Thailand: The World's Capital of Gemstones
Since the late 19th century, Thailand has made a name for itself in precious stones manufacturing and trading, offering a wide range of colored gemstones to global buyers. In particular, Bangkok and Chanthaburi play a crucial role in the international gems and jewelry supply chain, featuring sparkling, value-added stones that enchant buyers with their vibrant hues and high clarity.
Precious stones in the corundum family, such as rubies and sapphires, represent the two most famous precious stones of Thailand, especially from Chanthaburi province – and they enjoy immense popularity in the global market. Although local mining activities have subsided, the Kingdom remains among the world’s key centers for gemstones and jewelry.
Rubies are a main export product that generates income of over a hundred million US dollars per year. A highly valuable, brilliant red stone hailed as the King of Gems, the ruby has been closely connected to different ways of life and spiritual beliefs, including the power to ward off evil, promote wealth and alleviate some ailments. Sapphires command just as much interest and demand, with a variety of colors and beauty on par with rubies.
As beautiful and natural gemstones with high clarity are exceptionally rare, various methods based on traditional practices are used in colored stones enhancement. These are considered necessary processes to supply adequate quantities of high quality stones to the market; they are also a key factor in raising gemstone prices.
These days, all commercial rubies and sapphires in the market have undergone some sort of enhancement. Generally speaking, almost all premium rubies being traded in the global market must have once been circulated through Thailand.
Heat treatment represents one of the most popular stone enhancing methods, using both low and very high temperatures under suitable conditions. Different kinds of furnaces, where temperature and other related factors can be controlled, are also employed. The heat enables physical transformation of the stones, resulting in more vivid colors and/or clarity, fissure healing and reducing of blemishes, which in turn, makes them more valuable.
Thailand’s competitive edge lies in the value addition in heat treatment and polishing techniques. Such well-honed processes are internationally recognized in ruby and sapphire enhancement. They can even improve low quality materials for more beautiful results, such as glass filled ruby and sapphire. This abundance of knowledge, coupled with expertise in quality development of different aspects in colored stones, has been continually developed and preserved in each local area – strengthening Thailand’s status as the world leader in polished gem manufacturing and trade.
Words by Voralak Suwanvanichkij
Sources:
https://infocenter.git.or.th/storage/files/Treatment_en_0157.pdf
https://infocenter.git.or.th/storage/files/PR_RubyEN_0113.pdf
https://www.gia.edu/doc/The-Chanthaburi-Trat-Gem-Field.pdf
