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| นิตยสาร สารคดี: ฉบับที่ ๒๒๓ เดือนกันยายน ๒๕๔๖ | ISSN 0857-1538 | |||
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| Story: Wiwat Pandawutiyanon Photo: Boonkit Suthiyananon |
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From Dar-Es-Salaam, Matombo to Tunduru in Tanzania, few people 8-9 years ago did not know a Thai gem dealer known as Osmon. Osmon had many friends, was always willing to help people and paid generously for rough gemstones. Osmon was one of a handful of legendary Thai pioneers in the gem mining and rough gem trade circles in Tanzania. Another trader, his brother Prasit Sodsri, recalled one business deal involving a sale of 1.8 kilogram bulk Tunduru gems to a Sri Lankan trader: "I paid 4 million Baht for the lot. I gave my first offer price at 20 million. Then he gave his first bargain at 8 million. My legs were shaking by the thought of such massive profits. But I kept on bargaining. From 9AM to 5PM...I was shaking. He was also shaking. I eventually fetched 17 million Baht for the sale." |
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Though abundant, Tanzanian gems did not become a boom industry until recently because the stones did not have the quality or colors that commanded steep market prices. Recently, however, Thai gem burners discovered a heating technique to turn green sapphires from Songea, Tanzania and Illakaka, Madagascar into orange-pink sapphires similar to that of a most highly priced Padparadscha sapphires. The innovation spurred a flock of Thai people to Tanzania and invigorated the waning Thai gem and jewelry industry. | ||
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But the boom came to a screeching stop when the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) staged attacks on the technique, calling it "surface diffusion" (surface coating of color). AGTA's campaigns have destroyed trust in Thai sapphires as a whole and brought trading to a halt. The "Thai Orange" innovation led to significantly lower prices for Padparadscha sapphires, threatening the interest of those that hold large stocks of these gems. The stories show several of facets of ever evolving gem lore. |