DISPOSITION OF ROUGH GEMSTONES IN THE UNITED STATES
Gemstones are today imported by a number of small to large dealers, some acting as retailers, some as wholesalers, and others principally to supply their own cutting establishments. To assure themselves of quality, most importers make periodic trips to the gem-producing countries, sight¬ing the various lots offered for sale and bargaining for those which appear satisfactory. These are immediately set aside and turned over to their local agents who then take on the responsibility of shipping the materials to the United States.

At home, the lots are again subjected to careful examination and resorting as necessary into smaller parcels for which the importer has customers. His pricing is once more based upon the probability of sale of choicer material and the possible sale of poorer grades. After prices are established, the material is offered to smaller rough gemstone dealers, to professional lapidaries, and to individuals, mostly amateur gem cut¬ters. Some importers who are expert in mineral specimens make a practice of importing these also. A smaller number of importers specialize in only one kind of gemstone, such as emerald, opal, etc., which they may sell solely as rough or which they sell as finished gems after sending off the rough to professional lapidaries  for necessary cutting.

Because of large variations in quality even within a graded parcel of rough, dealers offer two buying plans to customers, each presenting cer¬tain advantages. The first plan is to buy “grab” lots, where the dealer merely takes a quantity of rough from the parcel without further inspec¬tion, and sells it at a certain price. The second plan is “selection,” where a large quantity is sent to the buyer for inspection and selection, and the rejected material returned, or the buyer selects personally at the sales¬room. Since the buyer is certain to choose only the best within the parcel, this privilege is charged for at a rate substantially higher than for “grab¬bing.”
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