Pricing:

To those who don't dwell in the land of gems full time, the pricing of gemstones can seem mysterious, and sometimes clients approach the gem buying process with a sense of uneasiness or apprehension that Sherris would like to dispel.

Questions like:

Why is there such a big difference in prices between these gems that look similar to me?
What is this gem anyway, I've never heard of it before, is it a real gem?
What's so special about carving?

are questions that can be easily answered.

Every gem on this site has information about that specific gemstone and the gem species to which it belongs. Any additional questions you have will be cheerfully answered.

Factors Affecting Prices

The factors that affect the prices of Sherris' gems are: one-of-a-kind design and production | the cost of gem rough

ONE-OF-A-KIND

Historically, the price of a carved gemstone has been linked to the price of faceted gems. This pricing system is adequate as a general guideline, but fails to address the issues of time and repeatability when comparing high-end faceting to original carved gems.

I admire faceting and appreciate the beauty it evokes from gems. Faceting should be appreciated and purchased for all of its own glory.

Faceting should not be used as the pricing standard for gem carving. Time is valuable, and faceted gems – even high end ones – can be produced faster, and cheaper, than original carved gems for a variety of reasons.

Carving one-of-a-kind gems requires extended time and thought.

I approach each gem as a fresh project. I examine the rough, cut out flaws, tip it and tilt it in the light to see how the carving might best be designed. How can this single gem be carved to release its inner magnificence? This thought time is at the core of original creation.

Once the design is established, every step of the carving process requires concentrated thought, attention to detail, and sensitivity to the individuality of the gem rough.

In comparison, cutters who facet a gem are following a diagram, reducing production time.

Even if the diagram is original, it is easily repeatable. The diagram eliminates the thought time required for design.

Every time a faceter repeats a diagram they execute it with greater speed and ease. If the design is popular and the faceter repeats it hundreds or thousands of times over their career, the process becomes routine.

Multiple faceters can produce the same design simultaneously. Because faceting designs are diagramed, individual faceters can hire another cutter to reproduce small numbers of their own designs.

Large amounts of gem rough can be sent to factories in India or Asia, where it will be faceted according to specific diagrams by multiple cutters.

Multiple faceters can team up to cut a single gem. Each cutter performs a different part of the faceting process. Specialization speeds the production of a repeatable design.

Gem carving tends to be a more solitary business.

Although it is possible to train assistants, it takes extended time and dedication on the part of both teacher and apprentice. Sherris currently carves alone. It is possible to send large amounts of gem rough overseas for carving, but the designs being carved for large production are common and usually representational. Sherris is not interested in pursuing this possibility.

Part of the price of your gem, carved lovingly by Sherris, is based on the time and thought that Sherris devoted to selecting the rough, contemplating the design, and executing the carving.

GEMSTONE ROUGH

The cost of gem rough is endlessly variable. There are many people selling and many people buying. Unlike the diamond industry, the quantity, and quality of colored gemstone rough bought and sold across the globe is not dominated or controlled by a single company or small group of companies.

Part of the price of rough is based on where you access the chain of sellers. With the exception of a few gems such as tanzanite, Brazilian paraiba tourmaline, and Burma ruby, purchasing gem rough is a first come, first served enterprise.

If you have a runner seated at the mouth of a mine, purchasing rough as the miners carry it to the surface, that is a buying advantage. The closer you are to the source of the gem rough, and the more rough you are willing to purchase, the greater your price advantage.

Other factors affecting the price of gem rough are: