BUSINESS INSIGHTS / TIBETA N JE W ELLERY R EPORT
TIBETAN AMBER COMMUNITY Interview with Sonam SANGPO
B A LT I C J E W E L L E R Y N E W S
38–2020
p. 50
skin care, it helps to keep your body energetic.
Jamga, G.Guntorius, Zado, Sonam Sangpo
What amber means to you, what is its value in your country? Tibetans believe that among all mineral gemstones, amber is an incredible stone that is so smoothly soft and its natural scent is so pleasant that you want to breathe it over and over again. The attractions of its different colours, sizes, shapes, and smell show the beauty of our Mother Earth and its nature. Amber has been one of so well known by intentional jewellery lovers and it is an indispensable ornament in Tibetan society in the past several thousands of years so far we know. We have been using amber as an ornament for both humans and as well as for Buddhist statues as we offer precious objects for thanking God of being serving our World. As Tibet has so many different regional provinces, we use amber in different ways of wearing because we believe that amber has so many significant health benefits, such as it helps to get rid of bad breath, it is good for your
Where you find your buyer, your partners? As being a Tibetan I have so many international market experiences in gemstones business, especially I got so many good opportunities here in Europe amber markets and especially here in Lithuania, I feel amazed and I was warmly welcoming this Vilnius Amber Trip exhibition organizers and I got many good friends of the amber business. I feel so good coming here and I wish we can promote the market of amber in the future. Which other stones do you work? I mainly do the business of Himalayan art, for example, Dzi beads, Buddhist art, all kinds of antique things, including jewellery, for
example, corals, ambers, turquoise, etc. I buy so many different shapes, colours and size ambers. What a memorable amber jewellery you have bought? The biggest old amber necklace I have ever bought was 2500 grams total. What is the hardest part in being in this business? I have been in touch with ambers' experiences I think around more than 25 years, I mean like since I was a little child we used to wear ambers when I was in Tibet. The hardest part of the amber business is not to meet the honest business dealer. I mean some people sell hitting ambers in coloured and looks old but in fact new beads in coloured, and some people sell pressed ambers for high price telling that it’s old. And also market changes up and down which is so hard sometimes. What was the worst decision you think you took in this business? The worst decision I made in the amber business was in 2014-2015. I bought so many very top quality old ambers and I kept them for a better price which I didn’t sell for good profits. And then suddenly at the beginning of 2016 amber market gone half price down in China and in Tibet which made me big loses.
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