What are the best gems to invest in buying in Afghanistan?

I found the details you have mentioned above very interesting. I used to work at an alluvial gold mine in southern Tajikistan about 20 km from the Afghan border.

This was before 9/11 & the deployment of special forces in Afghanistan. At that time there were probably more Westerners in Tajikistan than in Afghanistan. As a result of this, mineral specimens flowed over the Afghan border north.

One of my colleagues was very interested in these gems. The location of Afghanistan at the junction of the Arabic tectonic plate, the Indian tectonic plate & the Eurasian tectonic plate make it ideal not only for the generation of metalliferous mineralisation but for many other semi-precious stones also.

All the stones that you mention are well worth buying locally, collecting & selling in the West. I'm surprised though, that there are any diamonds in Afghanistan. I'm also surprised however that you make no mention of ALLUVIAL GOLD NUGGETS (the gold in southern Tajikistan near Kulyab is particularly coarse, can be sold at 3 x the prevailing gold price & used in jewellary. These alluvial gold deposits continue over the border into Afghanistan.

I could also suggest that you buy local LAPIS-LAZURI which is hard to find outside of Afghanistan. This is a beautiful blue-green stone that is very sought in the West.

EDIT: I would avoid buying (in Afghanistan) any mineral specimen that has its origin outside the national borders. There is considerable cost in bringing mineral specimens from Africa into Afghanistan & you are paying for that. Normally diamond mining in Africa follows one of two courses :-

a) African artisanal miners -> Lebanese traders -> Jewish or Indian buyers of rough diamonds -> Diamond cutting workshops in Antwerp, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv or Bombay -> sale

b) Large scale commercial miners -> Jewish or Indian buyers of rough diamonds -> Diamond cutting workshops in Antwerp, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv or Bombay -> sale.

The fact that these diamonds are available in Afghanistan seems to suggest that certain unscrupulous businessman think that they can make more money by following a different route but you are probably paying more for your stones than you will be able to sell them for. The same would go for Tanzanite.

Stick to Afghan stones & gold nuggets. For gold nuggets consider the current gold price, consider that the alluvial gold is probably only 92% pure (& therefore weight for weight only worth 92% of the value) & then consider whether the nugget is big enough to mount on a piece of jewellery, if the locals want more than 1.5 times the actual gold value of nugget (use your OWN scales!), then barter them down in price.

As for Lapis Lazuri, I have no idea about prices but there is a real market for this rare gem. The Wikipedia link below may help you.

This Site Might Help You.

RE:

What are the best gems to invest in buying in Afghanistan?

I am deployed in Afghanistan and there are many locals selling Gems on the big post near, as well as out in the cities.

I have been buying some, and from what I gather a few of them really know what they are doing, and some of them don't know that much about the gems. I have been asking...

confusing step. do a search onto the search engines. just that can help!