“I just like it,” a long-standing client told me when I asked why she collected gemstones. Her answer stayed with me: enjoyment can be a sufficient reason to appreciate a gem.
A conversation with a collector
In the original 2018 reflection, I called the client Mary to protect her privacy. She recalled buying a blue stone in Singapore in the 1980s and ruby and sapphire jewellery during a trip to Thailand. After wondering whether she was spending too much, she returned to a simple answer: she liked the pieces.
Mary said she did not plan to sell her collection. She enjoyed owning it. Her approach was about beauty and personal pleasure rather than a forecast of resale returns.
Relationships and meaning
Gems can mark proposals, anniversaries, gifts and family milestones. For me, continuing the family business also means caring for relationships built by my family and forming new ones with people through our work.
Faith and beauty
I see gemstones as reminders of God’s creativity. Their colours, formations and character lead me to wonder at His creation. For me, the true power comes from Jesus; the gemstone is a physical reminder, not a source of supernatural power.
After founding The Gem Museum with my wife, I began to see beauty beyond the surface: the science, the human work and the craft all contribute to a gem’s story.
Business and private collecting are different
The family business supported my father’s family and later my own. Operating a gem business involves knowledge, relationships, costs and work. That history does not show that an individual buyer’s collection will rise in price.
Choose pieces you understand and can afford. So, why do you collect gemstones? — Tay Kunming
Explore with us in Singapore
Explore All Gemstones and compare individual pieces with our team. Tell us the colours you enjoy, your intended use and the budget you are comfortable with.