Selling Your Garnet Crystal: Appraisal & Price Guide

Question
I have found what I believe to be a Garnet Crystal about the size of a baseball. I would like to sell it, but have no idea of it's worth or where it could be appraised and sold. Could you please advise?

Answer
HI DAVID,

THERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO APPROACH THE SALE OF A LARGE CRYSTAL. THERE ARE MANY GEM AND MINERAL SHOWS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHERE SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD BE SOLD OR TRADED. TO DETERMINE A FAIR PRICE YOU WOULD NEED TO SHOP AROUND ON THE INTERNET AND THROUGH TRADE MAGAZINES ANDE SEE WHAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD SELL FOR. THERE ARE APPRAISERS THAT SPECIALIZE IN ROUGH CRYSTALS BUT THE PRICE MIGHT BE PROHIBITIVE. I DO THIS TYPE OF WORK AND I CHARGE QUITE A BIT. FOR TOP QUALITY CRYSTALS THAT ARE CLEAN AND WELL FORMED THE PRICES ARE HIGH. SIZE ALONE DOES NOT MEAN IT IS WORTH MORE. YOU COULD TRY THE INTERNET, THE LAPIDARY JOURNAL AND OTHER VENUES LIKE CLASSIFIEDS TO SELL IT BUT FIRST GET AN IDEA FROM A COLLECTOR OF THIS TYPE OF MATERIAL OF WHAT IT MIGHT BE WORTH. WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, IT IS WORTH ONLY WHAT SOMEONE IS WILLING TO PAY FOR IT. GOOD LUCK.

PETER