We started out this month’s Gem buying tour hosted by Andy Turk with a visit to Bangkok Gem and Jewellery Fair.

This is one of the biggest gem shows in the world, and the variety of product is mind blowing. I bought a few things here but pacing myself for the next stop in Vietnam. Andy has been running specialised gemstone buying tours for many years now. Often he can help you find prices that allow you to resell at a price that means you can return fairly quickly. You can see more about the tours here.

Next stop was Vietnam where we got a little surprise. Supertyphoon Yagi was brushing past the city- there was minor flooding in the city

Unfortunately, the gem mining district of Luc Yen in the far north of Vietnam took a real bad hit with numerous fatalities due to the catastrophic flooding.

Sending best wishes to our friends and colleagues for a speedy recovery.

Vietnam has large and diverse gem resources, so this event will not affect our trip vey much.

Than Hoa is one of Andy’s select destinations. One of the prized treasures found in the region is aquamarine. Renowned for its beautiful blue color and well-formed crystals, aquamarine holds a special allure. In Thanh Hoa, the Thuong Xuan District is particularly recognized for its aquamarine deposits. The area boasts commercially significant aquamarine deposits, offering gemstone enthusiasts an opportunity to acquire exquisite aquamarine specimens. These natural crystal specimens can be used for faceting and crafting stunning jewelry. The aquamarine crystals from Thanh Hoa are highly sought after for their exceptional color and quality.

Large fine colour Peridot crystals are also mined in the district. These sell well below prices found in international markets.

Super popular in both gold and silver jewellery.