FAQ on my hobby of collection gemstones

Why do you collect gemstones?

The truth, plain and simple: because I think they're beautiful and fascinating. (And they're nice to organize and fiddle around with.)

I thought only diamonds and rubies and such classify as gemstones!

That's not the truth. See the "FAQ on gemstones" page.

Are all of your gemstones real?

Yes. Many gemstones can also be made in the laboratory, and they're called synthetic, imitation or laboratory gemstones; however, I only collect real (ie. "natural") gemstones. I don't mind if they're treated (for example heated or irradiated) to improve their colour - as long as the seller acknowledges the gems have been treated.

How long have you been collecting gemstones?

From September 2004.

Where do you buy the stones from?

From different online gem stores, located mainly in the United States, India, Thailand, Sweden and Finland. Sometimes I also make purchases from online auction sites.

Aren't all gemstones dead expensive?

No. For now, I mainly collect the more affordable varieties and qualities. Check out the Gem FAQ site on this page to see which factors affect the prize of a gemstone.

Which is your most expensive stone?

At this moment it's one of the rubies which cost around 120€. I got it as a gift from my mother.

How much have you spent on gemstones?

Kind of hard to estimate since I don't keep a record of the prices (maybe I should)... but on my collection (non-drilled) stones, maybe around 500€. And for the drilled stones (which I use for jewelry that I sell) probably around 1000-1500€.