Nevertheless, gemologists say there’s little to fret about if vacationers are cautious and heed some primary recommendations on discern actual stones from the phonies.

An outline of the principle markets

Thailand, Hong Kong and Jaipur in India are three of Asia’s key gem buying and selling facilities, says Russell Shor, senior analyst for the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), a non-profit group that makes a speciality of training, analysis and requirements within the gem commerce.

Jaipur is India’s hub for the sale of gems, that are bought at kiosks, shops and avenue markets all through its Previous Metropolis space.

Jaipur, Bangkok and Hong Kong are the three main gemstone buying and selling hubs in Asia.

Ronan O’Connell/CNN

Whereas Jaipur’s gem commerce focuses totally on lower-end stones, Hong Kong is the area’s No. 1 location for costly gems, together with “million-dollar-plus jade and ruby items,” says Shor.

Why Hong Kong? Tax-free purchasing makes it a beautiful vacation spot for vacationers, who contribute greater than US$1 billion a yr to its gemstone export commerce.

Thailand, in the meantime, is likely one of the world’s high coloured gemstone slicing and buying and selling facilities, exporting in extra of US$600 million price of gems a yr.

Bangkok’s Silom neighborhood particularly is house to tons of of gem merchants, whereas the city of Chanthaburi in southeast Thailand is a serious middle for stone slicing and boasts a giant weekend gem market.

Many of the gems bought in these three facilities are imported from different elements of the world. The main sources of coloured gem stones, resembling rubies, jade, emeralds and sapphires, are Brazil, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Tanzania.

Among the many principal producers of diamonds are Russia, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Botswana.

Ideas and tips of the commerce

Thai gemologist Kanpoj Thanachakaphad hosts workshops to assist vacationers keep away from being scammed.

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So how can a purchaser know for sure a gem is legit?

Thai gemologist Kanpoj Thanachakaphad, a graduate of the GIA with 15 years of expertise within the commerce, just lately launched a collection of workshops to show vacationers analyze stones, notably diamonds.

He says that as a result of Thailand, India and Hong Kong are main gem export facilities, they provide vacationers higher worth on stones than they might discover of their house nations, that are most probably on the finish of the availability chain.

Based on each Thanachakaphad and Shor, there are a number of key measures vacationers can take to keep away from being scammed when purchasing for gems.

The golden rule, particularly when shopping for costly stones, is to have them assessed for high quality and authenticity at a dependable gem evaluation laboratory earlier than buy.

Gem evaluation reviews usually price lower than US$100 and may be accomplished inside 2-3 days.

Shor says these reviews embrace a “scientific and neutral evaluation of the gem.” Whereas some glass imitation gems may be noticed simply as a consequence of unnaturally-bright colours and small bubbles contained in the stone, refined fakes can solely be recognized by a gemologist, he provides.

Thanachakaphad says the very act of asking to do a lab evaluation on a gem would assist flush out unreliable merchants.

“It exhibits that you just’re not silly, that you realize what you are doing,” he says.

“If the dealer would not conform to have the gem examined at a lab then you realize they don’t seem to be sincere, and you may simply transfer to a different store. Any sincere dealer shall be completely happy to have a gem examined in case you’re a critical purchaser.”

Thanachakaphad concedes lab reviews should not all the time possible as a consequence of time constraints for vacationers, or maybe the price could also be prohibitive when shopping for cheaper gems.

If lack of time is the issue, then consumers wanting an costly stone ought to rent a guide from a gem evaluation lab to offer on-the-spot recommendation.

In different circumstances, Thanachakaphad says there are a number of methods to keep away from shopping for faux gems and get the very best worth on actual stones:

Actual diamonds’ coloration needs to be stronger once you take a look at it from the again, as an alternative from the entrance.

MIKE CLARKE/AFP/AFP/Getty Photos

Be taught the lingo

Choose up some primary phrases regarding gems, notably the kind of stone you are excited by, and use them in dialog with a vendor to indicate you are not a straightforward mark.

In case you have completed some primary analysis a few explicit gem it is possible for you to to ask the vendor about issues like its minimize, coloration, readability and supply.

Look out for fakes

Faux gem stones usually have shadowing (double traces) alongside every of their cuts. Actual ones do not.

When assessing diamonds, an actual stone’s coloration needs to be stronger once you take a look at it from the again. Faux diamonds are inclined to have brighter colours once you take a look at them from the entrance.

Do not be afraid to ask to see the gemologists for his or her {qualifications} when unsure.

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A large product vary?

Untrustworthy gem retailers usually have very huge product ranges, attempting to distract you with their selection. Dependable retailers sometimes have smaller ranges.

Do not belief tour guides and taxi drivers

Keep away from coping with gem merchants really helpful by a tour information, a taxi driver or a tout. These individuals usually receives a commission hefty commissions to carry you into an unreliable gem store.

Examine costs and sale ways

If you wish to store for gems by your self, ensure you go to a number of totally different shops to check costs and in addition to notice the habits and sale ways of the employees in every store.

You’ll begin to determine patterns of habits, which can assist you to keep away from being scammed.

Ask to see {qualifications}

Earlier than you journey to a metropolis to purchase gems, analysis critiques of outlets on-line to search out the best-regarded merchants.

When unsure, choose a store staffed by educated gemologists with {qualifications} from GIA or different famend institutes. Ask to see their {qualifications}.