Faceted Loose
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 L15075 4mm Faceted Pyrite Loose Beads 95Pcs $8.00 Time Remaining: 12d 22m Buy It Now for only: $8.00 |
 20mm pyrite pyrit faceted heart gemstone Loose Bead xvii $9.99 Time Remaining: 30m |
 14mm dark shiny faceted MOP shell Loose Bead xvii $9.99 Time Remaining: 30m |
 5x8mm Purple Blue Faceted Magnetic Hematite Loose Beads 16L $2.99 Time Remaining: 29d 2h 34m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
 16mm dark shiny faceted coin MOP shell loose bead xvii $9.99 Time Remaining: 30m |
 String Loose Natural Gemstone Beads Faceted Agate 12mm $5.93 Time Remaining: 8d 25m Buy It Now for only: $5.93 |
 10mm dark shiny faceted MOP shell heart loose bead xvii $9.99 Time Remaining: 30m |
 13mm pyrite natural faceted drop Gemstone Loose bead xvii $10.99 Time Remaining: 30m |
 10mm Croci Quartz Coin Faceted Loose Bead 16 LS0706 $9.00 Time Remaining: 17d 20h 43m Buy It Now for only: $9.00 |
 12MM 11PCS BLACK ONYX GEMSTONE FACETED Round Loose Beads $0.99 Time Remaining: 48m |
 L16113 6mm Faceted Agate loose Beads 65Pcs $6.50 Time Remaining: 25d 23h 5m Buy It Now for only: $6.50 |
 8mm pyrite natural faceted Gemstone Loose bead xvii $9.99 Time Remaining: 30m |
 15mm teardrop faceted quartz pink loose bead xvii $5.99 Time Remaining: 44m |
 4mm Turquoise Round Faceted Loose Bead 16 LS0438 $7.00 Time Remaining: 12d 2h 15m Buy It Now for only: $7.00 |
 10mm faceted pyrite gemstone loose bead xvii $14.99 Time Remaining: 44m |
 16 22mm blue crack agate freeform faceted loose beads 16 $13.99 Time Remaining: 29d 7h 32m Buy It Now for only: $13.99 |
 14mm Round Faceted Yellow Agate Loose Beads Strand 15 $7.99 Time Remaining: 1h 19m |
 10mm blue agate faceted Round Gemstone Loose bead xvii $5.99 Time Remaining: 44m |
 Z451 faceted jet gemstone loose Beads Round 10mm $12.99 Time Remaining: 13d 21h 1m Buy It Now for only: $12.99 |
 16mm dark shiny faceted oval MOP shell loose bead xvii $9.99 Time Remaining: 44m |
 5x8mm Coffee Faceted Magnetic Hematite Loose Beads 16L $2.99 Time Remaining: 11d 22h 9m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
 10mm dark shiny faceted coin MOP shell loose bead xvii $9.99 Time Remaining: 30m |
 10MM AMAZING AMETHYST GEMS FACETED LOOSE BEADS 4 2 3 $0.99 Time Remaining: 31m |
 13mm Purple Quartz Drops Faceted Loose Bead 29 LS0721 $7.00 Time Remaining: 18d 11h 43m Buy It Now for only: $7.00 |
 6mm blue faceted quartz ball round loose bead xvii $6.99 Time Remaining: 44m |
 10x14mm Red Ruby Faceted Abacus Loose Beads 155 G1902 $8.99 Time Remaining: 12h 50m Buy It Now for only: $8.99 |
 10mm dark shiny faceted oval MOP shell loose bead xvii $9.99 Time Remaining: 44m |
 14 mm Agate Geode Druzy Ball Faceted Loose Beads 15 L4278 $4.33 (14 Bids) Time Remaining: 11h 12m |
 12mm natural stripe Amethyst round faceted loose Beads $7.03 Time Remaining: 15d 10h 55m Buy It Now for only: $7.03 |
 14 mm Agate Geode Druzy Ball Faceted Loose Beads 15 L4276 $4.21 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 4m |
 Z452 faceted jet gemstone loose Beads Round 8mm $10.99 Time Remaining: 13d 21h 1m Buy It Now for only: $10.99 |
 13mm dark shiny faceted MOP shell loose bead xvii $9.99 Time Remaining: 30m |
 12 mm Multicolors Agate Ball Faceted Loose Beads 15 L4295 $3.00 (15 Bids) Time Remaining: 10h 38m |
 14x21mm faceted Opalite loose Gemstone Beads 16 $7.50 Time Remaining: 24d 23h 35m Buy It Now for only: $7.50 |
 18mm black white stripe faceted round agate loose bead xvii $9.99 Time Remaining: 1h 10m |
 10mm Blue Motley Crystal Faceted Ball Loose Beads G3169 $5.20 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 43m Buy It Now for only: $5.20 |
 13mm faceted blue round quartz loose bead xvii $5.99 Time Remaining: 30m |
 13x18mm Faceted Watermelon Red Tourmaline Gem Oval Loose Bead Gem15 XT9900053 $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 42m |
 8mm Turquoise Round Faceted Loose Bead 16 LS0440 $8.00 Time Remaining: 11d 55m Buy It Now for only: $8.00 |
 34mm quartz yellow clear faceted pendent loose beads 10 pc xvii $11.99 Time Remaining: 1h 22m |
 0927 11x7 faceted labradorite loose beads 16 $16.00 Time Remaining: 27d 4h 33m Buy It Now for only: $16.00 |
 46 65mm freesisize faceted blue agate gemstone loose bead xvii $10.99 Time Remaining: 44m |
 12MM 11PCS BLACK ONYX GEMSTONE FACETED Round Loose Beads $0.99 Time Remaining: 1h 22m |
 7mm Green Quartz Drops Faceted Loose Bead 222 LS0821 $5.80 Time Remaining: 6d 23h 52m Buy It Now for only: $5.80 |
 freefom faceted agate flat gemstone loose bead xvii $10.99 Time Remaining: 44m |
 A778 Faceted Mookaite Jasper Gemstone loose beads 6mm $6.99 Time Remaining: 24d 20m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 8mm FACETED Asian Red Jade Gemstone Round Loose Beads $1.99 Time Remaining: 1h 40m |
 18mm faceted quartz Roundel loose bead xvii $9.99 Time Remaining: 1h 10m |
 5x10mm Red Ruby Faceted Loose Beads Gemstone G1238 $6.53 Time Remaining: 14d 10h 26m Buy It Now for only: $6.53 |
 10 mm Multicolors Agate Ball Faceted Loose Beads 15 L4298 $1.04 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 10h 52m |
 P165 faceted labradorite loose beads rondelle 254mm $11.99 Time Remaining: 17d 15h 8m Buy It Now for only: $11.99 |
 12 mm Agate Geode Druzy Ball Faceted Loose Beads 15 L4277 $1.69 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 11h 34m |
 10 mm Agate Geode Druzy Ball Faceted Loose Beads 15 L4279 $2.75 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 11h 52m |
 faceted yellow crab Agate round loose Beads 15 8101214161820mm $5.83 Time Remaining: 19d 12h 38m Buy It Now for only: $5.83 |
 31mm coffee faceted column agate gem loose bead xvii $7.99 Time Remaining: 1h 10m |
 Y2164 75mm Faceted Hematite titanum round loose beads $6.00 Time Remaining: 8d 12h 40m Buy It Now for only: $6.00 |
 14 mm Agate Geode Druzy Ball Faceted Loose Beads 15 L4276 $3.25 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 11h 16m |
 6MM 15 1 2 YELLOW MANMADE TURQUOISETONE FACETED ROUND LOOSE BEAD $0.99 Time Remaining: 48m |
 10MM Natural Garnet Coin Faceted Loose Beads Gemstone 1 Strand 155L $11.99 Time Remaining: 21d 22h 45m Buy It Now for only: $11.99 |
 30mm faceted jade heart gemstone loose bead xvii $10.99 Time Remaining: 1h 22m |
 28x39mm faceted blue quartz Loose Gemstone Beads 15 $9.45 Time Remaining: 24d 23h 35m Buy It Now for only: $9.45 |
 5162 Cts Natural Tanzanite AAA faceted rondelle Loose 18 inch Bead String NR $45.99 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 20m |
 5047 Cts Natural Tanzanite AAA faceted rondelle Loose 18 inch Bead String NR $45.99 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 20m |
 0377 6mm Faceted blue agate loose beads 155 $6.00 Time Remaining: 21d 23h 19m Buy It Now for only: $6.00 |
 6mm round faceted quartz purple plated loose bead xvii $7.99 Time Remaining: 44m |
 L11036 Faceted Dragon Veins Agate loose beads 37Pcs $10.00 Time Remaining: 10d 1h 9m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 10MM 13PCS BLACK ONYX GEMSTONE FACETED ROUND LOOSE BEADS $0.99 Time Remaining: 1h 42m |
 V2246 8Pcs Faceted Stripes Agate Column Loose Beads $7.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 1h 30m |
 Z454 faceted jet Gemstone Loose Beads round 12mm $14.99 Time Remaining: 13d 21h 13m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 41mm faceted agate Green gemstone loose bead xvii $10.99 Time Remaining: 44m |
 10mm DeLuxe Faceted Agate Gemstone Loose Beads 15 $7.99 Time Remaining: 11d 20h 10m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 6mm faceted quartz round light loose bead blue xvii $6.99 Time Remaining: 44m |
 6mm FACETED Blue Cream Agate Round Loose Beads 15 $0.99 Time Remaining: 2h 37m |
 0424 Man made 9mm Faceted golden sand quartz loose beads 16 $10.00 Time Remaining: 16d 1h 52m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 4MM NATURAL AQUAMARINE FACETED RONDELLE LOOSE BEADS $0.99 Time Remaining: 10h 52m |
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Investors are in a quandary about where to put their money. The real estate bubble has burst. The stock markets are falling. Economic experts say the global economy is teetering on the edge of a grand recession. What's an investor to do?
Precious Metals And Gemstones
When wise investors don't trust the economic system created by humankind, they look to the assets Mother Nature creates: precious metals like platinum, gold, copper and silver, and precious gemstones like certified diamonds.
What Are Certified Diamonds?
Diamonds are made of pure carbon, the hardest natural substance known to exist on Earth. These gemstones are so valuable because mining them is expensive and labor intensive, and the mining process yields uncertain results.
Experts estimate that workers must mine and process up to 250 tons of ore to produce a one carat, gem quality stone suitable for use in jewelry. Only about one-fifth of all mined stones are considered to be of gemstone quality. These gemstones are cut and faceted according to specifications to enhance the natural properties of the gemstone, and these stones are then used in the jewelry business. The other four-fifths of mined stones are used for diamond saw blades, miscellaneous cutting instruments, and other industrial applications.
Grading
Gem-quality diamonds are graded from based on color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. Color grades range from "D" to "Z," with a perfectly colorless stone receiving a grade of "D", and a yellow stone being graded "Z". Investors seek stones graded "I" or better.
The clarity grade measures imperfections that affect the purity of the stone. Internally flawless diamonds receive an "IF" grade, while flawed diamonds receive an "I3" grade.
Cut refers to the shape of the stone: round, heat, marquise, pear-shaped, emerald-cut, oval, and radiant. Carat is the standard unit used to measure the weight of a diamond. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams.
Who Certifies Diamonds?
Investment quality certified stones are certified by independent laboratories whose business is to certify gemstones, not sell them. Most gemstone wholesalers and brokers insist on certification by either of the two most reliable certifying bodies in the business: the GIA, or the Gemological Institute of America, and the EGL, European Gemological Laboratory.
How Much Do They Cost?
Certified diamonds are a trading commodity, so their prices can vary. The rarity of high grade certified stones is reflected in their price. An "E" grade, half-carat, emerald cut diamond can cost nearly $1,300, while an "H" grade, three-carat emerald cut diamond can cost more than $24,000.
Will They Increase In Value?
Like any investment, certified gemstones fluctuate in value. Generally speaking, larger gemstones will increase in value faster than smaller stones, so investors should purchase the largest certified stones they can afford rather than investing in quantities of smaller diamonds.
Economists report that certified diamonds have provided a 30 percent return on investment over the last five years, and that rate of return is expected to increase another 10 to 20 percent in the next few years. With wealthy, cash-rich Chinese investors entering the market in the near future, some analysts have predicted a 100% increase in prices of certified diamonds in the next five to ten years.
David Cowley has created numerous articles on Diamonds. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to Diamonds. Visit Diamonds