Knowledge
26.01.2024 Gemstones as a legacy
When it comes to inheritance, the focus is often on money and real estate. However, compared to other investments, gemstones offer several advantages that make them an attractive way of safeguarding assets for generations to come.
Why you should invest in gemstones for future generations
Apart from the added aesthetic value of gemstones, their particular advantage lies in their high concentration of value in the smallest of spaces. Due to their compact size, gemstones are easy and discreet to store, transport and pass on. In terms of practicality, no other form of investment can compete with these sparkling jewels.
What’s more, investing in gemstones is a far-sighted decision for wealth protection in the family. It is not for nothing that gemstones have been used to store value for several thousand years and noble houses have always secured their wealth with gemstone collections. The precious stones show hardly any volatility and have experienced a continuous increase in value in the past. Unlike other assets, they have retained their value even in times of economic turbulence and military conflict. By buying gemstones, investors are therefore pursuing a forward-looking and sustainable investment policy.
However, gemstones are not only invaluable in financial terms, but also emotionally. As a bridge between the past and the future, they offer the opportunity to pass on values and traditions to future generations and symbolize family ties and stability.
Unlike other assets, gemstones have retained their value even in times of economic turbulence and military conflict.
Selection of suitable gemstones to diversify the portfolio
Untreated, natural-colored gemstones of high quality, primarily rubies, sapphires and emeralds weighing 1 carat or more, are particularly suitable for investing in gemstones for wealth planning and preservation over generations. “Untreated” means that the stones should be polished but not treated in any other way – for example to intensify the color or fill cracks.
It makes sense to invest in gemstones if your assets are already spread across several asset classes. In this case, gemstones are an excellent complement to equities, bonds and real estate by diversifying the investment portfolio. For the same reason, it is advisable not to buy just one stone, but to invest in several small gems of the highest quality.
When buying from a trustworthy specialist dealer, you can count on an internationally recognized certification attesting to the authenticity of the gemstones. Such a certificate also makes it easier for heirs to determine the value of the heirlooms for inheritance tax purposes.
Gemstones in the estate: what you need to consider
If gemstones are part of the estate, there are some important points to consider: For example, as already mentioned, the value of the jewels must be determined for tax law reasons.
In addition, the proper storage and care of the gemstones must be taken into account. Although the former is extremely straightforward compared to other forms of investment, the correct and safe storage of the jewels should not be ignored. We recommend storing gemstones in a scratch- and shock-proof safe, bank or safe deposit box.
Gemstones are also easy to care for: Perfumes or creams cannot harm most specimens, the only thing we advise against is contact with household chemicals. The situation is different for gemstone jewelry that is worn on the skin and exposed to environmental influences. You can obtain special jewelry cleaning baths from your jeweler that will make your treasure shine again.
Last but not least, we recommend insuring investment-grade gemstones to protect yourself in the event of loss or theft and avoid financial losses. Thanks to these precautions, you will be able to enjoy the pieces you have inherited for a long time and benefit financially as well as carry on the history and values of your family.
We recommend storing gemstones in a scratch- and shock-proof safe, bank or safe deposit box.
Dr. Thomas Schröck
The founder and managing partner of THE NATURAL GEM has been active in international gemstone trading for 30 years. As a doctor of economics and a certified gemmologist in Switzerland, Germany and the USA, among other countries, he is one of Europe’s leading experts on naturally-coloured, untreated gemstones and investments in them.
