safe. I recommend putting each gemstone in an individual clear bag and labeling it with a number you can reference in your inventory notes. In your records, keep all the information that you can, from purchase date and broker to origin and initial ideas for faceting design. The more information you record, the better prepared you will be when you are ready to facet the gemstone. I also recommend having your gemstone rough declared and insured by a reputable insurance company and taking the insurance company’s recommendations to store the rough gemstones securely. Also, don’t share your rough inventory online unless you are selling it and take precautions when going on vacation to secure the gemstones. Wait to post your vacation photos until you return, instead of advertising that your gemstones are home and alone.