More often than not, I supply gems for my clients when they don’t have any they want to recycle from old jewellery. I use several local suppliers who purchase stones from all over the world.

That being said, I do get clients who bring in their own loose gems, that weren’t previously in jewellery.

I have lots of clients who buy themselves gems when they travel and I am happy to use them to make new jewellery! I think it’s cool to think fondly of your adventures every time you see that special piece of jewellery.

I also have clients order gems online. I can still use the gems but always warn my clients that you get what you pay for: don’t be surprised if the photo was better than the product that arrived, especially if the price seemed to good to be true!

If a client is really keen on sourcing their own stones, I suggest checking out local gem shows over purchasing online, unless the online option comes from a reputable source.

I know many stores and jewellers don’t work with client stones and it’s usually for two reasons: 1) they don’t make as much money and 2) there’s a risk of damaging a client’s stone. It’s rare for stones to get damaged but it can happen!