Sparkle in the depot

Coloured precious stones are pleasing to the eye of the beholder. Who can do it right, with sapphires, emeralds and rubies but also generate good returns
Michael Brückner

Previously Heinz Schiendl worked in the communications industry, worked for large corporations. Today, however, gems are his world. And when he raves about the blue zircon from Cambodia, sapphires from Madagascar, aquamarines from Pakistan or from the sparkling green Brazilian emeralds, then feel everyone who is listening to him, that globalization has arrived at the Vienna gemstone dealers long ago. And in a very colorful and diverse expression. Schiendl made years before his passion into a profession and has since earned his money with the precious stones.

Maybe not a bad idea, since the financial crisis and debt shock are many investors looking for alternative investments that may be something exotic, but above all to give pleasure. Not the amount of interest and dividends plays a crucial role, but the emotional return, and still to the special charm of being completely abgeltungsteuerfrei.

Some also believe the high degree of flexibility of precious stones. They compress a large value in the smallest volume. An ideal haven currency. A ruby or emerald of high quality and weighing five carats - equivalent to one gram can - quite the equivalent of one kilo gold bars represent.

However, diamonds and colored gemstones as investments were far from just the best reputation. Time and again, investors were far too easily the "black sheep" of the industry into the trap and bought either fake or real gems copies, albeit at inflated prices. Often the victims were not even in these cases of fraud, probably because black money had flowed into the investment.



New safety standards, such as forgery-proof certificates, but also the desire of some investors to diversify in times of Magerzinsen, schwankungsfreudigen stock prices and high prices for gold to make their fortunes wide, precious interesting again. But really what minerals pose upside potential? Is there still "undervalued" stones at relatively low prices?
Ad

"As a capital investment of all gems are really only suitable diamonds," says the geologist and author Walter Schumann. However, there are many examples of sizable increases in colored gemstones. "About 20 years ago was paid for a Mandarin-Garnet D-Mark for 200 per carat. Today, the vendor for stones of very good quality with up to 1000 € per carat count," says expert Schiendl.

Tanzanite and spinel also recorded in the past one interesting from an investor's point of view of prices. Of the consequences of economic and financial crisis is on the gem market in general to not feel much. On the contrary, the prices rose again last strong. Especially for fine quality rubies, emeralds, and Paraiba Tourmaline loud you had to Market the diamond and gemstone exchange Idar-Oberstein dig deeper into their pocket. Who still takes an investment in colored gemstones into consideration, should always bear in mind that different rules apply in this market than for diamonds. This has advantages and disadvantages alike. The diamond market is still dominated by De Beers. Although the British-South African group has no monopoly over the influence of this diamond producer and retailer appears but still enormous. On the one hand prevents strong eruptions of diamond prices, because you can cut down the offer to extend or targeted. On the other investors will not benefit from "bargain".

The value of a diamond depends on the "4-C" (Carat, Colour, Clarity and Cut - So carat, color, clarity and cut). No comparable graduation is not for colored gemstones. Of course, the value increases even with these gems disproportionately with weight - that is possible with high carat numbers. But even in the purity, there are clear differences with diamonds.