The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.
New Trade Fair Launched in Thailand’s ‘City of Gems’
The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand will hold its inaugural event in Chanthaburi in December.

Bangkok—The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand is launching an event to bring even more activity to an important hub for the gemstone sector.
The organization has introduced the International Chanthaburi Gems and Jewelry Festival 2019, slated for Dec. 4 to 8 in Chanthaburi, Thailand. It’s the first international trade fair to be organized by GIT.
It will run under the theme of “Power of Gemstones and Jewelry” to “strengthen the position of Chanthaburi as the world’s key hub for colored gemstone production and trading,” GIT said in an email about the event.
Chanthaburi, located approximately 134 miles southeast of Bangkok, is known by many as the City of Gems. It was once famous for its ruby and sapphire mining. Currently, production is minimal, but today it is a leader in gem processing—cutting, polishing, treating and enhancing—and trading.
The International Chanthaburi Gems and Jewelry Festival 2019 will allow international and domestic exhibitors to showcase and sell their gem and jewelry products, featuring rough stones, cut and polished stones, jewelry, jewelry parts, equipment and tools, machinery, and display and packaging.
It will be held at three venues: the Chanthaburi Gem and Jewelry Trade Center, the KP Jewelry Center and the gem market on Srichan Road. (For those unfamiliar with these locations or the city, GIT notes online that all gem and jewelry traders will be in a 1-kilometer area—less than a mile—in the heart of Chanthaburi.)
GIT is also inviting gem and jewelry professionals to participate in its planned business matching activities, held from Dec. 5 to 7, in which participants will have the opportunity to meet with potential business partners and visit a major factory.
The tentative schedule for that can be found online.
Additionally, the fair will feature a ceremony to present GIT’s jewelry design, faceting and jewelry research awards, a gemstone auction and educational seminars.
GIT told National Jeweler via email that exhibitor booth space is full; a list of those participating can be found online at ChanGemsFest.com.
Visitors are welcome with no registration fee; pre-registration is open online.
For more information about the International Chanthaburi Gems and Jewelry Festival 2019, go online or reach out to schopetch@git.or.th or pchanoknart@git.or.th.
The Latest

The new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.

The special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.

Experience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.

Dubai Jewelers in Springfield, Virginia, was once again the target of an armed robbery.


YouGov’s 2026 U.S. Most Recommended Brands report’s out, and a fast-fashion giant is sitting at No. 1 while Rolex is just shy of the top 5.

Proceeds from its jewelry raffle will benefit an organization working in India to combat silicosis, a lung disease affecting stone cutters.

Submit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.

The rings, crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills, celebrate the hockey team’s Stanley Cup win with design elements that honor its traditions.

This roundup of birthstone jewelry for October features vibrant tourmalines and opals with personality.

President Duma Boko spoke at back-to-back events in the city last week, touting Botswana’s stability and the diamond “bounceback.”

The catalog showcases 112 new, one-of-a-kind pieces amid highlights from the jeweler’s historic archive.

Its Montepuez Ruby Mining operation in Mozambique, which is not yielding enough high-quality rubies, has taken a $125 million hit.

Those surveyed were worried about the present and the future, with write-in responses mentioning high oil and gas prices.

She is remembered for her joie de vivre, upbeat personality, genuine interest in other people, and love of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Online bidding is open now for Julien’s sale of items owned by the “Walk On By” singer, whose final album comes out this fall.

December is the most popular month to propose, and jewelers need to keep that in mind when planning their holiday marketing.

Cat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction Wednesday.

“Vibrations” features several firsts for De Beers’ high jewelry, including the use of chalcedony and diamonds sourced from artisanal miners.

The “Bows” collection features three interpretations of the bow motif designed with Georgian and Victorian influences.

The American Gem Society recognized industry members, one Guild, and a law enforcement official for their contributions to jewelry.

Through a new system integration, customers can now receive instant personal jewelry insurance quotes at the time of appraisal.

Five of the 10 fastest-appreciating Rolex models on Bob’s Watches were Datejust 31 or Lady Datejust watches.

The Sherwood family and AJS Creations CEO Tejas Shah purchased the jewelry chain back from Palladium Equity Partners.

“The Elizabeth Taylor Collection” uses lab-grown diamonds and gemstones in contemporary designs inspired by the icon.

The artist wore Dana Rebecca Designs’ marquise diamond-set gold hoops at the Chiefs game last Sunday. Now they’re our Piece of the Week.

JSA and Jewelers Mutual shared advice on spotting suspicious behavior, combatting cell phone jammers, and staying safe at home.

























