We’re a small, dedicated team of gem and mineral professionals who spend most of our time sourcing, studying, and selling exceptional material from around the world.
Gem Dragon Auctions was created from firsthand experience. Like many collectors, we grew frustrated with auctions that misrepresented stones—items that were poorly photographed, inaccurately graded, or used to move off low-quality inventory. We knew it could be done better.
Our goal is to make online gem and mineral auctions trustworthy, transparent, and genuinely exciting. That starts with clear, unedited photos and videos, detailed descriptions, and expert grading by our in-house GIA Graduate Gemologist.
Every item is carefully reviewed before it’s listed, and we guarantee both authenticity and satisfaction.
We’ve built a platform where collectors can bid confidently and enjoy the hunt.
Want to meet the team behind the scenes Click here
To place a bid, you’ll need to register for a customer account. You can register here. Once your account is active, you’re immediately approved to start bidding—no waiting period or manual approval.
We use three common auction tools to keep things fair and transparent:
Right after the auction ends, invoices are automatically sent to the email address linked to your account. If you’ve won multiple items, you’ll receive separate invoice emails for each one.
If you don’t see the invoice in your inbox, be sure to check your spam or junk folder.
Each invoice contains a link that brings you back to your account so you can view your auction wins and manage your purchases
No, we don’t charge a buyer’s premium or commission—what you bid is what you pay (plus shipping)
Many traditional auction houses add a buyer’s premium of 10–25% on top of the final bid. We don’t. We believe in transparent pricing and keeping things simple for our bidders.
If it seems like your invoice is lower than expected, you’re not missing anything—you’re just not paying a hidden fee
Paypal, credit cards and Shop Pay (Shopify's payment plan) are integrated into the website to accept payments. If you would like to pay via Venmo, bank wire or personal check, please contact us at Gemdragonauctions@gmail.com for details.
Absolutely!
To combine shipping, wait until the auction has fully closed. Then log into your account and go to “My Bids.”
Next, go to the “Winning Auctions” tab and check the box next to each item you’ve won
Our box program is a convenient way to save on shipping by combining multiple orders over time.
Just leave us a note during checkout—you’ll see the option to “add a note with your order.” We only charge shipping on the first order that starts your box. Every additional order you add to that box ships free.
When you're ready, just let us know and we’ll ship everything together. Easy peasy.
Please note: once your box has shipped, a new shipping fee will apply to start a fresh one.
Boxes have become a very popular option—at any given time, we’re managing around 100 active boxes. We’ve got a spot saved for you!
Auction items must be paid within 7 days of auction close. We are very strict about this. As a small auction house, we depend on folks being responsible auction participants. We understand that sometimes life events happen, but it is incumbent on you to reach out to us if you are unable to pay within the 7 days. We will endeavor to work with you. Repeated non-payments within 7 days will result in bidding privileges being revoked.
Yes, we ship to most countries.
However, we do not ship to countries that are restricted in our system. If someone uses VPN or proxy service to access the website from a blocked region, they may be able to create an account—but we do not honor bids from those locations, and their accounts will be deleted
Our website is intentionally only visible in countries we ship to.
If you're unsure whether we ship to your location, please contact us before bidding
Gem Dragon Auctions Return Policy
At Gem Dragon Auctions, we want you to be completely satisfied with your auction purchases. Please review our return policy below:
1. Return Period
You have 7 days from the date of receipt to initiate a return.
2. Return Authorization
- Before making a return, customers must email us at Gemdragonauctions@gmail.com to request a Return Authorization.
- Please include a description of the item, including the weight, reason for return, and any relevant details in your email.
3. Eligibility for Returns
- Items must be in their original condition. Items in boxes sealed with security tape must not have been opened. Removing of security tape automatically voids return privileges.
- Any original packaging or accompanying documentation must be included.
- All returns are subject to a strict 20% restocking fee.
- Gem Dragon Auctions does not refund shipping fees.
4. Return Process
- Once your Return Authorization is approved, you will receive instructions on how to return the item.
- Please ensure that the item is securely packaged to prevent damage during transit.
-Once shipped, email us the tracking number so that we can keep an eye on the parcel
5. Refunds
- Refunds will be issued to the original payment method used for the purchase, minus the 20% restocking fee.
- Please allow 5 business days for the refund to be processed after the returned item is received.
6. Exclusions
- Certain items may not be eligible for returns, including items listed as "final sale" or "as-is."
- Any exceptions to our return policy will be clearly stated in the auction listing.
7. Contact Us
- If you have any questions or concerns regarding our return policy, please contact Gem Dragon Auctions Customer Support at Gemdragonauctions@gmail.com.
We understand that mistakes can happen—especially with fast-paced auctions. If you place a bid in error, contact us immediately using the messaging form on our website. We’ll review and remove the bid if the request comes promptly.
As long as you notify us right away, your account will remain in good standing. Repeated or last-minute cancellation requests, however, may affect your bidding privileges
We ship items the week following the auction close. Tracking information and updates are sent to the email provided at registration.
You'll see a variety of shipping options when you pay your invoice. Shipping speed is determined by the shipping service selected. Domestic shipping can be 2-7 days and international 7-21 days. These are the estimates provided by the shipping company and are not our estimates. We have zero control over shipping delays caused by the shipping company or customs. We will not get involved with shipping company delays until 6 weeks after we have shipped the parcel.
Bidding and winning in our auctions is a financial commitment we require our buyers to fulfill. We are a small business that relies on the integrity of our bidders. If payment is not possible, we ask that you abstain from participating in our auctions. We have systems in place to identify non-payers and prevent them from bidding in the future. To avoid being placed on our non-payer list, be sure to fulfill your financial obligations or avoid bidding entirely.
The vast majority of our gemstones are completely natural. Some stones may be heat-treated—a widely accepted and permanent enhancement—and a few may be irradiated. We always disclose any known treatments in the listing.
If a treatment is later discovered that wasn’t disclosed, we’ll issue a full refund—provided the testing was done by a reputable gemological lab.
Some of our higher-end items include lab reports. However, since professional certification typically costs $100 or more, we don’t routinely submit lower-value items for testing unless specifically stated
We go to great lengths to represent every item as accurately as possible. Each gemstone or mineral is photographed and filmed under full-spectrum lighting, which mimics natural daylight and reveals the true body color, tone, and saturation of the material. We also include high-resolution videos whenever possible, as they provide a more complete visual impression than still photos alone.
That said, there are a few reasons why a stone might look slightly different in person:
The good news? Most customers find their gemstones look cleaner and more beautiful in hand than they appeared on the screen.
We generally run auctions every two weeks, alternating between two categories:
We also hold occasional flash auctions with just a few days' notice. To stay informed, be sure to sign up for our newsletter—look for the signup form at the bottom of any page on our site
We’re based in Portland, Oregon, but Gem Dragon Auctions is 100% online.
We are not set up for in-person visits or pickups at this time—all sales, communication, and shipping are handled through our online platform
Some of our gemstones, cabochons, and rough parcels are available in quantity. When we have multiple stones or lots of the same type, quality, and appearance, we may use a representative photos/videos across multiple listings. Each item offered will match the description and quality stated in the listing, even if it is not the exact stone shown in the photos/video.
Yes. We accept consignments of gemstones, lapidary rough, and related items expected to auction for at least $250. There is no listing fee for no-reserve auctions. A $50 listing fee applies only to items with a reserve price. For full consignment details, visit our Consign With Us page
