Post subject: Buying Kunzite from Pakistan and Selling in USA
Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 12:37 am
New to the Forum or The Quiet Type
Joined: Sat Jul 13, 2013 3:50 am Posts: 1
Dear All! Hi…
I am an absolute beginner and need some advice.
I am travelling to New York and want to carry some gemstones from Pakistan to USA to make sense of this trade in a learning by doing fashion. I have self-educated myself a bit about fascinating world of gems in the last couple of weeks and came to conclusion that perhaps Kunzite would be the safest investment for a newbie like me.
I chose Kunzite due to following factors: • Abundant availability in Pakistan (Peshawar Namak Mandi Market) • Relatively high demand in the USA • Relatively easy to evaluate (due to its relative clarity and less color variants) • Low price (hence lower risk)
1. What should be my average buying price per carat from Pakistan (min, max)? 2. Who should I sell it to in the NYC (retailer, wholesalers, or any other idea)? 3. How much markup should I expect on average, should it be sold to retailer? Or wholesaler? 4. I will declare it as personal belonging at the port of entry as according to CBP gems valued under $2500 do not need a formal entry as long as declared at the port of entry. Please correct me if I am wrong. https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail ... arls,-jade, 5. Any other suggestion or do’s and dont’s?
I hope this isn’t too much advice to ask for I’d be really grateful for you kind suggestions.
Are you thinking of buying cut stones or rough? Kunzite is one fickle stone. It will often fade when exposed to sunlight (or, in the case of some stones, even in the dark--especially with artificially irradiated stones). Treatment is common, since it can be irradiated right in Pakistan at a food processing facility in Lahore, and the results, while often temporary, can be spectacular in hue. And it can break at the slightest provocation during cutting. I got one back from cutting in the waste rock which was an oval that had been fully faceted and polished save for one facet--and was also missing a full quarter of the stone which had chosen that moment to break free. I imagine there was much frustration over that one. That said, when it works it really works. I saw a very large faceted yellow spodumene (or 'triphane,' whatever floats your boat) at a gem show last weekend, and the dispersion on it was absolutely stunning, and of course pink is always a good color for gems.
I would rather pull my teeth with a sledgehammer than facet Kunzite again. I have some nice crystals of it that will never be used for anything but specimens on my shelf and a reminder to myself that it is not very fun to facet.
_________________ "Distracted by something shiny."
Post subject: Re: Buying Kunzite from Pakistan and Selling in USA
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 3:38 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:00 pm Posts: 391 Location: Dolan Springs, Arizona
Kunzite is a great stone to teach you some hard lessons in the gem business. The big market for the stone was back in the 90's when there was a lot of rough coming out of Afghanistan due to very active mining. I cut and sold quite a few stones back then. However, the Brazilian dealers found a way to irradiate the low end material to a lavender-pink color and pretty much cornered the market price wise. If you go to the Tucson show you will see trays and trays of cut Kunzite all the exact same color offered by the Brazilian dealers.
My understanding from dealers in the Peshawar market is that there has been little active mining of Kunzite in Afghanistan for several years and that the quality of rough is very low compared to ten years ago. There is demand for high end material, but unless you have ties to some of the mining families in Afghanistan, you are not going to see this material
If you are going to spend $2000 for a lesson in the gem business, spend it going to the Tucson show in February. You will have a great time and learn a whole lot more. You will need at least five days to see everything.
Post subject: Re: Buying Kunzite from Pakistan and Selling in USA
Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 9:12 am
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:10 am Posts: 584
TOM KIDWELL wrote:
If you are going to spend $2000 for a lesson in the gem business, spend it going to the Tucson show in February. You will have a great time and learn a whole lot more. You will need at least five days to see everything.
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