How to Start a Gemstone Collection

While you can buy and sell gemstones from anywhere they’re found around the world, if you are aching to start your own gemstone collection, you’re in the right place. Australia is the world’s biggest producer of Diamonds and Opals and a major supplier of Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, and Topaz. If you’ve found that you have a burgeoning interest in gems and precious stones but aren’t quite sure where to start in crafting a collection of them, you’ll want to follow a few simple steps.

Gemstone Collection on a Budget

While all hobbies require you to invest a certain amount of time and money into what you’re doing, collecting gemstones can be particularly expensive if you’re not smart about managing your money. Many collectors start out on a budget, which is actually a smart idea that can help you to craft a bigger, better collection in the future. If you need to take out a loan in order to finance your plans of acquiring a gemstone collection, it’s best to plan ahead long term as to how you will buy and sell in order to build the value of your collection over time. Depending on the style and focus of your budget, you can dedicate yourself to creating a general collection until you build up to a more focused, specific one.

Decide on Which Gems to Collect

Opaque gems tend to be less expensive while still adding a touch of elegance and beauty to any collection, so you can look for turquoise, carnelian, agate, and onyx if that’s your game. If you are set on a specific piece, however, you can sometimes find the same stone for cheaper by looking for one with a different origin. Emerald from Colombia, for example, is generally much more expensive than emerald from other places around the world. You will also find that sometimes the less expensive gems can be the more beautiful ones, so it’s recommended to try and not get too bogged down in the specifics of price when you’re just starting out and focus on your collection and what you think would fit best within that.

Learn How to Craft a Great Record Keeping System

As a professional or at least semi-interested gemstone collector, one of the most beneficial skills you’ll want to develop is the ability to keep great, detailed records of what comes in and out of your gemstone collection. The longer you delay creating a records system, the harder it will be to do in the future and you’ll find yourself behind. It helps to create a document that has all of the specifics in one place, such as species and variety, the physical description of each piece, any known treatments or enhancements, date acquired, bills of sale and the location from which each piece originated.

Invest in Quality Storage or Display Cases

There are many different types of gemstone storage cases, and the type you’ll need will depend on your style and budget. If you are on a budget, storing them in a plastic container with dividers will work just fine. As you are able to invest more, consider purchasing a parcel paper organizer which is used in the industry to hold precious gems. The acid-free envelopes ensure that your stones won’t be damaged while in storage. As time goes on and you accrue more assets, you can invest in an organized display case that is labelled according to your liking.

Don’t Forget to Have Fun

Like any other hobby, collecting gemstones is a great way to learn something new while also investing in an activity that makes you proud and happy. Building a quality gemstone collection takes time and a lot of patience and you’ll want to take it little by little until you build up to something you’re proud to show off. Don’t forget to have fun and always ensure you’re smart about how you buy and sell. You’ll be showing off the most precious gems in the world in no time.