Owner Pete Vaidya and his wife Renu offer expert evaluation and consultation on loose precious gemstones. Their inventory, consisting of thousands of stones, is searchable on shopagi.com.
A business that has thrived in color gemstones for over 40 years, Authentic Gem Imports (AGI) has optimized their inventory of over 6,000 loose stones to suit the online shopper.
“It’s our belief that if we create easier access to gemstone knowledge, discoverability and access, we can achieve explosive growth with custom gemstone jewelry,” says Pete Vaidya, founder and owner. “Our mission is to show our clients and their customers that gemstone shopping is easy, affordable and exciting.”
Over the past few decades, AGI has seen the cycle of every jewelry trend. They have recently observed surging demand for precious gemstones including ruby, sapphire, emerald and tanzanite, proving that the selling power of exquisite color stone jewelry is not lost on any customer. The different color combinations of stone and metal lead to infinite possibilities on the selling floor, and customers need to be educated on their options when designing any type of jewelry.
“Jewelry stores cannot afford to be outsmarted by a customer who wants a gemstone piece. So when that customer walks into the door, a few simple clicks within AGI’s master gemstone search will tell you everything you need to know to make the sale.”
On shopagi.com, visitors can use filters to apply searches for color, type, size, shape, certification, heat treatment and more. “Visitors can expect high resolution photography of each gemstone and a full list of information including origin, quality, measurements and remarks from our certified gemologists,” says Vaidya. They also have general education about the gemstone, including captivating history points, MOHS hardness, mineral species and cultural significance such as birthstone and anniversary stone information.
Regional Sales Manager Matt Stevens, who has been with AGI for nearly 15 years, adds: “Customers love to know everything about an investment like jewelry, and there’s something fascinating to know about each and every gemstone in our database.”
The gemologists at AGI travel to India, China, Japan, Thailand and the mines of Sri Lanka each year, sourcing their raw materials from these mines since the early 1980s. “Our business model of directly sourcing stones allows us to price stones at their best value, eliminating the time-consuming process of price comparisons,” said Vaidya. “We know that time is of the essence when it comes to making a sale with a customer. Our jewelry store partners can hop onto shopagi.com and find the perfect stone for their custom projects with ease, and can expect the best value for their raw materials.”
AGI also offers database searching on their website for over 2,000 loose diamonds, melee diamonds, diamond essentials (bracelets and studs), loose pearls, and finished pearl jewelry. An attractive offering of finished gemstone jewelry includes one-of-a-kind pieces, multi-carat cocktail rings and ornately detailed statement pieces. Their custom jewelry service provides free CAD design, quick price quotes and 7-10 day turn-around on completed pieces.
For more information, visit AGI’s website at www.shopagi.com, e-mail Pete Vaidya at sales@shopagi.com, or call 800-527-7617.
