While you can buy gemstones anywhere around the world, there is no better place to get them but Bangkok, Thailand. In fact, it is said that Bangkok is considered the gemstone capital of the world. In a place like that, it might be easy to find some of the best quality stones available.
The question is how do you buy them? Additionally, where in Bangkok can you actually get them? We’ll answer these questions shortly.
If you are looking to purchase gemstones so you can handcraft your own jewelry and sell them to your customers, you have come to the right place. You might be surprised by where you can find gemstones, especially some of the ones that may be hard to find. Whatever you’re looking for, you are bound to find them somewhere in Bangkok.
Considering that it’s a large city, Bangkok has plenty of options. But one of the major downsides is that some of them may be selling fakes and could scam you out of a lot of money. We’ll show you how to spot those who are selling the real deals and how to avoid the fakes.
If you are a jewelry store owner in search of gemstones, read on to find out where exactly in Bangkok you can find them.
Find the right places to buy in Bangkok
As mentioned, Bangkok is a large city with several areas with different names. Some of these areas can be great places for finding specific gems. Let’s take a look at which area has the gemstones you are looking for:
Silom
This is an area of Bangkok that is located near Bangrak (which we will discuss in a bit). If you are looking for gemstones that are considered to be “higher end”, this is a good place to start. Specifically, gems such as rubies, tourmaline, emeralds, and sapphires can be found in this area of Bangkok.
Silom is home to the Jewelry Trade Center (JTC). The building is the largest in the area, so you can be able to spot it easily from all the others. Aside from geologists who specialize in gems, the JTC has a wholesale market where you can purchase gemstones of your choosing at affordable prices.
You’ll even see plenty of gem booths, so you can be able to browse around and check out what’s available. You might seem overwhelmed with the choices at first, but you may walk away with a nice selection. You can handcraft jewelry with wholesale sterling silver that you can purchase with us and the gemstones you buy from the JTC.
Mahesak Road
This is a roadway that is connected near Silom and nearby Suriwong. On this stretch of roadway here are wholesale gem stores that sell all sorts of gemstones at wholesale prices. If you have plenty of money on hand, there’s no telling how much you can walk away with (even if the gemstones are small, you could walk off with bagfuls if you can afford it).
A lot of gem dealers are located on this very road. One of the most prominent buildings where you can find these dealers is the Warner Building. If you go further down the road, you can find the Executive House building that is located in Suriwong.
Bangrak
In this area, you can find a building where you can find honest gem dealers. Sure enough, the building is named the “Gem Tower”. You can find this in the Bangrak area of Bangkok.
Wat Koh
If you are looking for gemstones like garnets, cubic zirconia, amethysts, and other “semi-precious” gems this is the place. Wat Koh is located near the Chinatown section of Bangkok. One of the biggest downsides of this area is that it can get very crowded.
But that comes along with the territory since it’s a place where there are plenty of popular gemstones are sold. Whether you use it to make jewelry or someone that can admire the beauty of these stones, Wat Koh is a must-visit area of Bangkok if and when you are in the city.
You can get plenty of gemstones from reputable dealers. However, in this part of the city (and other parts of the city listed above), you’ll need to keep your negotiation skills sharp if you want to walk away with a great deal. You can get a good deal in some places and others will be hard to bargain.
Either way, you can still be able to purchase some gemstones that will look mighty fine on most of the jewelry you make. Some of the silver pendants sold at wholesale prices have cubic zirconia gemstones that have actually been purchased from Wat Koh dealers. So we know a thing or two on how you can land the best deal.
How to prevent yourself from getting scammed
Unfortunately, there are shady dealers out there that will scam you into buying gems that turn out to be fake. It’s important to take the necessary steps so you can prevent yourself from getting scammed and avoid those who might seem eager to sell you gemstones that look real, but are not when you look closely.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Check to see if they have the right credentials. By Thai law, all gemstone dealers should have the appropriate credentials in order to sell gemstones. You can be able to check them online if and where available.
- Make sure that these gems are sold in an area where there is “neutral light”. In unnatural light, some of the colorings of the gems will change. For example, rubies will appear darker if you shine a yellowish light on them. This is a good indicator to determine whether or not the gems are fake or not. If they tend to change colors when in contact with certain types of light, they are bound to be real.
- Ask questions. And don’t be afraid to walk away if you feel that something seems off. Ask if the gems have been treated. Ask them about how long they’ve been in business. And don’t forget to ask about the return policy. If they do not have a return policy, that is your green light to walk away and leave nothing to chance.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking to buy gemstones from Thailand, it’s important to know where to get them. It’s also important to know who to buy them from. You can get them at wholesale prices that are affordable.
Not only that, but the tips listed above should also give you a good idea of what kind of dealer you are working with. The more cooperative they are with you, the better. But don’t let your guard down.
Ask questions, check the gems for yourself, and be sure that you are able to negotiate for a good price.
