The Gemstone Detective: Buying Gemstones and Jewellery in the USA

By Kim Rix

Discover the thrill of the hunt...for gold and precious gems! This pocket travel guide is part of the Gemstone Detective series, created for those who want to discover and understand more about the magical world of gems!

Written by Kim Rix, a gemmologist and professional photographer who has travelled to more than 50 countries, this book m

• Language: English
• Publisher: Filament Publishing
• Release date: Sep 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781913192433

Kim Rix

Kim Rix is a professional photographer and gemmologist (GIA). Based in London where she lives with her husband, Kim travels extensively and has gathered a vast amount of the best local knowledge from her world-wide contacts.

Book preview

Wow! Minerals like you’ve never seen! Rare Earth Gallery, Cave Creek, AZ © Kim Rix

Why you need this book

The USA is a thrilling place to go gemstone hunting. Whatever your passion, there’s something for you. For the gem hunters and hobbyists who love seeking out local gemstones and jewellery, the USA offers around 60 types of gemstones, which can be found at over 400 gem shows across the USA. Adventure seekers, who want to experience the thrill of searching for gemstones, rocks, minerals and fossils, can go it alone on public land or fossick on mining sites where you pay a fee, look for gemstones and keep any that you find.

With an abundance of magazines, books, brochures, internet sites and 50 states full of enthusiastic people keen to share their knowledge, you won’t run short of information, but you may get rather confused!

You will also need to follow each state’s rules and regulations, intended to keep you out of harm’s way and out of court. As a visitor on holiday, it’s very important that you take note of those rules! I especially recommend that you follow my safety tips for rockhounding and gold hunting in remote areas.

Buying at an organised gem and mineral show demands your skills as a detective. A lot of hanky-panky goes on in the gem trade, so you need to have your wits about you – spotting a fake from the real deal can be a challenge. The USA, like everywhere else in the world, has its fair share of unethical dealers. But there are many genuinely good people out there, too.

Don’t worry if you have little or no knowledge about gemstones or minerals – I have written this book with you in mind. I have experienced the shows, museums and shops, and spoken with the experts. I have spent time with the locals, who have willingly shared their behind-the-scenes tips and tricks. It is my job to pass that experience on to you.

A trowel marks the spot where Uncle Sam was found at the Crater of Diamonds, Arkansas © Kim Rix

This book will give you the up to date, and reliable, information you need before making a purchase. I’ll reveal:

Who to trust

What to look for

When to walk away

Where to buy

Why you need to ask questions!

Fluorite, calcite and scapolite are fluorescent minerals © Kim Rix

What makes me an expert?

Everything in this book is based on my personal experience, local advice and tips from my contacts in the USA.

I’m a gemmologist, qualified by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America — the world’s leading authority on gemstones) but it’s my extensive global travel and research into local gem trades that makes this book uniquely able to help you.

I’ve come to realise that every person, gemstone and piece of jewellery has a story behind it. So, if you’re trying to choose a gemstone to take home as a memento of your trip, decide what fascinates you. It might not be a gemstone itself that takes hold of you, but the story behind it.

Wet sifting for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds, Arkansas © Kim Rix

Don’t learn the hard way!

As a tourist, you are vulnerable to certain tricks of the trade. Don’t let this scare you! That’s where Buying Gemstones & Jewellery in the USA comes in. There are a lot of traders in the USA who are good, honest, genuine people who sell with integrity.

As well as helping you to feel more confident about buying, I want this book to benefit the USA’s honest small enterprises and family businesses, especially the Native American traders who rely on the gem trade to make their living.

The best advice is simply to be cautious. Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions.

Lucky find! A much larger than average Herkimer diamond © Kim Rix

The scope of this book

The USA is a very big place, packed with a wealth of minerals and gems. To prevent this book accounting for your entire luggage allowance, I’ve focused on tourist routes with an abundance of places to find and buy gemstones and jewellery, along with fossils and other minerals.

Included are one of the world’s most famous gem fairs, several world-renowned gemstone and mineral museums, some popular tourist hotspots for shopping, two mining areas (one of which is operational and world famous) and multiple ‘dig-your-own’ tourist experiences.

So, buckle up and enjoy the ride around Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Arkansas, North Carolina and New York State!

Map highlights the states researched for this guide

This is the route taken for research in February 2019

This is the route taken for research in May 2019

Fossils and minerals at Quartzsite, AZ © Kim Rix

An Agate Tree made by Tiffany Jackson of Viper Lapidary attracting tourists in Quartzsite, AZ © Kim Rix

Shopping for gemstones and jewellery in the USA

Deciding what you want

There are a few questions you need to ask yourself before purchasing.

Cut stone or rough?

Seeing your gemstone transformed from its rough state to a finished piece of jewellery can give it even more sentimental value.

What’s the stone for?

For what purpose are you buying a gemstone? Is it for a ring, a brooch, a bracelet, a necklace? Depending on the look you are after, you will need to consider the size and cut of the stone. Another approach is simply to buy a gem that speaks to you and have the setting made to suit that gem.

How much do I want to spend?

This is important. You need to decide on a budget before you approach anywhere that sells gemstones. Arm yourself with a ceiling figure before you start, or in the heat of the moment you may end up spending more than you want or can afford.

How do I want to pay?

How you want to pay will affect where you buy. You’ll often get a better deal by paying cash, as card-processing fees are usually added to the overall price of