guide to gemstones

Inclusions, ie inside the crystal contained foreign bodies, are not appreciated in diamonds. flawless as possible to be this precious. In contrast, colored gemstones inclusions are regarded as "fingerprints of nature". They point to the authenticity and the deposit of the gemstone. The finest inclusions with sapphires and rubies also make for interesting reflections. Depending on the light, usually by a six-pointed star image formed on the surface of the gemstone.

In the cut shapes are also differences. Dominated by the classic brilliant cut diamonds come, often with colored gemstones oval, drops, stairs, or antiques cuts on the market. For the emerald because of its brittleness, a special cut form was developed to be used as the "emerald cut" even with diamonds. Conversely, there are colored gemstones with round brilliant cut.

But more important than the ground form, the question should be investing in the gem varieties investors. "The selection of precious stones is so extensive that it hardly seems possible for the layman to overlook the whole field of Gemology," warns Professor Minerals Walter Schumann. Since it is helpful to orient themselves to "default" that are eligible in principle eligible for an investment.

This includes most of the ruby and sapphire. In both cases, there are varieties of the mineral corundum. suitable as the base of the Emerald Investment also appears - the finest variety of the beryl group. "The occurrence of high-quality rubies, sapphires and emeralds are among those in volume of the diamond. This would have implications in the medium to long term safe on prices," said Heinz Schiendl adds, but also added: "The emerald is a tendency, in my view at the moment somewhat exaggerated. "

Does it have to be particularly valuable, rare and noble are often myths and legends of the game. Thus, the Burma ruby is considered to be treat for collectors and investors. The name suggests that these stones come from Burma, now Myanmar. In fact this description is meant as a quality rather than as an indication of origin classification.

"The best rubies are currently out of Vietnam," says expert Schiendl. Is Kashmir sapphires of the speech, his eyes shining diamond-loving too. But does this mean that really high-quality stones come from all of this Himalayan region? This may have once been like that, but there are almost exhausted occurrence. Most sapphires today come from Madagascar.

clearly appears undervalued Heinz Schiendl the Blue Zircon, "A beautiful stone that eventually could even run the Aquamarine the rank." Nevertheless, this stone is a little image problem: His name reminds many of the synthetic diamond zirconia imitation, although this has to do with the natural gemstone zircon nothing. But such misunderstandings can be avoided in the future with a name change. There was, for example, a time when even the Tanzanite was not asked. Reason: Back then it was still called "blue zoisite" - and in English that sounded like "Suicide", that is suicide.

But even if prices of colored gemstones should continue to rise, the investor must do so not necessarily a good business. For, unfortunately, the entry prices are very high. So the customer pays interest on a dealers margin, which can account for sometimes even up to 50 percent of the total price, and to the full VAT rate of 19 percent. Of course there are traders who calculate something more customer friendly, but the stones must also be significantly increased in value, they will later be sold at a profit. For investors is particularly important: the emotional return must also agree, when gems come to the depot.