Gem Education
Buying Guides
Six essential checks every buyer should make before purchasing a coloured gemstone — online or in person.
Only buy certified
Every significant gemstone purchase should come with a report from GIA, GRS, Gübelin, or SSEF. This confirms species, origin, and treatment status. Without it, you have no verifiable baseline for value.
Request a video
Photographs can be manipulated to show a stone at its best. Always request a short unedited video in natural light and indoor light. How a stone looks across both conditions tells you far more than a photo.
Understand treatments
Ask explicitly: is this stone heated or unheated? Heated stones are more common and less valuable than unheated. The answer should be backed by a laboratory report, not just the seller's word.
Compare price per carat
Price per carat is the correct unit of comparison for gemstones. A 2ct stone at Rs 120,000 is Rs 60,000/ct. Use this metric to compare stones of different sizes and understand market positioning.
Verify the certificate
Never rely solely on a scan or photocopy. Verify the certificate number directly on the issuing laboratory's website (GIA, GRS, Gübelin, SSEF). Fake or altered certificates are more common than buyers expect, and this one step eliminates most fraud risk.
Check provenance
Ask where the stone was mined, who cut it, and how long the seller has had it. Ethical dealers know the provenance of their stock and will share it willingly. Opacity in the supply chain should raise questions.
Red Flags
Watch out for these
- No certificate or only an in-house certificate
- Refuses video call or live viewing
- Refuses independent appraisal before purchase
- Price significantly below market for the stated quality
- Vague or inconsistent answers about treatment status
- No registered business address or contact details
Green Flags
Signs of a trustworthy dealer
- Major lab certificates (GIA, GRS, Gübelin, SSEF)
- Proactively offers video calls and natural light footage
- Encourages independent appraisal before purchase
- Transparent about treatment status and provenance
- Registered business with verifiable physical address
- Willing to provide references from past clients