Thailand, Burma, Laos, but what about....

[Cabanes]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post, but I''ve been reading/visiting this site for about a month. I''m very impressed with the topics and the input provided by the forum members.

For the last couple of months I''ve been doing business trips to many of the South East Asian Countries. Singapore and Bangkok were the first two places to introduce me to the rich selection of gems available in this area. My last two trips were to Cambodia. The forums discuss Sapphires and Rubies from Thailand, Burma, Laos, and even Vietnam. But there has been no mention of Cambodia. From my Cambodian Associates, I''ve been told that the Khmer Rouge financed their activities/war by selling Sapphires/Rubies/Peridot, before the world ever discussed the concept of Conflict Diamonds. I''m also told that today the two rich mining areas in Cambodia, are mostly owned and operated by Thai Mining Operations. These operations ship the stones back to Thailand for cutting and selling to the general public.

Can anyone share any insight on the quality/value of stones that actually get cut and sold here in Cambodia?

 

[surfgirl]

HI Cabanes...I work a lot in SE Asia and I''ll tell you - I''d never buy a gem stone of any quality over there. There are too many fakes and the folks who enhance stones are, according to my appraiser whom I trust, always one step ahead of the professionals. My appraiser wouldn''t even buy stones over there because it''s so difficult to test if they''re untreated without a full lab set up. That said, the sapphires I''ve seen from Thailand and Cambodia are generally that deep navy blue color, not what I consider desireable, but I suppose its a matter of taste in the end. I prefer the cornflower - almost royal blue of Ceylon sapphires. The Thai/Khmer color doesn''t rock my world. A friend of mine who lives/works in Cambodia for many years has some sapphire jewelry and I gotta say, ''meh''. WHen I was on an assignment in Myanmar a few years back I went to one of the major gem stone factories (my colleague used to work there) and of course the one stone that jumped out at me was about $60k! THat said, I would not buy a Burmese stone because chances are its financiing the junta so...as for the Khmer mines being under the auspices of Thai mining companies - that might be on paper but trust me, the govt is reaping those benefits or they wouldn''t allow Thai mining companies in there. It''s a means to an end, basically. Anyway, enjoy the country, if you can get past the genocide vibe, there is rich culture to be found!

 

[Deelight]

I received a I guess you would call it a tennis bracelet set in 22ct gold for my 21st that originated in Cambodia it is beautiful as for the stones I am not sure what they are as I am yet to have the bracelet appraised (I am now 27 a little slow I know) I took it to a jeweller when I first got it to look at and he was unsure if they were rubies or extremely high quality garnets. The stones are beautiful and no matter what they are I will love the bracelet

There are places where locals and people in the know buy from and then there are the tourist places so I guess the quality would differ.

And yeah your right they did fund all there weapon purchases selling stones.