Determining Gemstone Value, Price, and Appraisals
How to price or obtain the value, price and appraisal of a gem or piece of gemstone jewelry.
Negotiating Strategies for the Gem Trade
What negotiating strategies work best in the gem trade? Learn how some general principles and a win-win mindset can help...
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How to Prepare for Gemstone Negotiations
Research is crucial for success in any business deal. To prepare for gemstone negotiations, focus on these three subjects to...
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Negotiations 101: Key Principles for Buying Gems for Profit
Your gem investment profits depend mostly on the prices you set through negotiations. Understanding four key business principles will help...
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Options for Financing Gem Buying for Profit
How should you pay for investment gems? Learn the pros of cons of three options for financing gem investments —...
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How to Establish a Network of Gem Trade Contacts
To make a profit investing in gems, you’ll need a network of gem trade contacts. Here’s some advice on how...
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Gemstone Sourcing Guide
Investors have many gemstone sourcing options, but which ones will work best for you? Learn the pros and cons, as...
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The Impact of Lab-Grown Stones on the Gem Market
Lab-grown stones have the potential to disrupt the gem market. Learn how they can affect supply and demand and whether...
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Insights on Gemstone Pricing
Gemstone pricing can vary greatly between dealers. Learn about the myriad factors that go into prices for both colored gems...
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Gemstone Rarity and Ease of Replacement
Most gemstones are rare, but some are rarer than others. Learn how gemstone rarity and ease of replacement can affect...
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Supply and Demand: Gemstone Market Dynamics
The gem market can be very subjective. Nevertheless, investors can make money by starting with the basics: understanding supply and...
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Gemstone Buying for Profit: Budget and Basis
Good-quality gemstones are expensive, but you can make money investing in gems even if you have a small investment budget....
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Managing Your Time Horizon for Gem Buying and Selling
How long should investors hold on to gemstones? Learn how your investment goals, business model, and patience affect your investment...
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Evaluating Market Risk for Gemstones
Gemstone investors must keep up with global trends when evaluating market risk. Learn how studying sociocultural factors can lead to...
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Risk Management and Gem Buying for Profit
You can’t eliminate all risks from gem investing, but understanding the risks you’ll face and your appetite for them will...
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Buying Gems for Profit: An Introduction
Successful investing in gemstones requires knowledge and experience. The IGS Buying Gems for Profit course will give you the knowledge...
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Gem Pricing Advice for Faceters
Gem pricing isn't easy, and guidelines aren't always fixed. Learn what factors gem cutters should consider to determine a fair...
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Understanding the Inner Workings of the Gem Trade
Based on interviews with gem trade experts, this series of FAQs addresses many topics, such as gem value, investing, insurance,...
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Appraising Emeralds
Appraising emeralds is a key skill for all jewelers and gemologists. Learn how to evaluate the quality of these rare...
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Ruby and Sapphire Origins
Ruby and sapphire origins greatly affect the values of these prized gems. Learn where these stones occur and how inclusions...
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Appraising Blue Sapphires
Appraising blue sapphires is a critical skill for any jeweler or gemologist. Learn the basics you’ll need to evaluate one...
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Making Money Investing in Gems: The Top 5 Rules
How do you make money investing in gems? What should you buy, for how much, and how can you add...
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Gemstone Certificates
Can you rely on gemstone certificates to reveal everything that can affect the value of pricey gems? Learn what to...
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Exposing Diamond Overgrading at EGL Labs
The effects of the 2014 scandal over diamond overgrading at EGL labs are still emerging. Learn what gemologists and retailers...
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Jewelers Pricing Survey
The International Gem Society (IGS) ran a jewelers pricing survey in 2002 and 2012. Over those ten years, we saw...
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Is My Alexandrite Just A Color-Change Chrysoberyl?
Buyer beware! Not all color-change chrysoberyl is alexandrite. Learn the classic color ranges of true alexandrite and avoid being scammed...
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Gem Price Guide
The IGS Gem Price Guide covers many popular as well as unusual, collectible gems. Find your gem’s retail value based...
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Underkarating Fraud in the Jewelry Trade
Underkarating is a fraudulent practice whereby a jeweler represents a piece of jewelry or gold as containing more precious metal...
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Relationship Between the Price of Gold and the Price of Your Jewelry
Understanding how the price of an underlying jewelry metal, such as gold, impacts the price of your finished jewelry.
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Product Review, Opal Smart Chart
The newest thing in the opal world is the Opal Smart Chart. This is a software package designed to help...
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Product Review, Opal The Smart Chart
The newest thing in the opal world is the Opal Smart Chart. This is a software package designed to help...
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How Rare is That Gem?
Rarity is one of the most prized qualities of gemstones. But some gems are far more rare than others! This...
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