I want to buy real gemstones and I and I would appreciate any information and advice. Where is the best place to look. I have heard there are gemstone markets in Chontaburi and I am planning a trip there this month.

I am an armature and this is for a hobby, not profit or exporting. I have heard that the Philippines and Burma are very good as well but there are many synthetic stones. I don't mind treated stones but I am not interested in synthetic stones. I will not buy anything that appears perfect. I look for imperfections to avoid buying synthetic stones.

Any advice for places to look for real stones anywhere in Thailand????

...I am an armature and this is for a hobby, not profit or exporting.

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Staying in that turtle-shell may be your best option?

If your interests are totally hobby-oriented as you say, buy whatever catches your fancy and enjoy it.

Otherwise, get an education in gemology or you are going to be ripped off!

And I do mean ripped off!

This is a market that has existed for as long as human cavemen bent over to pick up pretty rocks and if you don't know what you are coming up against when you pull out your wallet, you are gonna be had, big time... Even experienced, educated gemologists come home and discover that they have a sack of colored glass...

Next week: Buying "real" antiiques in Thailand...

Forget Burma. The best gemstones are sold at annual sales by invitation only. The average tourist is shown crapola in the shops. Rubies are plentiful and you can find average good small stones. They are average.

New customers who wish to attend Jade and Gems special sale can contact the Myanmar Embassies or Consulate General offices and obtain invitations and necessary informations.

http://www.myanmar.com/Ministry/Mines/jade.html

Special permits to enter the city of Mogok are very expensive, $200.00 per day.

There are synthetic or lab created gems but there are also diffusion treated stones. Diffusion is an unacceptable color enhancement of natural stones. We would all like some stones which aren't uniform in color. Nowadays all but the best are heat treated to change the color or boost the color saturation resulting in a more uniform color. If a stone is overheated is can become brittle and crack or chip at the edges of the girdle.

General forum advice: Do some reading (or don't spend alot of money on stones). Start with the 4Cs: Cut Clarity Color Carat. Obtain a test kit.

https://www.gia.edu/geminstrument/myProduct...tone%20Analysis

Someone here can probably steer you towards dealers which offer certified gemstones. It's a safer way to go.

Edited December 11, 200520 yr by aughie

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Wow..

Excellent post, Aughie Doggy.

Sig line as well...

No gemstones in the Philippines, forget it.

There are several locations in Thailand where gemstones are either found, cut or traded. Chantaburi is a trading and processing place.

In Mae Sot, at the Thai/Burmese border, Burmese Jade and other gemstones are traded, such as star-saphire, ruby, garnet. Lots of medium to low quality around.

Kanchanaburi (near Burma) is the home of "Nin", black natural Spinell, and a range of saphires of interest to the collector are on offer (greenish or striped colours attracted me).

In Bangkok, you can get any type of gemstone, it's one of the world's trading centers. Prices are decidedly higher than India, for example.

Stay away from tourist shops on street level in BKK, and be weary of the many scams, gemstones is THE classic rip-off thing!

Good luck

If you are asking here, you'ergoing to get ripped - sure.

Years ago I had to go down to look thru the mail for a pkg that was 'lost' in thepost. I saw invoices for scads of fake gem stones.

You've been warned.

If you must,go to Cambodia or Chantaburi - but don't.