I started collecting gemstones as a hobby and even led myself to believe it was an investment. I bought thousands of gemstones because I like them. If you are looking for where to buy stones visit the
GEmsvana website, you can definitely find something for yourself there. The same goes for precious metals. I completely agree with the comments that these materials will eventually be sold to a pawn shop for a small fraction of their actual value. But there is a way to get the most out of your investment, and that is to give them as gifts to loved ones who usually appreciate and treasure them without giving anything but love in return.
