Why You Should Compare the Price of Gemstones
Buying gemstones is usually a very fun activity. Whether people want to have beautiful jewelry, invest, or simply start a new hobby, it can be a great idea to leave their daily lives aside and learn new things.
However, if they want to make the best purchase, they have to compare different things. In the end, they are spending their money, and they probably want to make sure they’re deciding correctly.
Thus, the only way to determine if they’re buying a gemstone at a fantastic price is to understand all the factors that might influence its value and compare each alternative they have.
If people don’t evaluate all their options before buying, they might spend too much on something that’s not really worth it, or worse – they may not want to buy anything at all.
A beautiful gemstone can make people’s jewelry more attractive, but they must know all they can before paying any money. Moreover, not all gems are found worldwide, so they should have as much information as possible, which allows them to quickly locate what they’re looking for and buy it before it’s too late.
Pointing out the most important factor when comparing prices is virtually impossible. Overall, different things affect gemstones’ value, so people need to take various things into account if they want to make the best choice.
What Influences the Price of Valuable Gemstones
People can buy the most valuable gemstones they want, but the prices vary depending on many different factors. To understand which precious stone is more expensive than the others, they have to evaluate certain aspects. Here’s a look at the 10 most important things to look at:
Types of Gemstones
Prices among the most valuable gemstones can greatly vary depending on the type of stone people want to buy. Thus, quality jadeite beads might have a specific price, whereas buying a black opal, red beryl, or an imperial jade can be something completely different.
Quartz or amethysts are less expensive than extremely rare gemstones, and they are also much less pricey than a blue diamond, a pink diamond, rubies, emeralds, and other gems.
Pink Diamonds Might Be More Expensive
Overall, colored diamonds are one of the most expensive gemstones people could buy. When they buy a light-colored gem, it may cost less.
However, purchasing a blue diamond, a pink diamond, black opals, and similar colored valuable gemstones might be extremely expensive.
Additionally, there are many different variances in terms of the gems’ color, but buying a vivid gemstone is more expensive than purchasing a light-colored one.
Clarity and Flaws
If a stone has flaws or any issues, it might be much cheaper. Pink diamonds, for example, are usually immensely pricey because they’re beautiful gemstones with vivid color, but they also tend to exhibit a lot of sparkles.
Even though there are several popular gemstones, if they have any flaws, their price might be lower. The ones that are clean to the eye are more popular and they are in higher demand as they represent beauty, perfection, and cleanliness.
Carat Weight
Many people believe that buying gemstones per carat is very expensive, but that’s a myth. While the price of precious gems increases depending on the carats, buying semi-precious ones per carat is a great way to save some money.
Purchasing stones per carat may work with the client or against them depending on the stone they’re buying. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if they want a black opal, a sunrise ruby, red beryl, or fire opal. They should evaluate the stone’s price depending on the carats before making their choice.
The Gem’s Shape
One of the essential factors to determine a gemstone’s price is its shape because it often represents demand. A good example of this is raw diamonds, which are now very popular but no one wanted them some years ago.
Additionally, round gemstones that are brilliantly cut are often the most expensive ones out there. Experts need to be very precise to retain the stone’s best parts without losing too much weight, so the work behind these jewels is very detailed.
Enhancements and Treatments
If a gem was treated, its value decreases. However, there are some specific things people have to keep in mind when understanding gemstone treatment.
Most gems are treated, and the ones that are not, are usually so expensive that no buyer can purchase them. Consequently, finding and being able to afford untreated precious gems might be immensely challenging, which is why people should prioritize other factors instead.
The Gemstone’s Origin
Sometimes buyers want people to believe that a gemstone’s price depends on its origin. Nonetheless, the two things are not necessarily related to each other.
In other words, people have to do a lot of research before relying solely on the origin of a gemstone to decide whether they want to buy it or not. Burmese rubies, for example, are immensely pricey, but it’s not because they come from Myanmar – it’s because they’re an extremely rare gem.
Popularity and Demand
A gem’s popularity is one of the most important factors people must keep in mind before making their purchase. If they want to buy an expensive jewel, they must keep in mind that it’s pricey just because the market is willing to pay the price.
Therefore, clients should take a look at what the market has to offer and draw their own conclusions. Trends come and go, so some gemstones might be expensive now, but their value may drop later on.
Supply Chain and Jewelers
People can cut back a lot of expenses if they avoid buying from jewelers. As a general rule, the more hands the gem touches, the higher its price might be.
Instead of buying from jewelers, people should check out the gemstones’ supply chain and find out who’s the best provider. Thus, they can directly purchase their stones from them and avoid distribution and brokerage fees, which might increase their gems’ value.
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The Value of Precious Stones in Order
Now that all the factors that influence the value of gemstones have been explained, clients should take a look at the following list. It includes a loose estimate of the stones’ prices by carat, which is something they must keep in mind when they’re comparing prices before buying.
One of the essential things people should remember is that each gemstone is completely unique. Purchasing a pink star is not the same as admiring the beauty a blue diamond holds, and they should evaluate all factors to determine if they agree to the final price. Here is the list, starting with the most valuable ones:
Most Valuable Precious Gemstones
These gemstones typically have the highest value on the market. Thus, their price may vary depending on where people choose to make their purchase, but overall, they’re the most expensive ones.
- Diamonds (between $4,000 and $6,000)
- Rubies (approximately $4,500)
- Emeralds (between $500 and $1,100)
- Sapphires (price ranges from $450 to $1600)
Affordable Gemstones
If someone can’t afford to buy diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires, they might still be able to purchase other stones, which are usually more budget-friendly. Take a look at these options:
- Spinels (you can buy them for a price from $200 to $500)
- Aquamarines (between $100 and $200)
- Opals (price ranges from $60 to $100)
- Amethysts (between $15 and $100)
- Turquoise (price ranges from $10 to $100)
- Peridots (people can buy them for $50 to $80)
- Agates (between $5 and $100)
Cheapest Gemstones
There are even cheaper gemstones people should consider if they’re interested in buying stones but don’t have much money to do so. Here are some alternatives they may like:
- Amber (between $50 and $60)
- Lapislazuli (prices range from $20 to $50)
- Jade (it’s both considered a cheap stone and an expensive one – you can buy it from $10 to $100,000)
- Quartz (people can buy them for $8 to $65)
- Citrine (usually available for $10 to $30)
- Jasper (between $2 and $5)
Final Thoughts
Many factors affect gemstones’ prices, but understanding them better allows people to make better choices. Therefore, all they need to do is make a list, narrow down their options, and choose the best alternative!