BANGKOK

We begin our all our tours in Bangkok, where we stay in Soi 4 Sukhumvit. This is a ‘party’ street full of good bars and restaurants. It is close to the Skytrain which we use a lot and is close to shopping and The Jewellery Trade Centre.

Don’t worry, it is perfectly safe and your hotel is QUIET, so you shouldn’t have any trouble sleeping!

We arrive in the evening of the first night and head straight to the hotel. Dynasty Inn or Ibis are reliable good choices
The next day starts at 10am with a skytrain ride to The Jewellery Trade Centre (JTC). Here there are hundreds of dealers who specialise in EVERY gemstone known on Earth. I take you to see the dealers I buy from, but you are free to buy anywhere. I can help with negotiations if you like.

I DO NOT take commissions from the dealers because you are paying me to introduce them to you. These dealers know I buy a lot and bring guests who also buy, so they give us the best price to ensure we keep coming back.

We also visit Silom Road where there are plenty of dealers who sell slabs and facet rough. There are Lapidary supply shops as well. Bangkok also has many temples and historical attractions as well as wonderful shopping. We can cater to a wide range of interests, just let me know what you are keen on and I can usually organise things. We spend a total of five days in Bangkok so there is some flexibility.

We usually aim to be back in the hotel daily by 4pm, so that you can rest up for dinner at 6pm. We usually visit a bar for an optional pre dinner drink. My sister and I then go for an after-dinner drink and you are free to join us. The tour gets tiring but is at a leisurely pace, so ‘late’ nights are not recommended. We eat a lot of street food and ease you into it. If you feel uncomfortable, we can take you to more ‘traditional’ restaurants. Choices may be a bit more limited out in other locations outside of Bangkok.

CHANTHABURI

Chanthaburi, a city near the Cambodian border, is where gem dealers from all over the world go to buy their gems. The market is unique, as buyers sit down and write down what they want, and dealers bring the gems to them. Visitors can find almost every known variety of gem, at wholesale prices.

Formerly a rich sapphire mining area, Chanthaburi now thrives as a gem cutting center with dealers coming from all over the world to sell and process their rough stones.

Click here for more info on fascinating Chanthaburi

Our 4 hr minivan trip to Chanthaburi, ends near the Cambodian border. Yes, we do have a rest stop on the way!
This is where the Bangkok gem dealers go to buy their gems. We are helped by an American dealer (Ken) who has been in the market for 15 years and knows all the prices and which dealers to buy from. He can buy gemstones at a much cheaper price than even I can. He does need some notice to source anything in particular, but we can arrange that before you leave and you can collect your gem on arrival.

Wholesale Gems and Jewelry

The market here is quite unique, you sit down, write down what you want and people bring the gems to you. It can be quite daunting and this is why we just let Ken buy for us. There are also shops and stalls to buy from and I often buy ready made jewellery here as it is truly at wholesale prices.

MAE SOD

Mae Sod, also known as Mae Sot, is a border town located on the Thai-Burmese border. It’s a small town that is not heavily touristed, making it an authentic destination for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience.

One of the main draws of Mae Sod is its jade market, which is said to be the best in Thailand. Here you can find all sorts of jade carvings, jewelry, and raw jade. The market is located down the main street, and there are around 40 dealers selling sapphires, rubies, and other gems as well. Mae Sod sometimes has great deals on star Sapphires from Myanmar.

Mae Sod is on the Thai/ Burma border and is the best place to buy Jade. There are Jade carvings, jewellery and slabs of raw Jade.
There is also a gem market down the main street, with about 40 dealers. You can expect to find Sapphire, Ruby and an array of Jewellery.

Aside from the jade market, Mae Sod has an extensive general shopping market at the border, which is worth exploring for its unique items. And for foodies, there’s an incredible outdoor market where you can find authentic Thai cuisine.

We eat at a fabulous outdoor market and the food is totally authentic. You’ll also enjoy the fact that we are the only foreigner’s in town!

There is also an extensive general shopping market at the border. They had an awesome range of sweets, some not so good, my favourite is the mini peanut slabs.

Mae Sod is also known for its unique blend of Burmese and Thai culture, which can be seen in its architecture, cuisine, and people. It’s a fascinating destination for cultural exploration.

To get to Mae Sod, we take a 50-minute flight from Bangkok on a small plane that only seats 80 passengers. The flight is at a low altitude, so you can enjoy scenic views of the countryside along the way.

MAE SAI

Wholesale Jewellery

We fly to Chiang Rai (1.5hrs), from there we take a 40 min transfer to Mae Sai. This is another Thai/ Burma border town in the Golden Triangle,
Mae Sai and Mae Sod are similar but different!

There are many dealers here and the street food is amazing. You can also get a Thai foot massage on the street. There are many small jewellery shops where the prices are also very reasonable

There are a lot of Burmese silversmiths in this town, the stone setting and classic native and European styles can be high quality and inexpensive. Mae Sai has the added advantage of Burmese Amber. Spinel and Maw Sit Sit can sometimes be seen here at attractive prices,

KANCHANBURI/ CHIANG MAI

We go to either or both of these destinations, depending on what guests want to see.
Kanchanburi was a centre for Sapphire mining, however the deposit is pretty much worked out. However there is still plenty of Black Spinel.
There is a market with gems and jewellery for sale, but there is also lots more. There are wonderful riverfront restaurants, the War cemeteries and the Thai/ Burma Railway Museum. There is also Hellfire Pass and The Three Pagodas on the Burma border.

Chiang Mai is an ancient walled city in the North of Thailand. There aren’t many gemshops, but there are lots of other things to see and do. Giant Pandas at the Zoo, Elephant Sanctuaries and cooler mountain temperatures.
We generally visit here more for relaxation and to experience ‘lanna’ culture, which is based mostly around food! You can also see a Muay Thai fight here if you like, it’s not as violent as you’d think. It’s more like a choreographed, defensive ballet…….well…. with an occasional punch.
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