>User Profile > Gemsforcharity > All-About-Me

I am an experienced gem buyer,  now retired. I have always raised money for animal sanctuaries, and have now decided to offer genuine earth mined gems as a fund raiser for Cats Anonymous, a registered, all volunteer charity I have supported for 20 years. All profits from the sale of gems on this site will go to them.
The picture is of my parrot, Baby Girl, who sits on my shoulder as I work on the computer. Had her for about 25 years now. Always have a couple of dogs, a cat or two, and the parrot (and, of course, a wife.... )
 

IMPORTANT NOTES:
To save you having to wade through a bunch of notes on each listing, we have made some important basic notes and included them here. This is important. The notes are the same for all gem and jewellery listings, and you only have to read it once, but a copy should be read at least once by all buyers. You will be glad you did. These are important points to know.

1) Collecting gems can be very profitable, while at the same time it is a fascinating hobby. But, like stamps, value depends on supply and demand. We sell genuine earth mined gems only. Unlike the plentiful lab produced and synthetic gems flooding the market and often sold as real gems, earth mined gems appreciate in value. Lab produced gems….which technically are ‘genuine’ in that they are identical in composition…have totally flooded the market in the last few years. They can be produced in any quantity, Any competent gemologist can identify them however, Their value only goes down…not up. It pays to buy the real thing. This influx of so many lab produced gems has a positive side…. there are some real bargains to be had if you know how to separate the real earth mined gems from the others. I do, and I offer them here to you.

2) Our profits go to help Cats Anonymous. When a gem or jewellery item is sent to auction, the starting price is just a little over our cost. Anything realized above and beyond that will be donated to charity. If you buy an item from our store, you can submit an offer. If we can accept it, the difference between our cost and the selling price will be donated.

3) All our gems have been examined by a qualified gemologist. The better items have been appraised by a master valuer. A master valuer (there are less than 100 in all of Canada) is an authority on retail values, and their appraisals are accepted by all insurance companies as true retail replacement value. A written copy of the master valuers findings can be provided at $30 ( a regular $60 value) if requested. Alternatively, we can provide an appraisal from our company for an additional $3 to Canadian addresses,$4 elsewhere ….but it may or may not be accepted by all insurance companies. I am realistic in my appraisals, but I am not a master valuer. My appraisals include a description, a colour photo and are stamped with my seal. The charge includes the cost of mailing, as I will send separately. If sent together with the gems across the border, you would be charged duty on the value stated in the appraisal!

4) Because I start things at my cost, and because I have been buying for a long time, prices for similar items can vary greatly. But, in all instances, you will be getting excellent value. I am an experienced, knowledgeable buyer. Learning to buy gems takes years. For those just starting out, I suggest you check out Gemval, a service for gem professionals that provides average retail selling prices garnered from the top retail sites on the Internet (Gemval charges for its full service, but anyone can access a large segment of it free…worth checking out) I also suggest you check out Gemselect…. one of the largest sellers of gems on the Internet….and one of the cheapest….but their prices are many, many times what you will pay here ! :-) Like all gem sites, their pictures are misleading….but that is an unfortunate fact of gem sales. See note below) Many of the auction sites that have sprung up lately sell lab produced gems.

5) Taking photographs of gems is EXTREMELY difficult. Don’t forget you are looking at a highly magnified picture of a small item. We, like almost all gem sellers, use photos provided by our suppliers. Please be aware that they are usually taken by professionals who specialize in photographing gem stones, against a darker background to show off the gem….this usually makes the colours look more intense than they actually are.

6) Inclusions ( flaws) are not NEARLY as important with coloured gems as they are with diamonds. With coloured gems it is the colour that is the most important factor in determining value. Indeed, the terms VVS, VS, SI etc. that many internet sellers of coloured gems use are incorrect…they do not apply to coloured gems. That is a system that applies to diamonds only. Indeed in some instances, inclusions can enhance the value of coloured gems! Coloured gems are categorized as type1, 2 or 3. Type one, are usually eye clean. Type 3 usually have noticeable inclusions. If you are not sure about a gem stone we sell, please ask.

7) Almost all gemstones these days are subjected to enhancement processes.

8) We have connections to have jewellery made up for anyone so inclined…. If you wish to have an item made for you, please ask and I will put you in contact with people that will provide excellent pricing to you.

9) We will combine multiple gem stones and jewellery items purchased at the same time and ship the cheapest way possible.If your invoice for shipping seems to bee too high, PLEASE CONTACT US BEFORE PAYING! Invoices are sent out automatically... but we will do our best to keep shipping as low as possible.  Insurance is extra, and depends on where you live.... please ask for a quote. We are VERY careful with our packaging, and have sent thousands and thousands of shipments without a problem (I clearly mark your address and mine both inside and outside the package). But, if you want insurance it is not a problem to arrange. Although we have never lost one yet, we are not responsible for any losses if you do not purchase insurance.

10) Shipments from Canada do NOT have tracking unless insurance is purchased.

Please note. If you have any questions at all, please ask. Glad to help.