Gemstone Jewelry Secrets Revealed

The mystery and magic of colored gemstones has been an integral aspect or the "Lore" of most cultures for many centuries. Here is what noted gemstone experts Antoinette L. Matlins and A.C. Bonanno have to say on the matter.
 
"The fascination with colored gemstones dates back to the very beginning of civilization. For our ancestors, the blue of sapphire produced visions of the heavens; the red of ruby was a reminder of the very essence of life. By Roman times, rings containing colored gems were prized symbols of power-and the most powerful wore rings on every joint of every finger!
 
Since ancient times, colored stones have been thought to possess innate magical powers and the ability to endow the wearer with certain attributes. According to legend, emeralds are good for the eyes; yellow stones cure jaundice; red stones stop the flow of blood. At one time it was believed that a ruby worn by a man indicated command, nobility, lordship, and vengeance; worn by a woman, however, it indicated pride, obstinacy, haughtiness. A blue sapphire worn by a man indicated wisdom, and high and magnanimous thoughts; on a woman, jealousy in love, politeness, and vigilance. The emerald signified for a man joyousness, transitory hope, and the decline of friendship; for woman, unfounded ambition, childish delight, and change.
Colored gems, because of the magical powers associated with them, achieved extensive use as talismans and amulets; as predictors of the future; as therapeutic aids; and as essential elements to many religious practices-pagan, Hebrew, and Christian."
 
Natural gemstones are found in nature. Laboratory-created stones, as the name implies, are made in the laboratory. These stones, which also are referred to as laboratory-grown, {name of manufacturer} - created, or synthetic, have essentially the same chemical, physical and visual properties as natural gemstones. Laboratory-created stones do not have the rarity of naturally colored stones and they are less expensive than naturally mined stones. By contrast, imitation stones look like natural stones in appearance only, and may be glass, plastic, or less costly stones. Laboratory-created and imitation stones should be clearly identified as such.
 
Gemstones may be measured by weight, size, or both. The basic unit for weighing gemstones is the carat, which is equal to one-fifth 91/5th) of a gram. Carats are divided into 100 units called points. For example, a half-carat gemstone would weigh .50 carats or 50 points. When gemstones are measured by dimensions, the size is expressed in millimeters (for example, 7x5 millimeters).
Gemstone treatments or enhancements refer to the way some gems are treated to improve their appearance or durability, or even change their color. Many gemstones are treated in some way. The effects of some treatments may lessen or change over time and some treated stones may require special care. Some enhancements also affect the value of a stone, when measured against a comparable untreated stone.
Jewelers should tell you whether the gemstone you’re considering has been treated when: the treatment is not permanent; the treated stone requires special care; or the treatment significantly affects the value of the gemstone.
 
Some common treatments that you may be told about and their effects include:
* Heating can lighten, darken or change the color of some gems, or improve a gemstone’s clarity.
* Irradiation can add more color to colored diamonds, certain other gemstones and pearls.
* Impregnating some gems with colorless oils, wax or resins makes a variety of imperfections less visible and can improve the gemstones' clarity and appearance.
* Fracture filling hides cracks or fractures in gems by injecting colorless plastic or glass into the cracks and improves the gemstones' appearance and durability.
* Diffusion treatment adds color to the surface of colorless gems; the center of the stone remains colorless.
* Dyeing adds color and improves color uniformity in some gemstones and pearls.
* Bleaching lightens and whitens dome gems, Including jade and pearls.
In this day and age, gemstones are generally worn for their natural beauty or as a fashion statement, but there are many that "buy-in" to the mythical and mystical symbolisms of gems as well. Whatever a persons reason, the world of gems today offers an almost endless choice. Many new gems have been discovered and are widely available in reds, blues, greens and many unusual shades as well. Enjoy!

Gemstone Jewelry

Women love to wear jewels that satisfy them and assure them of their eternal power and beauty that they possess. Apart from diamond, silver, gold and platinum, gemstones jewelries are also getting popularity among women because of their myriad color and radiance which equally bring out the best in its wearer.

It is also a strong believe that gemstones jewelries greatly affect us if worn according to the astrological believes and thoughts. Some people are also of the opinion that gemstones available in different colors and patterns can lay their positive effect on us that may results into the change in the thinking pattern and behavior of its wearer. So, the positive effect of these stones also attracts people to wear them according to their birth number or month or their zodiac sign. You can actually see a whole lot of ornaments available in gemstones in the market today.

There are a whole lot of variations available in gemstone jewelries. Choose as per the size of your pocket and preference. For example, amethyst, a purplish color gem that is the birthstone for all February babies come in different shades and sizes. You can stud your gem in a glittering diamond or in a shining platinum base. Further, you can also use any other metal that suits you the best and bring out the hidden meaning to enhance your look. Thus, it’s not that purple means a strict purple, you can choose which shade of purple is the one for you.

But, these gemstones jewels have a limitation too. It is really not suitable for funky, trendy and stylist people who like to do alteration in their dressing and outlook. Like,

Pearl is recommended for people born in June that makes it unsuitable for people born in other months of the year. It is also said that unsuitable gems may carry a negative effect on its wearer thus if a June baby wants to decorate herself with rubies, she may have to fear its negative impacts too. Due to this, these gemstones are not gained that height of success that they deserve.

As a solution for this problem, manufacturer has come out with a concept of mix jewelry that combines more than one stone of similar effect to retain its astrological sense giving it a really trendy and mesmerizing look. So, if you are a lover of these stones and quite experimenting on your looks, go for mixed colored stones for their best results.

Stunning Gemstone Jewelry Is The Icing On The Cake

 Shopping for gemstone jewelry can become confusing sometimes because of all the jargon that comes attached. You can get natural gems, genuine loose gems, synthetic gems, simulated and treated gems! Although it may seem daunting, the reality is quite different. I will run you through the terminology of these stones and soon expel any confusion you started off with. 


A natural gem is quite straight forward and it does what it says on the label. Yes, that's right, it occurs naturally from   
the earth itself. It is gathered together, cut and polished and  
then put for sale. However, you should know that the stone 
has not been altered or enhanced in any other way.

A genuine gem is a natural gem. Do you see the clever play on words, subtle huh? They are both the same and are both real stones, even if they have been altered in some way. But not all natural stones are necessarily expensive. 


The synthetic gemstone looks very similar to a natural stone with regards to its physical, chemical and optical qualities. But the difference is that it is created in a laboratory. Synthetic stones have been around for some time and in the past they were easy to spot, but nowadays a synthetic gem is harder to identify. So make sure you buy your stones from a reputable seller. 


The advantage of a synthetic stone is that it can be just as beautiful as the real thing but not create as big a dent in your wallet as a natural stone.

Here are a few of the most popular stones available to     
purchase online: 

Amethyst - This stone is the most highly valued and renowned gem of quartz family. Its pricing is reasonable, which is why it is a popular choice. 

Diamond - The hardest known gem on earth and probably one of the most popular because of its status. the clear or white  

diamond is the most famous yet it is available in other colors. 

Emerald - A well known stone which has allot of history. This 

beautiful gem is a striking tropical green sea color, which  

dazzles when you lay eyes on it. 

Ruby - Some consider this gem to be foremost amongst all the stones. The brilliant red color of this gem is stunning and set against gold in an exquisite piece of jewelry, this stone can be jaw droppingly beautiful. 

Topaz - This stunning stone can be very expensive and rare and comes in a wide variety of colors. 

Gemstone Engagement Rings

 Blue sapphire engagement rings have been known to be preferred by royalty because the blue sapphire stone is even more rare than a diamond and is almost as hard. This is a nice factoid to share with your number one queen as you slip a blue sapphire engagement ring on her ring finger. Blue sapphires come in a range of shades from a light to deep blue. The blue color is due to the level of titanium in the stone: the more titanium, the richer the color. However, too much color can actually create a dull black effect, reducing the price of the stone.

Most blue sapphires are found in Sri Lanka, Burma, and Madagascar. Burmese sapphires tend to cost more than those from Sri Lanka and Madagascar due to their brilliant color. Kashmir blue sapphires are the most rare and expensive of all as the supply found in a remote region of India was exhausted around a 100 years ago, thus escalating price and demand.

Prices for blue sapphires depend on whether or not they've been treated (with untreated costing much more) as well as color, cut, tone (lightness or darkness of stone), saturation (degree to which hue is hidden by other shades), and clarity. One carat blue sapphires can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.

Buy your ruby engagement rings with pride! Don't let anyone tell you that diamonds are better as engagement rings. Only you and your potential spouse should decide what fits in with your style, taste, and budget........not popular opinion.... or your future mother-in-law. Besides, you can always tell the nay-sayers that large rubies are even more rare than diamonds. Rubies belong to the corundum family. Any other color besides red from this family is considered a sapphire. Rubies are almost as hard as diamonds. Diamonds are considered a "10" on the hardness scale while rubies come in at a 9. Rubies have somewhat less clarity than other gemstones and tend to have at least some small inclusions. Most rubies are heat-treated to improve their color, but stones in their natural form do exist. Cushion cut and oval rubies are the most common shape. Burmese rubies are considered to be the most desirable.

You may be able to save money by purchasing a ruby with a slightly off-shade i.e. a little bit lighter or darker than what is considered ideal... a vivid red color. You can also save some dough by purchasing synthetic versus natural rubies. Rubies belong to the corundum family. Any other color besides red from this family is considered a sapphire.

Rest assured that buying opal engagement rings for your partner will not bring them bad luck but perhaps even the opposite. Concerning the opal gemstone superstition, some still feel that it is bad luck to purchase an opal for oneself, but good luck if someone else gives one to you. Throughout history there have been negative connotations associated with opals. Interestingly enough, it is said that the diamond dealers became nervous in the 18th and 19th century about the beatiful gemstone stealing away diamond customers and further perpepuated stereotypes of the opal to prevent this from happening. The powers that be tried hard to defeat this bad luck urban legend when huge amounts of opals were found in Australia.

I personally love opal engagement rings. With their rainbow hues, I just think opals are some of the prettiest stones around. The rainbow shades are oftened referred to as a "play of color." Most of the opal supply come from our Aussie friends in Southern Australia.

Here's the science behind the opals. Opals are a noncrystalline form of the mineral silica which are formed from amorphous "balls" or "lumps" of silica. In other words, water in the ground carrying dissolved silica seeps through sand and dirt, where the silica particles are deposited in cracks. As the water evaporates, the silica particles cement together to form the opal. The color is caused by the diffraction of light. Where the tiny spheres of silica are of a similar size and arrangement, the light reflecting from them is divided into its spectral colors, and the stone appears to contain all the colors of the rainbow. Where the spheres are larger and less uniform, the range of color is more limited.

One of the major downfalls of opal engagement rings compared to diamonds is that opals are a much softer stone. While the diamond is considered to be a 10 on the Mohs hardness sclae, the opal rates between a 5 and a 6. This means that over time, it is possible for the opal to break and you must be careful to treat it with care and look for a ring setting that best preserves its integrity (i.e. semi-bezel is a good choice).

Opals exhibit an impressive color range. They can be white, pink, green and blue, gray, or black. Australian boulder opals are the most durable of opals as well as the most robust in color. As a result, they are considered to be valuable and are pretty pricey Black opals are actually the most rare and expensive. They have a dark backdrop with a rainbow colors or deep blue-green hues. Fire opals, which have any color backdrop but exhibit an unusual amount of red color play are also fairly rare

There are a thousand legends and stories related to the opal gemstone.

The Ancient Greeks believed opals fell from heaven during flashes of lightning and provided individuals with the ability to see into the future.

The Romans thought that wearing opals made one more lucid in thought and spontaneous in action.

Can you believe this? In his play "Tweltfh Night," Shakespeare made use of the gemstone to make an analogy between the opal's changing colors and the ever-changing moods of a woman. Hmmmmmmmm.......not sure if I like the comparison.

Gemstone Prices: Do They Make Sense?

Gemstones are beautiful, but they have no intrinsic value (except perhaps for diamonds used for industrial applications). Why then does a reasonably nice 1 carat heated VS ruby sell for $500 while a fine untreated 6 carat VVS tourmaline goes for $200? Why is a clean untreated 10 carat amethyst only $30? Do gemstones prices make sense? 

The simple answer, one would think, is that it's just a matter of supply and demand -- if a lot of people want to buy a particular kind of gemstone and the supply is limited, the price for that gemstone will be high. However, that answer doesn't really tell the whole story of how things work in the gemstone business. 

Consider the case of one of the most rare and expensive gemstones, diamond. In the 19th century, world production of diamond was only a few pounds a year. After the discovery of the huge South African diamond mines in 1870, diamonds were being dug out of the ground literally by the ton. There was such a glut of supply and so little demand that the British financiers of the South African mines were in danger of losing their investment. Their solution was to create the powerful De Beers cartel that to this day controls worldwide diamond production and supply. Quality diamonds are actually not scarce at all. But De Beers controls how much supply comes on the market and that keeps prices high. 

The De Beers consortium also mounted a concerted decades-long advertising campaign to associate diamonds with love, courtship and marriage, under the now familiar slogan "Diamonds are Forever." The diamond engagement ring, once unknown in most parts of the world (including Europe), is now considered an essential part of the ritual of marriage. This was probably one of the most successful feats of social engineering in the 20th century. (In Thailand a bride still prefers gold, however). 

In the colored gemstone world, there is fortunately no cartel, though many forces try to influence market demand and perceived value. Consider for example the terms "precious" and "semi-precious." As most everyone knows, the precious stones are diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald. But did you know that the list of precious stones once included amethyst? What happened? The discovery of major amethyst deposits in Brazil made amethyst widely available and it was dropped from the list of "precious" stones. It would be hard to maintain prices for the other "precious" stones if one of the group sold for only $5 a carat! So amethyst was demoted. 

These days some rare semi-precious stones such as alexandrite and demantoid garnet can be more expensive than ruby and sapphire. In fact the US Federal Trade Commission now discourages the use of the misleading distinction between precious and semi-precious gemstones. But ruby, sapphire and emerald continue to command a premium price in the market. 




According to the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICGA), the "traditional gemstones" -- ruby, emerald and blue sapphire -- command a premium price in the market due to "their lasting appeal and distinguished history." Even though today most of these stones are treated or enhanced in some way, the price remains precious, though ruby and emerald tend to be more expensive than sapphire. 

The ICGA identifies another category of gems that they call the "new classics" -- tanzanite, tourmaline, aquamarine, imperial topaz and tsavorite garnet. These stones are considered "the rising stars of gemstone jewelry" and they are also rising in price as their popularity increases. Tanazanite, in particular, has been very heavily promoted. 

Less well-known stones which are not heavily marketed often have very reasonable prices in the market. These stones, which the ICGA calls "collector's gems", include spinel, zircon, moonstone and morganite and other beryls. 

Then there is a list of gems the ICGA calls "affordable gemstones" -- nicely colored stones which have good availability and attractive prices. These include amethyst, citrine, ametrine, peridot, rhodolite garnet, blue topaz, iolite, kunzite, diopside and andalusite. 

What all this makes clear, we think, is that there are several factors at work in determining gemstone prices. Supply is of course important, but the marketing power of the jewelry industry is also a major factor in determining the demand level. If a gemstone is not widely available or not considered mainstream or "fashionable," it is unlikely to be marketed heavily and the price is likely to be lower. If a gemstone has a very good supply, as in the last category, there is not much the jewelry industry can do to influence prices unless they can control the supply like the De Beers cartel did with diamonds. But thus far there are no signs yet of a citrine cartel. 

So what does this all mean for you? In our view, there are still many good values in the gemstone market. In the "precious" stone category, it is still possible to buy nice blue sapphires from Madagascar, Africa and Sri Lanka starting from under $200 a carat. The market for fancy colored sapphire has changed with the introduction of beryllium treatment -- the prices have dropped and the colors are more dramatic. Tourmaline may be a "new classic" now, but prices are still attractive and the range of available colors and cuts seem to have increased as tourmaline gets wider distribution. Burmese spinel, with its excellent hardness and clarity, continues to be a great buy. The brilliance of zircon is hard to equal unless you buy diamond. Then there all the affordable stones still available for less than $10 a carat -- wonderful stuff like garnet, topaz, amethyst, citrine and fire opal. 

In the end, the most important thing is that you buy the stones that you will love and enjoy. But if you're looking for the best values, have a look at some of the lesser known gems that haven't yet been marketed heavily.

Semi-precious Gemstones: Quartz and Jade

Quartz is an extremely common mineral that can crystallize as a six-sided prism that ends with a six-sided pyramid. It is the second most common mineral, making up 12% of the earth’s crust, though most quartz does not form crystals. (Sandstone, for instance, is made of quartz.) The crystallized form of quartz, which is an extremely hard mineral, is used to create jewelry. Quartz is easy to reproduce using a hydrothermal process and therefore many pieces of jewelry actually boast synthesized pieces of quartz. It is difficult to tell the difference between most naturally occurring quartz and its synthetic counterpart; however, natural quartz that boasts crystals of extremely high clarity is rare and very expensive. 

There are many different varieties of quartz, from clear to opaque, and in many different colors. The most recognizable forms of quartz are amethyst, a violet crystal whose lucidity and color varies depending on where it is harvest; citrine, a yellow or a yellow-brownish color; rose quartz, a soft, pink colored crystal; and smoky quartz, a brown-colored quartz. Agate, ametrine, aventurine, jasper, onyx, and opal are also quartz gemstones. 

The durability and strength of quartz gemstones makes them excellent for necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings. Quartz is relatively easy to care for and can be cleaned with warm, soapy water. Quartz is a mineral whose properties can change if it is exposed to chemical or extreme heat. Quartz gemstones will change color and lucidity if exposed to harsh household chemicals or drastic changes in temperature. Extreme temperature changes can also cause quartz to crack. 

Jade is a term for different minerals: nephrite and jadeite. Jade is quickly recognizable as a beautiful, green gemstone used to make jewelry, figurines, vases, and dishes. It was first popular in China 5000 years ago. Its beauty and incredible durability made an ideal substance for the creation of tools, weapons, furnishings, and figures. Jade was considered incredibly valuable, even more valuable than silver or gold, and was owned only by the most wealthy, high-ranking families. 

Jadeite is the rare form of jade and is considered more precious. Jadeite is often a beautiful green, but can also be white, pink, black, brown, violet, or red. Nephrite is most commonly apprised of various shades of green, but can also be red, yellow, or white. Often, a green stone will contain streaks of other colors, forming gorgeous, eye-catching patterns. 

It has not been until recently that jade has been used for jewelry. Traditionally, jade had religious connotations, and was used to form cult figurines and other religious objects. Jade is a popular antique collector’s item. Now, jade is making an appearance in necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Different people are drawn to different types of hade: some prefer the bright greens while others enjoy the subdued greens imbued with streaks of white or violet. It’s all a matter of personal taste!

History of jewelry

 Jewelry or more commonly spelt as jewelry in American context is defined as a form of personal adornment, manifesting itself. The common item regarded as jewelry may include necklaces, rings, brooches, earrings and bracelets. Jewelry may be forged or manufactured from almost any material which may provide a shinny or glossy look, usually which cover the categories of gemstones, precious metals or in some historic cases shells are also been used. Factors affecting the choice of materials include the cultural differences which govern the ethical values in a society and second most important concern is the availability of the materials. Jewelry may be appreciated because of its material properties, its patterns or for meaningful symbols. Jewelry differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to look appealing. Items such as belts and handbags are considered to be accessories rather than jewelry.

The word jewelry is derivation from the word jewel, with French origins which was Anglicized from the Old French word "jouel" circa the 13th century. However the honor is not of French further more tracing leads back to the Latin word "jocale", meaning plaything. It might seem comical that the most important and expensive item in today’s world may be regarded as form of play item in early days of invention. Jewelry is one of the oldest forms of body adornment; recently-found 100,000-year-old beads made from Nassarius shells are thought to be the oldest known jewelry.

Jewelry is sometimes but more properly is regarded as a way of storing wealth, it is seemed also a proper medium of securing future resources as gold is a major component of jewelry items and it keeps rising and might also possess some minimal functionality, such as holding a garment together or keeping hair in place. It has from very early times been regarded as a form of personal adornment. The first pieces of jewelry were made from natural materials, such as bone, animal teeth, shell, wood and carved stone. Some jewelry throughout the ages may have specifically been as an indication of a social group. More exotic jewelry is often for wealthier people, with its rarity increasing its value. Due to its personal nature and its indication of social class, some cultures established traditions of burying the dead with their jewelry.

Jewelry has been associated with nearly every body part since its invention from the historic times so a person has a choice of wearing accessories, from head to toe hairpins to toe rings and many more types of jewelry. Jewelry is also regarded as a symbol of quality, high-quality jewelry is made with gemstones and precious metals, such as silver or gold, there is also a growing demand for art jewelry where design and creativity is prized above material value. In addition, there is the less costly costume jewelry, made from lower value materials and mass-produced. Other variations include wire sculpture (wrap) jewelry, using anything from base metal wire with rock tumbled stone to precious metals and precious gemstones.

Thailand Gemstome

Thailand (formerly Siam) is a major worldwide gem trading, and gem processing or treating center, with the city of Chanthaburi at its hub. Known primarily for its ruby and sapphire, there are several notable gemstones that are mined in Thailand, such as amethyst, aquamarine, garnet, spinel, and zircon.

Gem mining in Thailand occurs in three main regions: Chanthaburi and Trat Province in the south-east, Kanchanaburi Province in the west, and Phrae Province in the north. Chanthaburi and Trat boarder on Cambodia's Pailin region, known for its high-quality ruby and sapphire

Sapphire & Ruby from Chanthaburi

The city of Chanthaburi (Muang Chan), like Ratnapura in Sri Lanka, is one of the famous 'gems towns' (aka City of Gems) of South-East Asia. Muang Chan's (Chanthaburi's) 'weekend market' sells gems from around the world, many of which have been heat-treated in one of Chanthaburi's many gem polishing factories. Gem polishing is primarily a cottage industry in Chanthaburi, with factories spread throughout the city.
  

 

Outside of the city, sapphire and ruby mining in the Chanthaburi Province is located near Aranya Prathet (Aranyaprathet), along the Chanthaburi Aranyaprathet-Poipet Cambodian boarder, 280 km east of Bangkok. The Chanthaburi region in known primarily for mining rubies (Siam Ruby), and secondarily for yellow sapphire, or black star-sapphire. Mining is conducted along ancient river-bank clay and gravel alluvial deposits, using both mechanized mining, and small scale hand-dug pit mining.

Rubies are found at a depth of 3 to 6 feet. Hand digging is easier during the monsoon season when the ground is softer. Mechanized operations use water jets and sluicing to remove mud and clays from the gravel so that sorting can take place. As in Sri Lanka, conical-shaped baskets are used for sluicing, to extract the gems from the gravels and sand.

. 

Larger mechanized mines in Chanthaburi are the Bon Rai ruby mine and Nong Bon ruby mine, approximately 10 km from the Cambodian boarder. Small-scale pit mining is conducted in the Ban Bo I-Ram, Bo Na Wong, Bo Waen, and Wat Tok Phrom mining areas.

Sapphire & Ruby from Trat Province

The eastern Thai province of Trat is situated just to the south of Chanthaburi Province, bordering with Cambodia to the east, and Malaysia to the south. Until the crash of the ruby market in Myanmar in the 1960s, there was little interest in the darker, lower-quality rubies from Amphoe Bo Rai, in Trat. The Trat Bo Rai ruby mines are mostly hand-dug alluvial open-pit mines, with some mechanized operations. When Cambodia began flooding Trat with rubies, Bo Rai became an overnight ruby boom-town.

                                               

Sapphire & Ruby from Kanchanaburi

Known for its famous "bridge over the River Kwai" and deep-blue sapphire, Kanchanaburi Province is located on the western edge of Thailand, 128 km west of Bangkok. Sapphire and onyx mining in this region occurs at the alluvial pit-mines of the Kanchanaburi Bo Phloi (Amphoe Bo Thoi, Amphoe Bo Phloi, bo Ploi tambon) district, 30 miles north of Kanchanaburi Town. Sapphire in Kanchanaburi's Bo Phloi region was discovered in the early 1900s, and is one of the main sources to this day. Kanchanaburi is known for its deep-blue sapphire, which can have a dark or "inky" appearance.

Sapphire & Ruby from Phrae Province

The Phrae sapphire mines in Phrae (Wiang Kosai), situated along the Yom River, about 550 kilometres north of Bangkok. Phrae is one of the oldest cities in northern Thailand, which was part of Lanna Thai Empire that spans 800 years. The ancient cities of Sukhothai and Chiang Mai are located within Phrae Province, built by the Tai Lue people. The Burmese influence in this region is reflected in the architectural style of the Wat Chom Sawan and Wat Luang Buddhist temples.

Sapphire & Ruby from Pailin, Cambodia

For three decades after the Viet Nam war, the Khmer Rouge kept total control over the Pailin ruby mines, in order to finance its regime. Aggressive mining has severely depleted the supply of Cambodian ruby in recent years.

Heated Material from Thailand

Thai gem-cutters have become experts in the heat-treatment of rubies and sapphire, over the last few decades. As much as 90% to 100% of the sapphire originating from Thailand may have been heat treated, diffusion treated, or both.

Thailand's Muang Chan's (Chanthaburi's) 'weekend market,' and the Trat province rough gem markets sell sapphire heated in Thailand, but originating from Laos, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Vietnam.