Why Buy Rough
Rough gemstone material appeals to a different buyer than a finished stone. Lapidaries and hobbyist cutters want to plan their own cut around a crystal's inclusions and colour zoning. Dealers often buy rough in parcels to grade and resell. Collectors of mineral specimens want the stone exactly as nature formed it, uncut and unpolished.
We buy rough directly from mining cooperatives in Guji, Welo and Tigray, and hold back a portion of what we source, rather than sending every piece of material to Thailand for cutting.
What We Offer as Rough
- Opal — frequently sold rough, since play-of-color can vary within a single piece and many buyers prefer to select and orient their own cut. See Ethiopian opal.
- Emerald — rough crystal from Guji for cutters and specimen collectors. See Ethiopian emeralds.
- Tourmaline — including rough from the Abuloo, Guji Zone locality documented in the 2026 Paraíba-type study. See Ethiopian tourmaline.
- Sapphire — rough crystal available on request. See Ethiopian sapphire.
Grading & Documentation
Every parcel is assessed by hand for colour, clarity indicators and estimated cutting yield before it's offered. Origin and treatment status (if any) are disclosed on request. If you'd rather have a stone finished for you, see cut & polished gemstones.
Rough Ethiopian Paraíba-type tourmaline crystal, Abuloo, Guji Zone.
