Staying in Chanthaburi? This Thai province offers tourists plenty to do and there is also many a Chanthaburi resort on offer here which are well-equipped to cater to foreign guests, such as the Chatrium Golf Resort Soi Dao among several others. One of the main highlights of the province is the gem stones that are sold here. Once a gem stone mining hub famous for its sapphires and rubies, the town of Chanthaburi located in this province was renowned worldwide for its ‘home-grown’ gems as it were.
Although most of Chanthaburi’s mines have sadly ceased to yield these precious stones now, the few mines that remain do produce semi-precious gems even today. Disappointed? Don’t be. If you’re in search of precious stones, Chanthaburi is still your best bet. The town is filled with small shops here and there selling gem stones from abroad. Since the merchants cannot rely on local mines from which to source precious gems, they scour the globe and bring back a selection of carefully chosen gems to sell back home to jewellers and individual hobbyists.
If you would like to take your pick from a large selection of germs of all types and sizes, visit the Chanthaburi Gem Market area which is situated in and about Si Chan Road. There is a large concentration of gem stores here selling stones of all kinds at bargain wholesale rates. Gem stones that you will be able to find here include emeralds, sapphires, rubies and many more. Take your time, though, when making purchases. The sellers and buyers at the market are professionals of their trade, with a keen eye for quality and authenticity. Discerning authentic precious and semi-precious gems from their fake counterparts may be a walk in the park for them, but not so for the untrained eyes of a casual tourist. So if you are planning on trying to snag a good deal on unset stones while on holiday, make sure you take a gemstone expert with you to ensure that you don’t return with pockets full of empty treasures, and rather return with riches, instead.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+
