Aside: Go to gem and mineral shows for jewelry. They are very close to wholesale prices and as such can be up to 10x less expensive than a store, and cash pur

Aside: Go to gem and mineral shows for jewelry. They are very close to wholesale prices and as such can be up to 10x less expensive than a store, and cash purchases typically even less. Jewelry diamonds at such event aren't the main item that people are there for though. It's the truly rare items that you find. Things like non-standard colored sapphires, gargantuan amethysts, gem rhodochrosite, fossils of dubious pedigree, meteorites, fordite, etc. Working diamonds, ones that are perfectly made and the size of your palm, can be bought and then cut down for relatively cheap. Many research labs and universities get samples at these events in 'legal' deals. Especially near the end of the shows when vendors need to make a sale, things get pretty wild as the liquor comes out as well as the cash. Check your local listings, ads, and billboards. It's a great Saturday activity even for the nephews and nieces.