Let me get back and answer some of your original questions.
quote:
...I've decided that I'm going to get into gem hunting by purchasing buckets of material over the internet...
Well, there are "buckets" and there are buckets. Parcels of "mine-run" gem rough can yield some keepers, but it is a real gamble. For example, a friend of mine who I took from a $30k/yr rock shop to a $2.5M/yr brokerage will be happy to sell you Brazilian Emerald by the 35-gallon barrel - about 350 pounds at $2/lb. + shipping. I doubt highly you would be able to recoup your investment. On the other hand, there are some dealers in Africa selling small gem rough parcels (typically 1 Kg) for an equal price where you can expect an ROI many times what you paid, once faceted.
quote:
...hopefully in the near future start making some trips to hunt on my own
I
highly encourage you to do exactly that. It's even better if you first start out by going on field trips with you local gem club.
quote:
Where do you sell your finds?
That depends on what you find. The most common rock or mineral found on Earth is called "Leverite" - as in, "Leave 'er right there". Since you've watched the show, you know that finding the good stuff is a matter of knowledge and sweat - the more of each you have, the better the chances are of finding something worth selling. As for where to sell, your local gem club members should be able to advise you.
quote:
...is it better to have a jeweler cut the stones before you sell them, or can you sell them rough?
A lapidary worker will cut the stones, not a jeweler, who mounts the finished gemstones. But it is always better to cut them yourself, if you wish to sell cut stones. Your local club should be able to teach you how to do this.
My standard fee for cutting a gemstone is $50 for the first carat of weight, and $20/carat after that. Unless you have found some extremely fine gem rough, having it cut for anything other than personal pleasure would probably not be cost effective.
OTOH, selling gem rough can bring you profit, providing your material is good - and again, you must first learn what is good before attempting to market it - see your local club. When I buy gem rough, the seller usually gives me 7-10 days to inspect it; if I can't use it, I return it at my expense and get a refund. That standard practice can eat up seller profits, so make sure that what you're selling is good.
There
is a good way to sell gemstones that can bring you profit, and that is to buy stones of good quality that are already cut, but cut poorly, and then recut them yourself. If you can strike a good bargain, you can buy such a gemstone for much less than it should retail for. Once again, knowledge is profit. You should be able to use the lapidary equipment at your local club (if they have any) to do your recutting, then use the advice they give you as to how and where to sell your product. In general, mounted gemstones sell more easily than loose ones, and gold prices give us all nosebleeds. If you decide to sell loose stones, the best I have found to do is to cut Round Brilliants of 1 Carat size in extremely good material - many of my clients have purchased these as a hedge against inflation. Your mileage may vary...
In any case, I applaud your decision to take action after having watched the show! I wish you the best of luck, and hope these emails have helped you.
See you in the field!
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