Gemstones
Precious gemstones are renowned worldwide for their beauty and lustre, and they are widely regarded as highly desired accessories. Often associated with ideas and emotions like love, elegance and romance, gemstones are the perfect gift for your loved ones.
Cambodia produces top-quality gemstones: exquisite rubies, sapphires, amethysts and others can be found in dealerships around the country. "The gemstones found in Cambodia are of excellent quality, and the Kingdom is the country in Southeast Asia with the largest variety of stones," says Jean Philippe Lepage, an accredited gemologist and CEO of the Gemological Institute of Cambodia (GEMIC Laboratory Co., Ltd.) in Siem Reap.
Cambodian gems are part of a rich cultural tradition that traces back to ancient times. The carvings in Angkor Wat depict goddesses donning elaborate pieces of jewellery, some of them unmistakably made with gemstones. Khmer rings set with gems from the Angkor period can be found in museums and collections around the world.
Sapphires aren't the only blue gemstone to come from Cambodia —zircons are popular too. Zircons are mined in Ratanakiri, a province in Northeastern Cambodia. According to David Hindley, owner of jewellery D. Hindley in Phnom Penh, miners dig holes up to 15 metres deep and then pull the raw stones from the clay. They are naturally an orange or brown colour, but when the gems are heated they turn blue, the best ones developing a stunning deep peacock blue. Some even turn white.
Hindley believes that one of the big appeals of zircons is their sparkle. They share with diamonds the ability to split white light into different colours, so a white zircon can give flashes of red, yellow and violet, almost like a diamond. Zircons are also affordable —a hefty 5 carat stone that would make a magnificent ring can cost just $300 in Cambodia.
Other popular Cambodian gemstones include purple and lilac amethysts from Kampong Thom or Ratanakiri, deep red garnets from Pailin, clear or pale blue topaz and smoky quartz from Takeo, and grass-green peridots from Mondulkiri.
Buying your gemstones in the Kingdom just makes sense. According to Lepage, there are some excellent gem cutters in Cambodia who can create truly magnificent pieces of jewellery using the precious gemstone of your choice. Price is another reason for you to acquire your gemstones while in Cambodia, and Lepage adds that prices in the Kingdom are extremely competitive within the region.
Whether you are looking for an elegant accessory, or hoping to find a perfect gift for that special one, a gemstone can be just what you need. Fortunately, the Cambodian soil nurtures world-class gemstones that you can buy at exceptional prices. So, in your visit to the Kingdom of Wonder, why not purchase something special? Your are bound to impress your friends back home.
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Jillur Rahman
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