Every question we get asked, answered plainly.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are strongly recommended for appraisals or if you want to view specific pieces — we may need to bring items out from secure storage.

Diamonds and colored stones are priced against grading (cut, color, clarity, carat, origin and treatment status). Gold and silver track the daily spot rate plus a transparent, disclosed margin. We're happy to explain the reasoning behind any quote.

Our published pricing already reflects a fair market rate rather than an inflated "starting" number, so we don't typically negotiate — though we're always open to discussing bundle pricing on multi-piece orders.

Primarily loose, graded stones and raw specimens. We can refer you to trusted local setters for mounting, or advise on setting choices before you buy.

Continuously — much of our stock moves fast, and some pieces sell before they're ever photographed. If you don't see what you want, ask; we often have unlisted parcels on hand.

Yes, and we'd encourage it. If you've never bought a diamond or colored stone before, a short call or in-person walkthrough before you commit can save you from an expensive mistake elsewhere.

We can hold a piece for up to 48 hours with a conversation, or longer with a deposit. Call or email to arrange it.

Cut measures how well the facets return light; color rates how colorless a stone is on a controlled scale; clarity notes inclusions under magnification; carat is simple weight. Cut has the biggest visible impact on brilliance, and is where buyers most often overpay for the wrong priority.

Diamonds 0.30ct and above are offered with a GIA report or submitted on request. Smaller melee stones are graded in-house using the same standards and disclosed the same way.

Flawless (FL) diamonds have no inclusions visible even under 10x magnification and are extremely rare. "Eye-clean" simply means inclusions aren't visible to the naked eye — many VS2 and SI1 stones qualify and offer far better value.

Yes — tell us your budget and priorities (size vs. brilliance vs. shape) and we'll shortlist stones that make the best trade-offs for what matters most to you.

Yes, our current stock spans round brilliant, princess, cushion, emerald, oval and pear cuts. Availability by shape shifts often — check current inventory or ask directly.

Emeralds are graded "eye-clean" by a different standard than diamonds — natural inclusions, sometimes called "jardin" (garden), are expected and part of the stone's character. A visibly included emerald isn't automatically lower quality; color and origin often matter more.

Oiling fills surface-reaching fractures to improve clarity and is standard industry practice. We always state whether a stone has minor, moderate or significant oiling, since it affects both appearance and long-term care.

Unheated stones are rarer — most rough sapphire benefits visually from heat treatment, so untreated material that already has strong color and clarity commands a premium, sometimes several times the price of a comparable heated stone.

Reliably, only a lab can confirm this through spectroscopy and inclusion analysis. We disclose natural vs. synthetic origin on every listing and can provide lab documentation for larger or higher-value stones.

Yes, in limited quantities — including uncut ruby rough. These are priced and sold as specimens rather than gem-grade material and are popular with mineral collectors and hobbyist cutters.

24K, 22K and 18K, as bullion, jewelry-ready stock, and raw in-matrix specimens for collectors. Purity is tested and stated on every listing.

Silver ore is the raw mineral specimen as it comes from the ground — valued by collectors for its natural formation. Refined silver has been processed to remove other minerals and is priced by weight and purity rather than as a specimen.

Yes — several teachers and geoscience programs buy from us specifically for this. Ask about bulk or education pricing on lower-grade specimens.

That's entirely your call — some collectors prefer the specimen intact for display, others have the gold extracted and refined. We can advise either way but won't extract without your instruction.

Yes, for diamonds, colored gemstones, gold and mineral specimens — for insurance, resale, or estate purposes. Book a slot through the contact page or by phone.

An in-house written appraisal is typically same-day. If a formal third-party lab report is required, that adds 1–3 weeks depending on the lab's current turnaround.

Pricing depends on the piece and whether outside lab submission is required — we'll quote this before any work begins, with no obligation to proceed.

Most insurers accept a written appraisal from a qualified independent gemologist, which we provide. Some policies specifically require a GIA or other third-party lab report — check with your insurer, and we can submit accordingly.

In-house grading is done while you wait in most cases. Only formal outside lab submission requires temporarily leaving the piece, and it's insured for the duration.

Every shipment is insured for its full value at our cost. If a package is lost or damaged in transit, you are made whole — this is not something we ask you to absorb.

Yes — local pickup at our Modesto showroom is available at checkout for no extra charge.

Most items may be returned within 7 days of delivery in original, unaltered condition for a full refund. Custom orders and special submissions may have different terms, always stated at time of sale.

This should not happen given our grading process, but if it does, contact us immediately — we will make it right, including a full refund or exchange.

Discreet, unmarked outer packaging with no indication of contents or business name visible, standard on every shipment regardless of value.

Yes to both. You'll receive a breakdown of how we arrived at our offer, and you're free to walk away with no pressure to accept.

Typically within 1–2 business days of accepting, by check or direct transfer, your choice.

It helps but isn't required. Existing lab reports or receipts can speed up the evaluation and may support a stronger offer, but we can grade and value a piece with no prior documentation.

In some cases, yes — consignment can be arranged for higher-value or unusual pieces where an outright purchase price wouldn't reflect the item's true value. Ask us to discuss whether this fits your situation.

Yes, for qualifying purchases, arranged directly with our team — ask when you enquire about a specific piece and we'll walk you through the terms.

We can discuss structured payment plans for larger acquisitions on a case-by-case basis. Contact us directly to see what's possible for your purchase.

No. The price you're quoted includes grading, packaging and insured shipping unless stated otherwise — no surprise charges added afterward.