Gemstone Investment

Gemstones are beautiful, rare and desired. Not only are they a physical commodity, more tangible than other types of investments, they are a symbol of wealth, luxury and elegance. They are finite resources, and their supply is limited. Collectors today look for highly desirable rare specimens, Kashmiri Sapphires, Burmese Rubies, or Colombian Emeralds, the likes of which they may never find again. As demand for gemstones increases, so too does value. Over the past decade, coloured gemstones have experienced some of the highest price jumps in history. For example, in 2015, the world’s most expensive ruby sold at auction; a 25.59-carat gem, known as the Sunrise Ruby for USD $30 million. In 1998 auction prices for rubies were $200,000 per carat, today they can reach over $1,200,000. Emeralds and sapphires are also being sold for hundreds of thousand of dollars per carat.

The appreciation of gemstones dates back millennia, and they remain the ultimate symbol of beauty, love and wealth. Gemstones are highly portable and can be easily transported and stored. They are also relatively liquid assets which means they can be sold relatively quickly compared to other assets. They act as a commodity which can be held onto and provide security in an investors’ wealth. Depending on the type of gemstone, annual average price increases of 5-8% have been observed in the market. For ruby 8%, sapphire 6%, emerald 5%. For particularly fine and rare rubies, sapphires and emeralds due to their quality and origin, double digit increases in value between 10% to 12% have been seen in recent years and this will likely continue in the future. As long as the world has existed, people have been fascinated by these beautiful stones, with their aesthetic appeal and emotional value, they are the ultimate investment to own and enjoy.