[Jewelry making - Article 00223] - [Orchid] A large collection of unwanted faceted stones

[Bates,Haley]

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Hi all,

    First, I want to clarify that I'm NOT posting here in order to sell
    anything, but to get some advice about what to do with a very large
    collection of faceted colored gems. A recent thread 

    "Customer selling their own stones"
    http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive/200711/msg00944.htm

    has inspired me to ask for feedback/advice from people who are far
    more experienced in such matters than I am! 

    The story, in brief: 

    Currently, I'm the area coordinator of a Metalsmithing and Jewelry
    Department at a public university. A number of years back (before I
    was hired), a large and generous donation of colored stones was made
    to the school's Metalsmithing and Jewelry Department that have been
    sitting in a safety deposit box, unused, for about 10 years. I
    recently learned of the collection, had the stones professionally
    appraised by a GIA-certified appraiser, and am now trying to sell
    them and use the proceeds to create an endowed student scholarship
    for the Metals department. Easier said than done, though! I've run
    into snags trying to find auction houses that will handle the
    collection, and as I do not use such stones in my own work, I have
    no personal experience buying or selling large quantities of stones,
    or working with stone dealers. 

    Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can sell such a
    collection without becoming a stone dealer myself? (I already have a
    full-time job!) Selling in lots is no problem; I'm just unsure of
    the best way to locate interested buyers. There are a number of
    independent jewelers in my town, but the sheer number of stones
    available rather exceeds the local economy's capacity to absorb them
    without creating a glut! Any advice will be greatly appreciated. 

Haley Bates
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