01/07/2026
When I first heard about the discovery of a new copper-bearing tourmaline deposit in Ethiopia, I was genuinely excited.
As a gemstone dealer, opportunities like this donât come around often. The thought of traveling to the source and buying rough directly from a newly discovered deposit was incredibly appealing. Every major gemstone discovery has the potential to reshape the market, and naturally, I wanted to be part of that story.
But excitement only lasts until the numbers come out.
After learning the actual prices of the rough, I realized there was little room left for profit. The cost of the material was already so high that, after factoring in cutting, grading, risk, and capital investment, the margins simply didnât make business sense.
Sometimes, the biggest opportunity isnât buying whatâs newâitâs knowing when not to buy.
So, Iâll stick to what Iâve always believed in: sourcing gemstones where value still exists, creating value through careful selection and expert cutting, and investing where both quality and profitability can go hand in hand.
The Ethiopian discovery is undoubtedly exciting for our industry, and Iâll continue to follow its development with great interest.
But for nowâĶ
Iâll stay on my own path.
Because in the gemstone business, chasing every new discovery doesnât always lead to success. Making disciplined decisions does.
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