Left: Learning to cut and polish opal in Australia, July 2018.
Right: In Tucson with renowned gem cutter Glenn Lehrer, February 2019.
creation of magnificent pieces of jewelry — you will never look at that ring or necklace in quite the same way again.
Is it best to buy in the country of origin of the stone? Kim: Interestingly, even if
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found in the Anatolian mountains of Turkey; and larimar is only sourced in the Dominican Republic. Australia has a unique range of opals, some specific to a region.
What stones should I buy where? Kim: There are places in the world renowned for producing the finest quality gems in the world, and you may have visited them already but not scratched the surface of this incredibly fascinating side to your holiday destination. For example, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is recognized for producing the best clarity rubies in the world, Kashmir for the ultimate ‘velvety’ sapphires, and Colombia’s emeralds are highly prized. You may love jewelry and gemstones, own a diamond or two, or covet a bright red ruby, but once you delve into the world of gemology — from the mining to the
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a particular gemstone originates from one country, or is known for being the crème de la crème of their type, it doesn’t mean that this is the best place to buy them. It’s well known in the gem industry that the closer to the mine you are, the more likely you are to come across expensive fakes and imitations. Why? Because unscrupulous tricksters living close to the mines have come to know the gemstones intimately and have learned how to replicate a gemstone to make it look convincingly real. It can be very tricky to tell the difference unless you know what you’re looking for. Even the most experienced gemstone professional might find it difficult to tell the difference between a fake and a genuine stone. It just shows how clever at making the fakes these swindlers are.
Are some places better than others for buying gemstones? Kim: Take Thailand, for example. It is one
of the world’s most important sources of corundum, the mineral from which sapphire is formed. However, you’ll have a huge choice of gemstones to choose from, as Thailand imports gems from all over the globe and is a world center for gem cutting and polishing. My opinion is that you are better off buying a Colombian emerald in Thailand, where it will certainly be cheaper.