CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 02/2020

PROMOTION
The Natural Gem
LES RENDEZ-
VOUS
EIN RÜCKBLICK AUF
GESELLSCHAFTLICHE
EREIGNISSE DER
JÜNGSTEN
VERGANGENHEIT.
A REVIEW OF SOCIAL
EVENTS OF THE RECENT
PAST.
Why take a look at The Natural Gem?
Colored gemstones are one of the oldest forms of investment in the
world. There is a small segment of so-called “non-treated gemstones”
within this category, which relates to stones that have not been heated
or treated (95% of the stones sold by jewelers are treated to “enhance”
their quality). The company The Natural Gem deals exclusively
in untreated stones and has been in business for almost 30 years.
How much has demand changed during the coronavirus
pandemic?
In December 2019, Covid-19 was almost unknown in Europe. However,
Chinese buyers in Myanmar had already started buying rubies
that country on an extensive basis. This was the first hint that the
crisis would increase demand for colored gemstones. In fact, Covid-19
has led to a strong surge in demand worldwide.
What are the reasons for the increase in demand?
One of the results of Covid-19 has been a shift from paper money
to real assets. People have tried to get hands on something small,
easy to transport and easy to store, as well as on gold.
What are the advantages compared to other investments
such as gold?
Gemstones concentrate the highest value per gram or per unit of
volume. For example: 1 kg of gold has a value of around € 50,000 –
1 kg of rubies (if available) would have a value of around € 150 million.
In addition to this, gemstones are easy to transport and easy to store.
Liquidity – how easy it is to sell recently acquired
gemstones?
Each and every seller of gemstones has been likely to be able to
offer a secondary market to his or her buyers in recent times, allowing
him or her to re-purchase stones or at least help clients to
sell them. Possible buyers could be other gemstone dealers, as
well as jewelers. Another promising way to sell gemstones can always
be via auction houses.
What should new customers look for? What should they
buy?
There are some important factors: only buy natural, non-treated
stones (cutting is not a treatment, all stones bought should be already
cut). A certificate from a well-known, international gem lab
is mandatory to prove that a stone is natural and non-treated.
Third hint: always go for the best quality within your budget -- e.g.
do not go for size, go for quality. And last but not least: the stone
has to “live” – that means it should sparkle and be “beautiful” in
the eyes of the viewer. A “living” stone is also easy to sell.
ENTGELTLICHE WERBUNG
Dr. Thomas Schröck has a doctoral degree in Economics
and is the founder and majority shareholder in The Natural
Gem. He has been involved in the international gemstone
market in Switzerland, the U.S.A. and Germany for three
decades and is a qualified and certified gemologist.
thenaturalgem.com