Bogyoke Market Shopping for Loose Gemstones

Shopping for Loose Gemstones in the Market

The country is full of gem treasures probably the best are loose precious stones. From Kachin State in the north with abundant jadeite jade and amber to Mogok and Mong Hsu in north and east of Mandalay.

Plus some diamond deposits in the south and great pearls between the Myeik Archipelago and Kawthaung in south Myanmar at the border to Thailand.

Buying loose gemstones is for sure difficult and a bit of an adventure. When somebody does this in the center of the precious stones business which is Bogyoke Market in Yangon it even becomes more exciting. The selection in this old oriental bazaar in the city center is overwhelming with a “sea of colors” they also have plenty of jewelry of all kind imaginable. 

A gem must, of course, also be portable if it is used for personal wear. Note that the term 'gem' covers cut stones as well as rough crystals and fragments of gemstone material. The term 'jewel' or 'jewelry stone' is more explicit and limited in its meaning because it designates a fashioned (cut) and/or polished stone prepared for setting in a precious or a common metal, or already set in a jewel.

There are certain exceptions to the rule for example moldavite is used today in its rough, unworked form in jewelry. As we have just seen the possession of beauty is one of the criteria used to classify a mineral as gemstones.

But how do we measure beauty? Most people would agree that an attractive stone is one that possesses a high degree of brilliance and refraction of light, an attractive color and transparency or translucency.

Red ruby blue sapphire and green emeralds plus jade stones

They are in the top gemstone hierarchy above them are only diamonds the good ones are all transparent highly brilliant and attractively colored. 

But the diamond market is highly manipulated by a South African and Russian plus Jewish cartel so prices won't tell a lot only that they are high. 

However, a gemstone need not be colored for it to be attractive. For example, a diamond is usually colorless but it more than compensates for this by its beautiful 'fire' or color play on the cut edges of the facets (caused by a high refraction and dispersion of light), brilliance and transparency.

One attractive property is sufficient to rank a mineral among gemstones; for example, turquoise is not brilliant or transparent but it has a beautiful azure-blue color. The cut gemstone must retain its beauty, especially its brilliance and transparency, even when set in a jewel and worn. The greatest danger to gems comes from mechanical damage and sometimes also certain chemical agents.

A loose gemstone must, therefore, be as resistant as possible. Great emphasis is thus laid on hardness, formerly the main factor in the classification of stones into precious and semi-precious categories. 

That means 7 or more on the Mohs' scale were ranked among precious stones: softer minerals were classified as semi-precious. Some softer gemstones such as opal and peridot (chrysolite), although very beautiful, are not suitable for rings which suffer the greatest mechanical damage. If they are set in a ring, such stones will in time lose their brilliance and color. Rarity is another important property a mineral must have if it is to be classified as a gemstone. However, fashion may play a big part in this respect.

Why is the Gemstone Price ever increasing?

From the time the stones are traded they pass through seven or eight different hands prices steadily increasing in value all the way. 

Once a stone is found the miner need not venture far to find a buyer as many small dealers wait patiently at the mines for just such an event. Each morning in mining towns such as Bo Rai and Nong Bon in Cambodia or Mogok in Myanmar a rough stone market is held where miners and dealers exhibit their wares. It is a colorful scene with buyers and sellers crowding around small tables in a line examining stones.

These markets are mainly for the smaller miners, while the big firms sell direct to cutters in Chanthaburi and Bangkok, or cut the stones themselves 'in-house'. Smaller sizes and cheaper qualities are offered in large lots, with the most expensive pieces being sold singly.

Raw corundum stones are brought to Chanthaburi for cutting heat treatment and sale. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday a cut stone market is held at Chanthaburi and the Bangkok dealers descend on the town to look over the week's finds. Along Treerat Road the business is fast and furious, with little time for contemplation. 

Brokers or runners offer the stones, as they can ask higher prices without feeling embarrassed. Offers are made; the parcels are sealed and off go the runner to consult with the owner.

Now when buying the loose stones the not so easy task starts the main problem is that every seller usually has a different idea about the value contrary to the buyer. Since there are also not strong parameters for evaluation it needs to be careful.

In Asia there are more or less three good destinations to buy gemstones. 

That is Chanthaburi and Bangkok in Thailand plus Yangon in Myanmar. The best selection is for sure in Burma although prices are often higher as in Thailand but the "cheat" level in Myanmar is not as high.

Good places are the Stern Shops in Brazil and some centers in Kenya and Tanzania, don't think there are a lot of opportunities since the peoples there are well aware of the value of the gems. A good indication where some good deals might still be available is if you see lots of guys from the Indian Subcontinent. They somehow sniff this and that directly leads to Chanthaburi south of Pattaya in Thailand. Stay away from Africans they are notorious cheating.

Chanthaburi has a safe environment there since the town is not big and very compact but it needs to be aware that almost all stones traded there are heat treated.

But there is an amazing situation unlike elsewhere in Thailand where cheating and lying is rather normal. When asking the seller, shop people etc. here if the stones are treated they answer honestly, yes. Actually, as long it is only "heat treatment" there is no real problem the gems just look better and it is told which has an influence on the price. The bad stuff comes up when the precious things are surface treated which means cracks are filled with various materials, bleaching is done etc. Because these filling treatments deteriorate after about 3 years and after it is junk, this is the subject to be very careful, here is more about heat treatment and other "enhancement".