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Monday, December 04, 2006

Buying At The Border

(via Lapidary Journal) Michael Boyd writes:

Has the typical gem show become predictable? Looking for something more exciting? How much excitement are you looking for? Would you consider snacking on deep-fried bamboo grubs while bargaining for rubies and sapphires in a language you don’t understand? Well, we did and had the time of our lives.

Our adventure began in the shopping Mecca of Bangkok, Thailand, one of the world’s most important centers for the gem and jewelry trade. This, however, was not our ultimate destination. Working from the relative safety and comfort of Thailand, our quarry was Burmese rubies, sapphires, jade, and maw sit-sit (a rare composite found in the jade fields). Burmese rubies are considered the best in the world, with their sapphires second only to the famed stones from Kashmir.

More info @ http://www.lapidaryjournal.com/feature/nov03str.cfm

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