sapphire crystal

You may need to invest in a study such as this one, charley. It's expensive, but it's important to get more than just anecdotal evidence before launching a business.

The best way to learn more about sapphires would be to take a course on gemology.

Thank you for reply me,

the thing is, I have a friend who has manufacturer of sapphire crystal already, and his main market is in the U.S. and he's asking me if I want to be his partner and sell sapphire crystal to the U.S. here's the things that I worry about.

1. I don't know sapphire crystal at all.

2. I kind worry about this manufacture's quality of sapphire crystal.

3. I don't know what's the target market and since the economy is very bad now, I don't know if it's time to enter this market.

I appreciated if anyone could give me some idea.

Sapphires can be used for industrial applications such as grinding due to its hardness or lasers. It is also a very valuable gemstone. Obviously jewelry grade sapphire is of much higher quality than industrial grade. Before doing anything else, find out from your friend exactly what type of sapphires he's selling. Most probably it will be industrial. If so, again, obviously laser grade sapphires will be of much higher quality than grindstone grade. Get some samples if you can and bring them to your local natural history museum to get a gemologist to appraise them. Once you get the report telling you what grade they are and hence what possible applications you can use them for, you can start contacting manufacturers of equipment using sapphires and offer to be their supplier. Be warned: be very wary of the gemstone trade, because it's very easy for a layman like yourself to be cheated into paying large sums of money for inferior grade stones.

Well, How can I find a gemologist? How can I make him to appraise for me?

Natural history museums usually have one, and they do help answer queries. Whether you'll have to pay for it I don't know. Check with the museum first. If not, they may know where to refer you. Another place to try would be your local university, particularly if they have a Faculty of Geology.

Thank you very much!