watch with inlaid opal dial - investment time horizonwatch with inlaid opal dial - investment time horizon

Managing Your Time Horizon for Gem Buying and Selling


How long should investors hold on to gemstones? Learn how your investment goals, business model, and patience affect your investment time horizon.

2 Minute Read

What are Your Gem Investment Goals?

Are you flipping a stone for a quick profit? Then your time horizon may be short. Are you trying to pay for your child’s university tuition? Then your time horizon may last a period of years.

You may also have different investment goals, profiles, and time horizons for different stones. 

Patience and Your Time Horizon

Generally, gemstone investing requires a lot of patience. The most patient gemstone investors make the most profit. This means you need the capacity to wait for good deals and hold gemstones for long periods. Savvy gemstone investors say no to good deals all the time. If they can’t get a great deal on the right gemstone material that fits into their business model, they wait until they can.  

There’s an old saying in the gem trade:

The gem is rare, but the buyer is even rarer!

The good news is, when that rare buyer does come along, you can ask for a good price and garner a nice profit. Sometimes, you’ll make multiple times what you initially paid for it. However, if you need money very quickly and can’t afford to be patient, or you’re in a rush to…


International Gem Society

Related Articles

More Articles
Report Card for the Best Engagement Ring Insurance in 2024

Report Card for the Best Engagement Ring Insurance in 2024

Independent report by International Gem Society on the Best Engagement Ring Insurance on the Market in 2022.
Read More
Making Money Investing in Gems: The Top 5 Rules

Making Money Investing in Gems: The Top 5 Rules

How do you make money investing in gems? What should you buy, for how much, and how can you add...
Read More
Verdelite (Green Tourmaline) Buying GuideThe Gem Trader</a>. Used with permission." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Verdelite (Green Tourmaline) Buying Guide

Looking for a tourmaline jewelry stone? If you like green and you're on a budget, green tourmaline or verdelite is...
Read More
Supply and Demand: Gemstone Market Dynamics

Supply and Demand: Gemstone Market Dynamics

The gem market can be very subjective. Nevertheless, investors can make money by starting with the basics: understanding supply and...
Read More

Latest Articles

More Articles
Classic Engagement Ring StonesPastel purple sapphire</a>, 1.08 cts, 5.8 mm, round cut, Sri Lanka. © <a href=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/determining-your-gemstone-investment-time-horizon/"https://www.thegemtrader.com/">The Gem Trader</a>. Used with permission." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Classic Engagement Ring Stones

Emerald, ruby, sapphire, and diamond are the most popular choices for classic engagement ring stones. Learn more about these traditional...
Read More
Broken Bangle — The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature: Book Review

Broken Bangle — The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature: Book Review

Is fei cui a better term for "pyroxene jade" than jadeite? Jeffery Bergman reviews Broken Bangle, a new book on...
Read More
Cuprite Value, Price, and Jewelry InformationJoel E. Arem</a>, PhD, FGA. Used with permission." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Cuprite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

One of the rarest of all facetable gems, cut cuprites can show magnificent deep red color. However, these beautiful stones...
Read More
Gemstone Radiation TreatmentPhoto courtesy of <a href=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/determining-your-gemstone-investment-time-horizon/"https://www.liveauctioneers.com/">liveauctioneers.com and <a href=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/determining-your-gemstone-investment-time-horizon/"https://www.liveauctioneers.com/auctioneer/1081/eros-auctions-inc/">Eros Auctions, Inc</a>." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Gemstone Radiation Treatment

Gemstone radiation is a common but little understood technique for altering colors. Learn how it works and what gems usually...
Read More

Never Stop Learning

When you join the IGS community, you get trusted diamond & gemstone information when you need it.

Become a Member

Get Gemology Insights

Get started with the International Gem Society’s free guide to gemstone identification. Join our weekly newsletter & get a free copy of the Gem ID Checklist!