How Billionaires Buy Rare Gemstones and Why You Should Use the Same Strategy
The Best Place to Buy Top-Quality Gemstones Before Anyone Else Does
Most people think the finest Gemstones are bought at auction.
They picture the drama of the bidding, the fall of the hammer, the sudden hush in the room when a rare Ruby sells.
It’s a compelling image — but it’s not where real connoisseur gemstone-buying billionaires buy their stones.
The truth is, the best stones don’t ever MAKE it to auction.
They’re bought long before the public ever hears about them — off-market, quietly, and first-hand.
Besides, no billionaire connoisseur-collector in his right mind would want to be in a bidding war against other billionaires!
Because when that happens, the price just continues to rise until it becomes ridiculous — and then the hammer falls.
Oopsie...They paid too much.
How Billionaires Avoid Auctions and Secure the World’s Rarest Gems Off-Market
True connoisseur-buyers want to get to the stones BEFORE they go to auction — when no one else is in the room.
That’s where the real billionaire buyers go.
And that’s their secret.
Well — it’s time to let the cat out of the bag.
Because my company takes you to those same private offices in Bangkok, where stones are shown by appointment only...
To the real connoisseur collectors.
Where the Real Deals go down.
Why Bangkok Is the Best Place in the World to Buy Fine Gemstones
The world’s wealthiest collectors don’t wait for a catalog or an auction.
They go to the source.
And that source is Bangkok — the center of the colored gemstone world.
Why Bangkok?
Because this is where rough from Mozambique, Burma, Colombia, and Kashmir is brought to be cut by the best cutters in the world — and offered, privately, to a select few before the market ever sees them.
With Gemstone Safari, I Take You Behind Closed Doors in Bangkok — to Private Wholesalers Who Don’t Advertise and Don’t Sell to the Public
And for over 30 years, that’s where I’ve worked — deep inside a network of trusted cutters and dealers who don’t advertise, don’t sell to the public, and don’t answer the door unless they know who’s coming.
The $10 Million Dollar Lesson...
I was once commissioned to acquire a significant piece of Ruby rough in Mozambique.
The budget was $1,000,000.
But when I arrived at the mine,
the miner was gone.
His house was empty.
His truck — abandoned at the airport, keys still in the ignition.
He was never coming back.
But I knew where he’d gone.
I caught the next flight to Bangkok.
The Hidden Gemstone Pipeline: From Mine to Market Without the Middleman
And there it was — sitting in one of my most trusted wholesaler’s offices.
15 grams of Ruby rough perfection — about 75 carats. Deep red, clean, and unheated.
And he paid 3 million for it.
One Stone. Three Hands. 200 Million Years in the Making.
When I held that stone in my hand and felt its pulsating power, I realized I was only the 3rd person to hold it in over 200 million years.
First, the miner.
Then the dealer.
And now me.
It doesn't get any more 'Mine to Market' than that.
The stone was sent to Thailand’s most respected cutter the next day.
It came back several weeks later over 20 carats, flawless, a perfectly proportioned cushion shape, and certified as unheated Pigeon Blood Ruby by the GIA lab in Bangkok.
It never went to auction.
If it had, I'm sure it would have been offered at well over $15 million dollars to open. With the final price being far greater than that.
But it sold privately for $10 million — quietly, to someone whose name never made the headlines.
And that's why Gemstone Safari Exists...
Most people are introduced to Gemstones after the story is told.
After the article is published.
After the bidding war.
But the serious buyers — the billionaires, the collectors, the asset managers — they want to see the stones first.
So that’s what I do.
Private Access. Vetted Clients. First Look at Museum-Grade Stones.
Through Gemstone Safari, I escort qualified, vetted clients into the same private offices in Bangkok where the world’s most important gemstones are first offered.
What You’ll See...
Unheated Pigeon Blood Rubies from Burma and Mozambique.
Cornflower Blue Kashmir Sapphires.
Vivid Green Colombian Emeralds with exceptional clarity.
All stones are multi-lab certified, ethically sourced, and backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee
And in many cases, you’ll be the first person to ever hold the stone in finished form and feel its power.
You Don’t Need to Be a Billionaire to Buy Like One
One Last Thought...
About that $10 million dollar Ruby?
I don’t regret not being able to buy it in Africa.
It wound up exactly where it was supposed to be.
It's now the centerpiece of a custom designed necklace for a beautiful woman. A client of mine.
And it's a piece no one will ever see at auction.
And after 200 million years in the ground, that Ruby finally gets to show off a bit.
I'm happy for it.
So when you're ready to take your own personal connoisseur Gem adventure...
Now you don't have to be a Billionaire to buy like one.
---
Joseph Schall
GIA Gemologist & Founder
GemstoneSafari.com
“The best stones in the world never make it to auction. Let me take you to the place where they begin.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How do billionaires buy rare gemstones before auctions?
Billionaires acquire rare Rubies, Sapphires, and Emeralds off-market, directly from trusted wholesalers and cutters in Bangkok. By bypassing auctions, they secure investment-grade, collector-quality gems at true market value without competing bidding wars.
Q2: What makes a gemstone “investment-grade”?
Investment-grade gemstones have exceptional color, clarity, cut, and carat weight, verified by leading labs such as GIA, AGL, and Gubelin. These stones hold long-term value, are ethically sourced, and are often scarce, making them ideal for collectors and investors.
Q3: Why should I buy gemstones in Bangkok?
Bangkok is the center of the colored gemstone trade, where rough stones from Mozambique, Burma, Colombia, and Kashmir are cut and offered privately. Buyers gain exclusive, off-market access to top-quality Rubies, Sapphires, and Emeralds before they reach retail or auction markets.
Q4: How does a private Gemstone Safari work?
On a Gemstone Safari, Joseph Schall personally guides clients to private dealers in Bangkok. You’ll view ethically sourced, certified gemstones, learn about their investment potential, and acquire stones without retail markups or public auctions. Each safari is fully curated with luxury accommodations and personalized guidance.
Q5: Are the gemstones certified and ethically sourced?
Yes. All stones are multi-lab certified (GIA, AGL, Gubelin, GRS) and ethically sourced from trusted miners and wholesalers. This ensures authenticity, collector-grade quality, and responsible sourcing for investment purposes.
Q6: Do I need to be a billionaire to participate?
No. Gemstone Safari allows serious collectors and investors of any scale to acquire top-quality gemstones using the same strategies as billionaires. Private, curated access ensures a luxury, educational, and discreet buying experience.
Q7: Can I resell my gemstones in the future?
Absolutely. Certified investment-grade gemstones maintain high liquidity and value. With proper documentation and lab certification, these stones can be confidently resold to collectors, investors, or jewelers worldwide.