Imagine expanding your collection of crystal and semiprecious stones without paying the exorbitant retail price. Jewelry is just one of those industries where the materials cost far lower than the end retail price. Cutting out the middleman is the only way to get a bargain closer to the real cost of manufacturing a luxury item. Of course, your friends will not know where you got your wholesale gemstones from, and they will be envious no less.
Shop at an online store that gives you the real prices. Either the middleman has been cut out or the middleman has been reduced to a warehouse, and all they do is ship you the product or the raw materials. Choose between necklaces with gemstones within them or just buy the raw stones if you just like to hold and examine sparkly little treasures.