Thailand Gemstone Tour
Thailand Gemstone Tour starts in Bangkok, Thailand. Well known as one of the world’s major hubs for gemstones, the city is home to a variety of wholesale gemstone dealers, from small family-run shops to large wholesale warehouses. The most popular gemstones in Bangkok include rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and tanzanite, among others. Bangkok’s gemstone market is particularly known for its good deals on high-quality gemstones.
Jewelry Trade Center
One of the most popular places to buy gemstones in Bangkok is the Jewelry Trade Center, located in the Silom district. The center is home to over 500 gemstone dealers, making it a one-stop-shop for those looking to purchase gemstones.
The Jewelry Trade Center in Bangkok is one of the largest wholesale jewelry centers in the city, known for its wide variety of gemstones and jewelry. Located in the Silom area, it is easily accessible by public transportation and attracts both local and international visitors looking for high-quality gemstones.
The center features hundreds of shops and showrooms offering a vast selection of gemstones, including rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds, as well as gold and silver jewelry. Many of the shops specialize in wholesale trade, but there are also shops that cater to individual buyers.
Here are some of the gemstones that you can find in Bangkok:
Ruby: Bangkok is known for its high-quality rubies, which are often sourced from nearby countries such as Cambodia and Myanmar. These rubies are prized for their deep red color and high clarity.
Sapphire: Bangkok is also a popular destination for sapphires, which come in a range of colors including blue, yellow, pink, and green. The sapphires found in Bangkok are often of excellent quality and are highly sought after by collectors and jewelry designers.
Emerald: Emeralds are another popular gemstone that can be found in Bangkok. These gemstones are known for their bright green color and are often sourced from mines in Colombia and Zambia.
Tourmaline: Bangkok is also a hub for tourmalines, which come in a range of colors including pink, green, and blue. The tourmalines found in Bangkok are often of excellent quality and are popular with jewelry designers.
Topaz: Topaz is another gemstone that can be found in Bangkok, with the most popular color being blue. These gemstones are known for their high clarity and brilliance.
Overall, Bangkok is a great destination for anyone interested in gemstones. Whether you’re a collector, jewelry designer, or looking for stock to resell, you’re sure to find something that catches your eye in one of the city’s many gemstone markets.
Chanthaburi
Chanthaburi, a city near the Cambodian border, is where gem dealers from all over the world go to buy their gems. The market is unique, as buyers sit down and write down what they want, and dealers bring the gems to them. Visitors can find almost every known variety of gem, at wholesale prices.
Formerly a rich sapphire mining area, Chanthaburi now thrives as a gem cutting center with dealers coming from all over the world to sell and process their rough stones.
Click here for more info on fascinating Chanthaburi
Our 4 hr minivan trip to Chanthaburi, ends near the Cambodian border. Yes, we do have a rest stop on the way!
This is where the Bangkok gem dealers go to buy their gems. We are helped by an American dealer (Ken) who has been in the market for 15 years and knows all the prices and which dealers to buy from. He can buy gemstones at a much cheaper price than even I can. He does need some notice to source anything in particular, but we can arrange that before you leave and you can collect your gem on arrival.
The market here is quite unique, you sit down, write down what you want and people bring the gems to you. It can be quite daunting and this is why we just let Ken buy for us. There are also shops and stalls to buy from and I often buy ready made jewellery here as it is truly at wholesale prices.
Mae Sot
Mae Sod, also known as Mae Sot, is a border town located on the Thai-Burmese border. It’s a small town that is not heavily touristed, making it an authentic destination for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience.
One of the main draws of Mae Sot is its jade market, which is said to be the best in Thailand. Here you can find all sorts of jade carvings, jewelry, and raw jade. The market is located down the main street, and there are around 40 dealers selling sapphires, rubies, and other gems as well. Mae Sot sometimes has great deals on star Sapphires from Myanmar.
Aside from the jade market, Mae Sot has an extensive general shopping market at the border, which is worth exploring for its unique items. And for foodies, there’s an incredible outdoor market where you can find authentic Thai cuisine.
Mae Sot is also known for its unique blend of Burmese and Thai culture, which can be seen in its architecture, cuisine, and people. It’s a fascinating destination for cultural exploration.
To get to Mae Sod, we take a 50-minute flight from Bangkok on a small plane that only seats 80 passengers. The flight is at a low altitude, so you can enjoy scenic views of the countryside along the way.
Mae Sod is on the Thai/ Burma border and is the best place to buy Jade. There are Jade carvings, jewellery and slabs of raw Jade.
There is also a gem market down the main street, with about 40 dealers. You can expect to find Sapphire, Ruby and an array of Jewellery. There is also an extensive general shopping market at the border. They had an awesome range of sweets, some not so good, my favourite is the mini peanut slabs.
We eat at a fabulous outdoor market and the food is totally authentic. You’ll also enjoy the fact that we are the only foreigner’s in town!
Mae Sai
We fly to Chiang Rai (1.5hrs), from there we take a 40 min transfer to Mae Sai. This is another Thai/ Burma border town in the Golden Triangle,
Mae Sai and Mae Sod are similar but different! Mae Sai has the added advantage of Burmese Amber.
Spinel and Maw Sit Sit can sometimes be seen here at attractive prices,
There are a lot of Burmese silversmiths in this town, the stone setting and classic native and European styles can be high quality and inexpensive.
There are many dealers here and the street food is amazing. You can also get a Thai foot massage on the street. There are many small jewellery shops where the prices are also very reasonable.
Chiang Mai
We go to either or both of these destinations, depending on what guests want to see.
Kanchanburi was a centre for Sapphire mining, however the deposit is pretty much worked out. However there is still plenty of Black Spinel.
There is a market with gems and jewellery for sale, but there is also lots more. There are wonderful riverfront restaurants, the War cemeteries and the Thai/ Burma Railway Museum. There is also Hellfire Pass and The Three Pagodas on the Burma border.
Chiang Mai is an ancient walled city in the North of Thailand. There aren’t many gemshops, but there are lots of other things to see and do. Giant Pandas at the Zoo, Elephant Sanctuaries and cooler mountain temperatures.
We generally visit here more for relaxation and to experience ‘lanna’ culture, which is based mostly around food! You can also see a Muay Thai fight here if you like, it’s not as violent as you’d think. It’s more like a choreographed, defensive ballet…….well…. with an occasional punch.
Kanchanburi
KanchanburiKanchanaburi also has a rich history in sapphire mining, making it a significant destination for gemstone enthusiasts. During the 1980s, the region emerged as one of the world’s leading sources of commercial rough sapphires. The main sapphire mines, located approximately twenty miles north of the town, have been major producers of high-quality blue sapphires for decades. The mining process involves excavating substantial amounts of soil from gem-bearing gravels. To extract just one carat of gem crystals, approximately fifty tons of soil are required from the thick gem-bearing gravels, highlighting the labor-intensive nature of sapphire mining in the region. Although mining activity in Kanchanaburi has declined in recent years, the area’s past productivity and the potential for gemstone discoveries continue to make it an intriguing destination for gemstone enthusiasts.