A street selling rocks and gemstones i missed...

**migguell** · 02-10-09, 03:17 PM

I just came back from Bangkok yesterday..
but i missed a street seeling rocks and gemstones (I am a gemstones collector) the only clue is somewhere around china town... i saw the street on the way going there...and i saw Robinson too.....
Does anyone know what is the name of the street?

**Jerome** · 02-10-09, 04:28 PM

I've always heard that it is a bad idea to buy gemstones in Thailand as there are a lot of scams involving gems.
Are there actually real stores that sell genuine gems in Bangkok?

**Khun Don** · 02-10-09, 04:32 PM

Jerome- I think the OP was not after rubies emeralds but geological specimens in general-quartz etc.

**Marie** · 02-10-09, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Jerome

I've always heard that it is a bad idea to buy gemstones in Thailand as there are a lot of scams involving gems.
Are there actually real stores that sell genuine gems in Bangkok?

Yes, seemingly there are. I know of a jeweler from my country who buys genuine gems from Thailand to sell in her shop or to supply to her hi-so customers.

**Khun Don** · 02-10-09, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by Marie

Yes, seemingly there are. I know of a jeweler from my country who buys genuine gems from Thailand to sell in her shop or to supply to her hi-so customers.

There certainly are genuine shops that sell both gemstones and mounted pieces-rings etc, however, prices are high. Best to make contacts with a dealer in Chanthaburi for a better price-bulk is not compulsory-I have bought both polished and unpolished single sapphires etc direct from a polishing shop there.

**migguell** · 02-10-09, 06:37 PM

Thailand has a big variety of gemstones productions for sure.
but my aim isn't thai gems, it's afghan gems. A lot of Afghan people selling rocks and specimens there, i know a few and i always buy from them.

**migguell** · 02-10-09, 06:40 PM

Thanks for the infor.
nice pics by the way.
You like sapphires? I prefer tourmalines and kunzites.

**Khun Don** · 02-10-09, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by migguell

Thailand has a big variety of gemstones productions for sure.
but my aim isn't thai gems, it's afghan gems. A lot of Afghan people selling rocks and specimens there, i know a few and i always buy from them.

When you say "afghan gems" do you mean Lapis Lazuli?

**Surawut** · 02-10-09, 08:11 PM

Thai blue sapphire (Phailin ไพลิน) mines in Thailand are all but defunct ,most of the mines played out. A lot of the sapphires sold in Chantaburi come from the Inverell district in NSW Australia, where sapphire mining has been going on for nearly 100 years. Some come from Sri Lanka as well.

http://aussiesapphire.com/blog/?page_id=261

**Khun Don** · 02-10-09, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by Surawut

Thai blue sapphire (Phailin ไพลิน) mines in Thailand are all but defunct ,most of the mines played out. A lot of the sapphires sold in Chantaburi come from the Inverell district in NSW Australia, where sapphire mining has been going on for nearly 100 years. Some come from Sri Lanka as well.

http://aussiesapphire.com/blog/?page_id=261

Rubies come from Burma mostly-there is still a bit of sapphire left in Thailand-but commercial mining has long ceased

(Green sapphire fresh from the screens!)

PS Always wanted to go to Coober Pedy-or nearby-to see opal mining etc.