From the Expert’s Corner: Paraiba Report 2
(Expert Gem Buyer Jay Boyle completes his Paraiba Report)
That’s a good thing as long as the supplies last. It means the market has accepted these goods, the pricing structure and wants more. And here is where it the story gets fuzzy as we try to look into the future.
Both groups are gearing up to mine more aggressively. Both groups have nearly sold out of the 5 plus year stockpile they thought they had, in one year, last year. What this means in the short term is that prices have definitely firmed and have moved higher. The abundance of material in the beginning of this find has been quickly absorbed by the market.
I could not get a read from either group about how long they thought the find would last. They were scrambling to gear up to meet the demand that is growing.
If history is any teacher, this material will one day be gone just as the Brazilian and Nigerian supplies of copper bearing tourmaline were short lived. The world effectively had never seen copper bearing tourmalines with the intense colors that shook the gem world when the Brazilian material first came on the market in 1989. This thin but somewhat steady supply lasted less than 8-10 years. And the prices have continually gone up on a yearly basis for these intense colored gemstones.
I believe we are seeing the end of the early stages of extra supply that hit the market several years ago. Prices have firmed and my guess is we will not see prices on this beautiful material do anything but remain firm or begin the inevitable climb upward as we work through this wonderful new source. Mother Nature has already shown us She does not make tourmaline with copper very often or in very large quantities. And the markets confirmed demand nearly insures that one day the Mozambique copper bearing tourmaline supply will be gone. That’s a combination that keeps dealers and collectors buying and consuming. Mozambique Paraiba copper bearing tourmaline has made it to the big leagues and is an important new gemstone.
My advice is enjoy these beauties while they last. And remember your gemstone history lessons. - Jay Boyle
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