Turamali, Inc. has acquired a collection of beryl gemstones that have been in safety deposit boxes for almost twenty years. Before I address our particular offer and the different gemstones that are a part of the beryl family, I would like to provide some basic information on the beryl family overall.

Background
Nearly all known minerals come in more than one color. Beryl is no exception. The chief color varieties are emerald (deep grassy green), aquamarine (blue or blue-green), morganite (peach or pink), and pure beryl (colorless). All of these vivid hues are produced by traces of chemical impurities that are trapped in the crystalline structure of the material.

Emerald (along with ruby, sapphire, and diamond) has long been considered a precious gemstone. The very best emeralds are mined in Columbia and Zambia in West Africa. The emeralds Turamali offers comes from Brazil with some from Columbia. The two mines that produce the emeralds that we have in inventory produce the same secondary colors with the inclusions being very similar. Therefore the price is the same. In fact, other than the owner telling us that the stones are produced in both Columbia and Brazil, there is no way to tell the difference. Emerald is the birthstone for May and it will always be considered a unique gemstone because of the way it is created. It is colorless beryl that was pushed up through volcanic eruptions. When it hits seawater, it changes to green in only a fraction of a second. While these emeralds should not be considered top grade stones, they are top commercial stones. We are offering them at 50% to 75% off of normal retail.

While emeralds are very rare in the one to five carat range, aquamarine by contract can be very large. The color of aquamarine is due to a trace of iron. Again, depth of color and the exact shade play major roles in determining the price of the stone. A century ago, the most desirable aquamarine was one with a color of blue and green. Today, the most valued stones are those with the most blue and with the least trace of green. The darker blue stones can be very pricey and are simply a collector's item as they are nearly impossible to find in the marketplace. Aquamarine is mined primarily in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, but the mining has been almost non-existent over the past decade.

Morganite is the least expensive of the beryl family, yet it is the most beautiful when it appears in the brighter pink colors. Morganite should not be considered investment material since it is not rare. But, it is a stone that is used in jewelry quite often. We have an extensive inventory of morganite ranging from one to five carats in several different shapes including emerald, pear, marquise, and oval.

Our Offer
Turamali, Inc. is proud to offer 31 emeralds ranging in size from one to five carats, mostly in the standard emerald cut. The stones are offered at $450 per carat. As stated above, these stones are discounted 50% to 75% of customary retail levels.

The aquamarines are made up of three different colors. First, we have the deeper blue stones in smaller sizes ranging from one to two and a half carats. These deeper blue stones have not been available in Brazil for fifteen years. There is one stone that is priced at $150 that weighs two carats that would retail for approximately $1,000 per carat in today's market. There are about 15 stones available at $100 per carat that range from one to two and a half carats that are also quite blue (but not as blue as the one particular stone mentioned above). We also have a group of lighter blue stones that have a light green secondary hue that is hard to detect with the eye. These stones range in size from three carats up to thirty carats and come in many different shapes. Also, the stones that are bluish-green (somewhat like seawater) are available at $35 per carat and range in size from five to fifteen carats. Lastly, morganite ranges from one to four carats and can be purchased for $4 per carat (darker pink) or $2.50 per carat (lighter pink). The prices listed above do not include shipping which is added "at cost".

Return Policy
After you have picked a stone and once you receive an invoice, you should remit payment to Turamali. Your check will be placed in escrow which allows you ten business days to notify us should you decide for any reason to return the stone. If we do not hear from you within this ten-day period, Turamali will transfer your funds into our operating account.

For the more expensive stones, you can elect to send your stone to GSI Laboratories at a cost of $115 per stone (including shipping).

Closing Comments
All of the stones mentioned above can be enjoyed and worn as jewelry. Beryl is 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale out of a possible 10. Therefore, this rating makes all of the stones within this family easy to wear. The smaller stones mentioned above are ideal for gifts, as we've seen morganite sold at $20 to $40 per carat in retail stores.

If you are shopping for a "world class" gemstone, please visit our website at www.turamali.com. Click on the special inventory icon for detailed information. These stones are suitable for donation and I am happy to discuss this possibility with you personally, so please feel free to phone my office.

Again, if you have any questions or if you are interested in purchasing any stone for jewelry or as an addition or beginning for your tangible asset portfolio, please contact me at (800) 247-2812 or send me an e-mail by contacting tgcloud@bellsouth.net. I look forward to hearing from you.