A rock strong funding is tough to come back by throughout these unsure occasions – however a diamond is a glowing possibility that you just would possibly think about. 

Over the previous 12 months, the common value for this treasured stone has risen by 6.4 per cent whereas over 5 years it’s up 6 per cent, based on the trade’s Diamond Costs Index. 

However a number of the highest high quality diamonds have seen costs rise by greater than a 3rd in a 12 months and are up nearly 60 per cent in 5 years. 

Set in stone: A few of the highest high quality diamonds have seen costs rise by greater than a 3rd in a 12 months and are up nearly 60 per cent in 5 years

Such returns put most shares and shares to disgrace. Over 12 months the FTSE All-Share Index is down by about 2 per cent whereas over 5 years it has risen by 1 per cent. 

At all times search out skilled steering 

Diamond dealer Tobias Kormind, co-founder of on-line jewelry dealer 77 Diamonds, warns that though thrilling, the diamond market is unregulated and fraught with risks, so skilled steering is crucial. 

He says: ‘Few of us have any concept of the true worth of a gem at first sight – whether or not it’s both a nugatory trinket or a priceless heirloom.’ 

He provides: ‘Whereas it’s key to hunt recommendation when shopping for and promoting, it’s essential to nonetheless watch out as customers get exploited, overcharged or paid too little for a treasured stone of their possession.’ 

Kormind believes anybody curious about buying and selling gems wants to talk to a member of the Nationwide Affiliation of Jewellers, which has a code of conduct ‘primarily based on honesty, integrity and professionalism’. 

But he warns that top avenue retailers would possibly attempt to promote diamonds at retail reasonably than wholesale costs – consuming into the potential for future income. 

He provides: ‘As a person try to be conscious there’s VAT to pay on diamond shopping for, which you’ll not recoup when promoting until you might be VAT-registered. This implies stones should rise in worth by at the very least 20 per cent so that you can make a revenue on them.’ 

There’s additionally a minimal 10 per cent capital positive factors tax to pay on any income made on stones price greater than £6,000 bought above a £12,300 annual exemption restrict. 

Examine the ‘4 Cs’ to gauge high quality 

Gem values are primarily based on the ‘4 Cs’ – carat, color, minimize and readability. 

Carat is the measure of a gemstone’s weight with one carat being 200 milligrams. The larger the stone, the extra invaluable it often is. However a one-carat diamond will be price something between £1,000 and £20,000 or extra, relying on its color, minimize and readability. 

For a diamond, the extra ‘glowing white’ it’s, the upper the value it would command. Yellow tinges tends to cheapen it. If you happen to go for a rock with a slight pink hue chances are you’ll pay way over for a white diamond, as a result of their costs have been hovering lately as they’ve change into modern.

Kormind says: ‘The Argyle diamond mine in Australia is famend for pink diamonds, however closed a few years in the past inflicting a fall in provide. Prior to now 5 years, some pink diamonds have greater than tripled in worth.’ 

He provides: ‘After all, this doesn’t imply costs will proceed to rocket, however it reveals how values can rise unexpectedly.’ 

The minimize is how a craftsman has chipped away on the stone to make it sparkle – so is one other very important consideration. 

The readability seems for imperfections and until you might be an skilled trying by means of a ‘loupe’ magnifying glass, a minor blemish is more likely to be missed.

Think about how the stone could possibly be a liquid asset 

Gems needs to be seen as a long-term funding – sometimes held for 5 years or extra. You’re often higher off shopping for a smaller fine quality diamond – similar to a one-carat stone price greater than £5,000. 

These are termed a ‘liquid asset’ within the gemstone world as a result of they are typically extra tradeable than a bigger rock of three carats or extra. Fee on gross sales by means of a dealer work out at about 5 per cent of the value.

Demand a certificates of authenticity 

Valuing gems with an untrained eye is extraordinarily arduous, however you may get proof of high quality by means of an expert certificates. 

Probably the most revered is the worldwide Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certificates. That is successfully a report card on the standard of a diamond and allows you to evaluate it with different stones. Thomas Schrock is founding father of on-line dealer The Pure Gem. He says: ‘If a stone has a certificates, it ought to imply it has been analysed by a trusted laboratory.’ 

There are different certificates, together with the Ceylon Gem Lab (CGL) certificates issued in Sri Lanka; the Gemmological Laboratory Austria (GLA) certificates and the Swiss Schweizerische Stiftung fur Edelstein-Forschung (SSEF).

Do not forget different colored gems 

Though diamonds are probably the most invaluable gems, different treasured stones similar to emeralds, rubies and sapphires have additionally seen costs rise lately.

The Pure Gem’s Schrock says the place a gem comes from can impression on its worth. He says: ‘A ruby from Mozambique may be simply as excessive a top quality as one from Burma, however the Asian stone is price a 3rd extra due to its heritage – Burma has an ideal popularity for treasured gems.’ 

He provides: ‘The worth of a gem is a mixture of its intrinsic price, what it seems like and its historical past, together with origin.’ 

Patrons needs to be cautious of ‘shopping for blind’ from avenue merchants when overseas. In Colombia, emeralds will be oiled to reinforce their color whereas sapphires from the Indian area of Kashmir and rubies from Sri Lanka could have imperfections crammed in to masks their true worth. Certificates assist keep away from such tips. 

Get your gems valued – and maintain them secure 

Diamonds needs to be saved secure and safe in addition to insured. Discover a native member of the Institute of Registered Valuers for an expert valuation – for which you would possibly pay from £50 per merchandise. Take images and maintain all documentation, together with buy receipts and certificates of authenticity, separate from the jewelry. 

Insurers sometimes ask folks to itemise gems or jewelry price £1,000 or extra. Particular person cowl may cost 1 per cent of its worth – so one thing price £10,000 may cost £100 a 12 months to insure. However as a part of that deal insurers may additionally need you to maintain valuables in a secure. You will need to make sure you get a professionally rated secure match in your valuables. 

Attempt funding funds with publicity to mining 

Publicity to diamonds and treasured stones can also be attainable by means of funding funds. Examples embody JPM Pure Sources, which has a couple of fifth of its portfolio in mining corporations that dig for diamonds in addition to treasured metals. 

You can even spend money on inventory market-listed multinational mining giants similar to Anglo American. However this doesn’t come with out dangers. Within the final 12 months its share value is down 8 per cent.