Chanthaburi Hotel Chanthaburi Gem Market

- Chanthaburi is the Gem Capital of Thailand

and maybe not only from Thailand. Having a look around for gem's at gem street and the gem market in the old town area show people from all over Asia bargaining in small rooms behind windows. The business hours are as it is usual in Thailand totally different to anywhere in the world, they are open at Friday and Saturday, other days are closed or maybe open, but actually nobody knows, everyone just does as he or she likes, its totally chaotic and  unpredictable. Precious and semi precious stones trade shops are plenty that means if most shops are closed maybe some are open, but nobody know again, that's Thai style.

Beautiful "pigeons blood" colored rubies from Myanmar are on display, but since Chanthaburi is also the world wide center of so called "Ruby Burning", most of the ruby and other precious stones are heat treated to get rid of inclusions and impurities. Pretty dark blue polished Sapphire, probably from Myanmar and plenty of other precious and semi precious stones are available. Every year from 8 -12 December the Chanthaburi Gems and Jewelry Fair is held at Chanthaburi City.

People of Indian origin negotiate with Chinese trader's, Thai with Japanese, some European gem trader want to make a deal but always shake their head. The gems come from many directions, such as Myanmar or Burma, Cambodia and as far as Madagascar, one of the new player in the gem market. Thai gem trader have invested quite some money in gem mining in Madagascar.

Jade jewelry or raw jade from Myanmar are very precious materials for Chinese

the color and appearance, the Indian where first and after the Arabs enhanced the burning procedure. The Thai added a modern touch via technology by the simple Thailand philosophy, everything goes as long it brings money.

- Chanthaburi Thailand

but mainly in the old town. The gem market in the main building is only open at weekends. The gems are finally transferred into attractive pieces of jewelry  with vibrant color combinations and great designs. there is not so many jewelry on display in Chanthaburi, the focus is gem, precious and semi precious stones. Chanthaburi in Thailand is a very interesting town, its not a big town but for some reason people from all over the world come here for gem dealing, buying precious or semi precious stones and also sell them. Actually there are several beautiful beaches and islands with white sandy beaches close by, but the people who come to Chanthaburi have mainly loose gems in mind.

away at the beachside several great beaches with almost white fine sand and some bolder in between. The left picture show the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception. Located on the left side of the Chanthaburi River, this Church is about 275 years old and has been renovated several times. Christian Vietnamese who have been in Chanthaburi from time to time constructed the Chanthaburi Cathedral. The architecture is somehow Gothic style decorated with stained glass and murals. The church looks like the cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon in Vietnam. A bit further down the Chanthaburi Riverside is this pretty Chinese Buddhist Temple pictured at right. The Chanthaburi River itself is somehow a romantic view with the houses reaching the waterfront and people often just jump into the river from the veranda when it gets to hot at the beginning of the year, Chanthaburi Thailand has many facets.

Gems and minerals, gem quartz and all other kind of  rough gem are offered in gem show, in back rooms and right on a table at the street in the city center. Gem stones are everywhere and gem wholesale with bead jewelry, blue gem, gold jewelry, green gem, crystal gem, agate gem, amethyst gem, aquamarine gem goes on at the roads of the old town. There is even the Chanthaburi Gem Street in the old town. All this gem stones finally find their way into Thailand jewelry or jewelry made elsewhere in the world. Beautiful stones, rare and colorful plus simple rocks (minerals) digged out from the earth. After cutting, polishing and set into a piece of jewelry it becomes reak valuable.

Although Chanthaburi was occupied by forces from French Indochina between 1893 and 1906, there is little evidence that they'd ever been here apart from the distinctive architecture of the Catholic cathedral and a few other buildings. If you're really keen on history take a trip out to Laem Sing, 30 minutes' drive from the town's old quarter. The Tuek Daeng (Red Building) there, a fort built in the reign of King Rama III was subsequently turned into living quarters and a military command post by the French. Today it's used as a public library. Chanthaburi Gems Selection is mainly done in the old town.

an area of 9,500 rai (15.2 sqkm). The lion like cape offers a great panorama view. Atop the hill is the Phairee Phinat Fort with a Chedi and a French cemetery. The area around Chanthaburi Province have seen plenty of foreigners coming and going. Notable Vietnamese, French during their time in Indochina and some Japanese during WW2. The location of the province has a certain strategic importance since lots of ships pass this part of the Gulf of Thailand.

If you are interested in something very special visit Oasis Sea World near Laem Singh, about 25 km. Enjoy swimming with with dolphins, Dolphin shows are dome daily. For more information, contact tel. 0-3949-9222