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Buying Rough & Gems in Teofilo Otoni - Brazil Trip

Next >> Aquamarine Mines & Miners



Gem Buying in Teofilo Otoni, Brazil


Our guide while we were in Brazil was author and gem merchant, David Epstein. (Check out his website: http://www.gembuying.com/. David was an amazing host and a wealth of knowledge about both the gem industry and Brazil. He set up most of our travel planes, drove us to mines, and share many wonderful meals with us. His biggest role, however, was guiding us through the negotiating involved in buying gemstones in Brazil.

In Teofilo Otoni, there is a square about 2 blocks square, where the gem dealers hang out. Dev and David would walk around the park and up on street to meet the dealers and see what they had for sale. These are few scenes from from the park and lapidary street:

It was pretty wild to be just walking along a street and have men come up and unfold white papers containing the most beautiful gemstones.


In the main park talking with the dealers

Devin and David walking in the park.

Swapping rock stories.

Devin makes a deal on apatite.

David examines an aquamarine.

It was pretty wild to be just walking along a street and have men come up and unfold white papers containing the most beautiful gemstones.

This photo does not do these rubellites justice. There were a gorgeous ruby red. Beth was in love with the one in the bottom left corner.




Not only can you buy rocks in the park, you can also get a chicken for dinner.
Dealing in the office:
After meeting with the dealers in the park and on the street, we would go back to the office and wait for the dealers who had goods we wanted to see to arrive. Dev and Beth would sit on one side of the desk, and there job was to look bored and uninterested no matter what amazingly beautiful rock was put in front of them. David would examine the parcel to see if it was worthy. If it was, we would then examine the stones ourselves, and find out what the asking price was. (The seller always says the price first. See David’s book to learn more about how to close a gem deal.) We would then look at them like they were crazy for asking that price, and counter with a much lower one. This would continue back and forth until a price could be agreed on.



Making deals...

Making an aquamarine deal.

Examining a parcel of green tourmaline.

Beth and Devin examine tourmaline crystals.

A parcel of emerald.

David's right hand man, Lourimar.

Dev checks out his stash.

Those are giant aqua crystals on the table.

Devin still dreams about them.
One of the friends we made on our trip, Carlerio. He is also a dealer.

Dev shows David how to use our SG kit.

David's wonderful cutter,

Careful inspection!

One of the tourmalines from a parcel we purchased.

After it has been cut by...


Use the links below to check out other topics of interest from our trip to Brazil.

Getting Ready for Brazil Trip - Topics of Interest
Trip Schedule & Maps << Previous
Introduction
Next >> Aquamarine Mines & Miners
Travel Log
Trip Schedule & Maps
Buying Rough & Gems in Teofilo Otoni
Aquamarine Mines & Miners
Buying Rough & Gems in Ouro Preto
Imperial Topaz Mines of Ouro Preto
Mining in Brazil
Dining in Brazil
Sightseeing
Culture & Facts




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