Alumni Tour Group Discovers Educational Adventures in Thailand
By Patrick B. Ball, G.G., and Charles I. Carmona, G.G.

“Amazing” is the word Thailand uses to market itself, and through the GIA Alumni Travel Program, 20 adventurous members took off in September to find out for themselves just how amazing it really is. We were not disappointed.

The trip helped us fulfill almost every gemologist’s dream over a two-week period. We visited gem mines, cutting factories, stone dealers and jewelry manufacturers – just about every aspect of the business from the (under)ground up.

The focus of the trip was simple – to visit Thailand’s gem and jewelry industry to further our gemological education. Along the way, we saw many beautiful sights, experienced some wonderful adventures and, most importantly, held some incredible specimens.

Straggling back to our modern, air-conditioned hotel at the end of each day, we talked about everything we were able to do and see and were convinced the day’s activities could not be topped. Yet the next day invariably turned out to be even better. 

One of the first places we visited on our educational tour was GIA Thailand, where Director Christopher Keenan, G.G., and his staff gave us an update seminar on the types of rubies, sapphires and other gems trading in the local market. 

Only days later, we had to identify these stones on the fly during a visit to Chantaburi, the historic treatment, cutting and trading center of Thailand located near the border with Cambodia. It was all hustle and bustle as we sat down at one of the buying tables, as gemstones of all sizes, shapes, color and variety seemed to cascade from the stone runners’ hands.

Alumni members Starla Turner, G.G., and Leslie Sherman, G.G., calculated prices in their heads as they attempted to identify stones and their treatment in seconds – with nothing more than a 10x loupe. Two vigorous negotiations resulted in satisfied buyers from our group and satisfied sellers from Chantaburi. No common language was spoken, just numbers punched into hand calculators. 

We met up with Ben Hoo, G.G., and eight of his friends in Mai Sai, a border town between Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Northern Thailand. We had the opportunity to handle and buy some magnificent imperial jadeite in the local jade markets through Ben’s connections. We also crossed the bridge over the small river that separates Thailand from Myanmar and scooted around the Burmese town of Tachilek for a few hours in a caravan of tuk-tuks, or motorized, three-wheel taxis.

More adventures lay ahead. Before the trip was over, we visited one of the world’s largest jewelry manufacturers, Pranda; toured the Thien Po factory in Gemopolis, Thailand’s industrial zone for gem and jewelry manufacturing; attended the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair; toured the Mouawad factory; visited the new Bangkok Museum of Minerals and Gems; visited Joe and Pirapan Belmont and Lewis Allen, gem dealers in the Mahaesak wholesale district; and traveled to a working sapphire mine in Kanchanaburi, where we were hosted by the Lertsirimit family of Sirimitr Mining Co., Ltd.

Our hostess, Sirinee Lertsirimit, showed us the sorting, cutting, polishing and distribution process in Bangkok and then we boarded the bus that took us to the pit where Lertsirimit’s brother, Paisal, led us through the mining operations. He assured us he hadn’t found a single sapphire at the actual site in all his years. The beautiful specimens are normally found only after truckloads of earth go through the separation plant, he said.

Our whirlwind of activities also included visits to some of Thailand’s historical and cultural sites, such as the Grand Palace in Bangkok, where the kings used to live. We were amazed as our tour guide told us about its history, the royal family, their treasures and the fascinating Thai culture. We didn’t know where to begin when he gave us just 15 minutes to take pictures. The colors, the intricate designs, the murals – the immense size of it was simply too overwhelming to put into pictures, let alone words.

Our excursion through northern Thailand included visits to hill tribes, an evening shopping market, a trip downriver on a bamboo raft and the crowning glory of our adventure – a trek through the jungle on elephants. What an unbelievable experience!

“In less than 10 days, you have seen so much of Thailand’s dynamic gem and jewelry industry,” Keenan said. “Traveling on your own, it would have taken years to gain this same insight!” 
 
Stay Tuned: Possible trips to Brazil, Australia, Sri Lanka, South or East Africa are planned for next year. Wherever we decide to go, you can bet it promises to be just as amazing as our trip to Thailand.