Women Turn From Wall Street To Investments With More Sparkle!
| As Wall Street fluctuates wildly and inflation devalues “money in the bank,” as the dollar weakens and oil prices soar, savy women may have the right investment idea. Women have known for years that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” but today they may be more than just a pretty bauble. “Experts in the diamond industry are paying close attention to the rate at which prices for fine quality diamonds have been escalating over the past year, and there is no sign of reversal for these high quality gems,” says gem expert Antoinette Matlins, author of Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide (GemStone Press, Woodstock, VT), “and we’re not the only ones watching the market—I’m getting calls from successful women looking for inflation protecting investments that will give them a guaranteed psychic as well as a possible financial return!” But is this a sound idea? According to Matlins, who consults with clients around the world on their acquisition of jewelry and gems, it may be if done wisely. And, there are now unusual opportunities not just for fine diamonds but for fine colored gemstones as well because supply of these high quality stones is failing to keep up with demand. Matlins sees this gap widening over the next 10 years. “As wealth continues to spread to more people globally, demand is increasing for very fine quality diamonds weighing 2 carats or more, and very fine colored gems in varying sizes, but the supply of these gems is actually diminishing as existing mines are depleted,” Matlins explains. Matlins predicts that the gap between supply and demand will widen even further as people in the Middle East and China become more interested in acquiring fine quality gemstones, resulting in even stronger prices. She also predicts that rare natural colored gemstones (that is, those not artificially enhanced by the various treatments used routinely for several decades), will outpace diamond performance. “The cost of the finest emeralds has increased approximately 75% over the past 2 years, rubies about 70%, and sapphires over 60%,” Matlins points out, “and we’re also seeing significant price increases in less-well-known natural gemstones such as spinel and tsavorite.” As exciting as this may sound, however, Matlins stresses the need for caution and points out that diamond and gemstone investment is not for the average investor. “Let’s not forget how many people lost money in the early 1980s by investing in diamonds and gemstones without understanding what they were doing and the importance of quality, and without the benefit of expert counsel,” she warns. Matlins also advises anyone considering diamonds or gemstones not to think of them as if they were investing in commodities. “Successful gemstone or diamond investment requires careful selection,” says Matlins, “relying on expert counsel to guide you, one stone at a time.” With diamonds and gemstones, investors need to understand that in addition to the risks present in any investment, risk is increased because specialized knowledge about a scientifically complex field is required. Matlins emphasizes that many gemstones are not what they appear to be, even sometimes when you get the gem you seek. Subtle quality differences not apparent to the eye can have a dramatic effect on price. Today’s marketplace brings to mind the age-old saying “caveat emptor” for a very good reason—thanks to technological advances, and age-old tricks, there are lots of fakes (imitations and synthetics) on the market, stones composed of multiple pieces cleverly assembled together, inexpensive gems sold as a more valuable gem of the same color, and inferior gemstones artificially enhanced to look much better than they are. Being thus warned, perhaps your safest investment will be in purchasing a copy of Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide, or one of Matlins’ other books on this sparkling subject (www.GemStonePress.com)! | ||
| Antoinette Matlins (amatlins@aol.com) Author Gemstone Press Route 4, P.O. Box 237 Woodstock, VT 05091 Phone : 802-457-5145 Fax : 802-457-4004 |
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