Looks like some nice stuff. I don't think pale yellow labradorite has ever been very rare, certainly not while Oregon has been producing. I don't think it would be rated as a substitute for citrine so much as a peer, and I would expect it to sell for a bit more than similarly colored citrine. Still, the value is not high. This does look like a lovely parcel of stones. We have all seen tons of 'investment' stones that were opaque 'ruby' and 'emerald' with fake appraisals, so this is a welcome surprise. The sapphires should be pretty marketable, though with the caveat that finding buyers for stones is work in the technical sense of the word, and selling stones is a job. Pricing looks optimistic but I haven't done extensive buying on this end of things.
I like the topaz to the left of the aquas (if that is what they are) and the two aquas that are more intense. The two red stones in the last picture are nice, but I can't tell just by looking at a picture what they are.
I like the topaz to the left of the aquas (if that is what they are) and the two aquas that are more intense. The two red stones in the last picture are nice, but I can't tell just by looking at a picture what they are.
How big are the little sapphires?
I was all set to take a picture of them with a penny, but forgot I gave everything to a friend who is going to display them at a coin show. We figured that people who traffic in coins might do gems also. They are about 2mm.
Yes, a typo. It needs to be sent to a lab before you sell it. It will provide proof to the buyer as to what it is, and increase the value at the same time.
Are these your stones? am sad if you're ruined, nevertheless report of some gemstones might save you from bankruptcy......Just kidding.
No, not my stones.
My entire post was just sarcastic humor, intended to point out that matching stones are not a strong indicator for the need to get a lab report. In fact on this lot of stones, if selling to a knowledgeable professional, I don't think lab reports would add to the price received. So they would be a bad investment. On the other hand if the owner wanted to sell retail online, some of these stones might benefit in value from a lab report. This of course would only apply to the finer, more valuable stones, not the majority.
I think I will be OK financially, but thanks for your concern.
You could send a picture of your hoard with all pertinent documentation to Bonhams Natural History and ask what they believe your stones might realize in their auction.
I did and they want to meet with me! Thank you so much for the suggestion. What would you expect their cost to be?
You could send a picture of your hoard with all pertinent documentation to Bonhams Natural History and ask what they believe your stones might realize in their auction.
I signed a contract with them today. Their estimated price is less than I hoped, but beats the hell out of what I have been doing.
When ever people talk of gemstones being an investment I cringe. To me, an investment should be something you can turn into cash quickly. Trying to sell for 17 years is not quickly.
If you go back to 1998, Apple stock was selling for $0.96 per share, so $50,000 would have bought 52083 shares. Today, the price is $241.67 per share, so your investment would be worth $12,552,083.
I doubt you could ever realize such a gain with any gemstones, nor could you turn them into cash with a few clicks of a mouse.
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