2007: What a clever way to learn about gemstone pricing!
(via Journal of Gemmology, Vol.IX, No.10, April, 1965)
One way of obtaining a valuation of gems is reported in the February 1965 Lapidary Journal. An extract says:
Recently the present Burmese government, which is completely Communistic in its national policies, held a purported auction sale of seized gems in Rangoon from 1st December to 12th December. Supposedly the ordinary passport and visa regulations were relaxed for this purpose in order to attract foreign gem experts. The sale, it was said, was meant only for gem dealers and stone sellers.
Reliable persons who were inveigled to attend from outside Burma have now returned disappointed and report that the whole things was fake. The government only wanted to get a free appraisal of the gems from gem experts and dealers through written bids on each item of gemstones. This seems to be the only purpose of such a fake sale. Persons who made offers in writing were answered by slips under their hotel room doors stating that the gems they bid on were not for sale. Many persons complained about losing their valuable time and their own transportation money in this deal.
It is widely known that the gem mines of Burma have been nationalized, that is, seized by the Communistic dominated government authorities and that all former owners have been dispossessed, particularly and especially the Chinese who owned the principal gem mines in the ruby district of Mogok and in the jadeite regions of Upper Burma.
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