Where do I buy quality gem rough?
Good contacts for good rough are not easy to come by. It takes a long time to build business relationships – and you pay tuition every time you get ripped-off. Key sources are a critical part of profitability for any business – so top cutters are not likely to share their best sources. Bottom line is there are no short-cuts to “getting rich in the gem game”. You have to put in your time, pay your tuition, and learn the gemology. And, that is an unending process. This covers some of the most basic and common issues regarding suitability of gem rough for faceting. If you have acquired your rough stones from a “fee-dig” or “dirt purchase” kind of vendor these tips should help you decide whether to invest in shipping fees. If you have some stones that don’t appear to measure up – remember that mining and collecting is about the FUN and education of the activity. Study and enjoy your collection and have even better luck the next time you try. GEM ROUGH EVALUATION CLASS “Buy as a skeptic, se
