Chanthaburi - Gemstone capital of the world

10:22pm, Tuesday 24 September 2019

Amazingly, more than 80 percent of the world's gemstones come to Thailand for cutting and polishing and our province of Chantaburi is at the heart of this industry. Chanthaburi, with its red volcanic soil, was once an important gemstone mining area, particularly for sapphires and rubies. Although few gemstones are mined here now, the local people have became highly skilled at cutting and polishing and they have developed techniques to enhance the colour of the stones, greatly adding to their value.

Each weekend there is a lively and cosmopolitan gemstone market in downtown Chanthaburi, the largest such market in Thailand. The traders are open for business every Friday to Sunday from 8.00 am to 3 pm.

The Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand plans to promote Chanthaburi province as the Gems Metropolis to the World. From December 4-8 it is holding the International Chanthaburi Gems and Jewellry Festival 2019. This will include exhibitions, gemstone auctions, a jewellery design contest, sapphire cutting contest and gems and jewellery research contest.

Chanthaburi has been recognised as Thailand's source of high-quality colored gemstones for more than 100 years. It is an important trade and production center that attracts a large number of international traders annually. Our resort can personalise trips to the gemstone market, to visit stone cutters, buy stones and jewellery and to visit local mining operations.

For more information about the event contact +66 2 634 4999 ext 636 or 640.