FAQ’s

 

Q. How do I know the jewellery / stones are genuine?

You don’t. You have to trust us. Please go by the name, reputation and tract record of the firm. If you are not aware of the status the firm enjoys, please ask any jeweller friend of yours. Jewellers can become rich overnight but cannot sustain a reputation for decades and over generations.

Q. Is there a buy-back scheme?

No coloured stones are ever sold on a buy-back scheme anywhere in the world. Would you ever wish to wear a second hand sari or already worn jewellery?

Q. Is jewellery an investment?

Yes and no. A fine stone or a fine piece of jewellery is like a piece of art – very much like a Lalique, a Picasso, a Hussain or a Rembrandt. It is an act of love for someone you love e.g. a daughter, a wife, a fiancée. Having said that, a fine stone or a piece of fine jewellery is always an investment because such an item is bought by the customer or a client primarily as a family heirloom, and seldom re-enters the market for resale. At the same time, there is no new production of fine gemstones so, while at the top end of the pyramid, fine stones are being consumed, at the bottom end, there is no replacement for them. If something that is already rare becomes rarer or scarcer, it will always appreciate in value. Incidentally, what today constitutes an investment – property? stocks? gold? All of us know horrendous tales about the rise and fall of these commodities.

Q. How do I know your price is fair?

You don’t. You have to have faith once again in the reputation and goodwill of the firm.

Q. How do I know whether the stones are treated or not?

Again, you don’t. However, you can have any stone you purchase tested at a Gem Testing Laboratory which provides a Certificate of Authenticity.

Q. Can I ask my family jeweller for an appraisal?

Yes – by all means.
In fact, I would welcome it as our firm’s policy is to be transparent and up front. Any honest jeweller is always welcome to help you make an educated choice.

Q. I like your goods but I find them very expensive.

Maybe – yes; maybe – no. The goods that we have on display are the finest available in the market. If you can source them cheaper elsewhere, we would be just as happy to purchase them for ourselves in order to add to our existing collection.

Q. I like the strings. Can I buy only a few lines?

No. the strings look good only because they form a collection; a part can never look attractive.

Q. Can I have part of the set – say, 3 pieces out of 5?

No. This is a complete set, and has been designed as a complete set. Again, part of it will not look as attractive.

Q. How does one tell the origin of a stone?

Through experience. It takes a jeweller several years to be able to hone his skills so as to acquire a certain depth of knowledge.

Q. Will the goods always remain like this or will they change in appearance?

The goods will always remain like this. This is the advantage of buying quality goods as against cheap, commercial goods.

Q. Is there a fixed price or can I negotiate?

Yes, there is a fixed price. No, you may not negotiate. We prefer not to quote high and sell low. How would you ever trust us in the future if we did so? We would much rather initiate and sustain a relationship than merely generate a sale.

Q. What qualities should a good emerald possess?

COLOUR – Colour is everything. There has to be a perfect balance – darker than peridot and lighter than tourmaline. The purer and more brilliant the emerald, the more it costs. As emerald dealer Maurice Shire says, “The cardinal sin of any emerald is not being green.”
CARAT WEIGHT – Carat weight considerations are somewhat similar to those for diamonds and other gems, but coloured stones take a smaller leap in price if they weigh precisely an even carat or more. Diamonds make big price jumps at one carat, at two carats etc. Large emeralds, which are rare, increase in price faster, but more proportionately. As emerald weights double, their prices often quadruple. Clean emeralds over three carats with good colour command premium prices, typically higher than comparable diamonds.
CLARITY – Clarity in emeralds differs from other gems. Remember, emeralds are the only major gemstone expected to have visible inclusions; in fact, any specimen without them is immediately suspect as a synthetic or an imitation. Still, inclusions do affect price. All other facts being equal, the natural emerald with the fewest inclusions is the most valuable.
CUT – Cut, or “make” of a gem is important to its overall appearance. Greater precision produces more beautifully proportionate gems with greater life and sparkle. Buyers demand well cut diamonds, but the gem trade and, ultimately, consumers accept wide variations in coloured stone cutting quality. Cutters in India hand-facet most emeralds. Since gems are sold by the carat, they have a tendency to cut first for weight, then for beauty.

Q. What are the different types of emeralds, and what are their chief characteristics?

Sandwana – Small, deep green emeralds that came from the erstwhile state of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). They are fine emeralds, strong on colour rather than lustre, specially in small sizes. Virtually extinct now.
Colombian – There were two outstanding mines in the past – Muzo and Chivor. They produced the finest emeralds. These had a yellowish green tinge and a lovely crystal.
Zambian – Zambian emeralds are bluish in colour, and strong on lusture and purity.
Panchsher – Light yellow green emeralds, hexagonal crystals, mainly producing baguettes. Found in small quantities in the higher regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Swat – Dark green emeralds, almost blackish, also found in the higher regions of Afghanistan.
Brazilian – Brazilian emeralds are small, melee sizes. They are the commercial end of the spectrum – deep, affordable and heavily included.

Q. Is emerald a delicate stone?

Owners worry about the safety of their emeralds. Be aware that emeralds and all other gems (even diamonds) can break. But emeralds are much more durable than softer jewels such as opals, pearls, coral or tanzanite. At 7 ½ to 8 on the Mohs’ hardness scale (where diamonds are 10), emeralds are harder than most steel.

Q. What are the advantages of buying/owning an emerald?

Colour – green is a calm, soothing, appealing hue; the colour of youth, spring, the symbol of the earth and of self-reliance.
Rarity – among highest investment values of all gems.
Durability – hard, but not as tough as diamonds or rubies.
Weight – larger than other gems at the same weight.
History – one of the longest and grandest of any gem.
Birthstone – May.

Q. How should one take care of emeralds?

Home cleaning – warm water, mild detergent, alcohol with soft brush.
Ultrasonic or Steamer – not safe. Either technique can result in breakage as well as inadvertently removing oils used to mask inclusions.
Setting – should be undertaken only by skilled workers. Above all other major gemstones, emeralds should be set and re-set only by people experienced in the special handling of emeralds.
Storing – to prevent scratching, store separately from diamonds and other harder gems. Velvet-lined boxes with individual compartments are best.
Re-oiling – replace original oil every 2 to 5 years.