EditorsMay 27, 2021
Netflix Charts the Rise and Fall of ‘Bad Boy Billionaire’ Nirav ModiSourcingJun 03, 2021
This Documentary About ‘Gem Painting’ Just Won an Award
It follows artisans in Thailand and Vietnam who have found another use for lower quality rough stones.
New York—The locals of a few mining areas have found artistic uses for gemstones that aren’t facet-grade, and one documentary has captured the art in an award-winning short film.
Gem painting is the art of using rough stones of lower quality to make beautiful pictures, created by artisans in source countries like Thailand and Vietnam.
It’s exactly this craftwork and these people that are featured in the documentary aptly, and simply, called “Gem Painting.”
The short documentary was directed by Philippe Brunot, who also did “Follow the Zebra,” which provides a behind-the-scenes of gemstone mining and trading in Tanzania.
Producing the film is a name many in the industry will recognize—field gemologist Vincent Pardieu; they created the documentary while he was on a field expedition to collect reference samples for Bahrain lab Danat in 2018.
The team spoke to gem painters and miners in both Thailand and Vietnam to let them talk about their work.
Gem painting, referred to by one of the artists as both a passion and a livelihood, was introduced to the Luc Yen area of Vietnam in the 1990s by locals who were inspired by what others were doing in Thailand.
(Pardieu said he was told it got its start in Jaipur before spreading to Thailand and onward.)
Related stories will be right here …
Gem painting is the art of using rough stones of lower quality to make beautiful pictures, created by artisans in source countries like Thailand and Vietnam.
It’s exactly this craftwork and these people that are featured in the documentary aptly, and simply, called “Gem Painting.”
The short documentary was directed by Philippe Brunot, who also did “Follow the Zebra,” which provides a behind-the-scenes of gemstone mining and trading in Tanzania.
Producing the film is a name many in the industry will recognize—field gemologist Vincent Pardieu; they created the documentary while he was on a field expedition to collect reference samples for Bahrain lab Danat in 2018.
The team spoke to gem painters and miners in both Thailand and Vietnam to let them talk about their work.
Gem painting, referred to by one of the artists as both a passion and a livelihood, was introduced to the Luc Yen area of Vietnam in the 1990s by locals who were inspired by what others were doing in Thailand.
(Pardieu said he was told it got its start in Jaipur before spreading to Thailand and onward.)
The film, which just won the Best Short Documentary award at the Paris Film Festival, highlights the steps that go into the highly skilled work, from sourcing the gems to sorting and crushing them, creating the painting outline, inlaying the stones, gluing, and washing.
It also talks about the opportunities gem paintings create for source areas, for both the artists who earn more revenue from their creations but also for the miners, who can sell stones that might not otherwise find buyers.
“Countries that possess an abundance of precious stone deposits, I am convinced that if … they knew how to transform these cheap raw materials into gem paintings, their livelihood would improve considerably,” one gem painter is quotes as saying through translation in the documentary.
Getting the word out about the art and its possibilities for source countries was the goal of the project.
Pardieu said he noticed in his frequent travels around Southeast Asia that gem painting “creates a positive incentive for miners as, thanks to gem paintings, they get a market for the low-quality stones they produce and the ones that are too small to use in jewelry.”
“Thanks to that, miners and their families can get a regular kind of expected minimum revenue and, from time to time, some exceptional stones good enough to be cut and polished can be produced.”
Pardieu said they first presented the documentary during the 2019 ICA Congress to help illustrate his talk about the benefits of gem paintings to mining areas.
He added that the film has been selected for another festival, though the results aren’t in yet since it was postponed due to the pandemic.
In addition to Pardieu and Brunot, images were also taken by cameramen Didier Barriere and Anthony Methez.
There were also numerous locals who helped the team during creation; for full credits, visit the film’s YouTube page.
Watch the full 21-minute documentary there or above.
It also talks about the opportunities gem paintings create for source areas, for both the artists who earn more revenue from their creations but also for the miners, who can sell stones that might not otherwise find buyers.
“Countries that possess an abundance of precious stone deposits, I am convinced that if … they knew how to transform these cheap raw materials into gem paintings, their livelihood would improve considerably,” one gem painter is quotes as saying through translation in the documentary.
Getting the word out about the art and its possibilities for source countries was the goal of the project.
Pardieu said he noticed in his frequent travels around Southeast Asia that gem painting “creates a positive incentive for miners as, thanks to gem paintings, they get a market for the low-quality stones they produce and the ones that are too small to use in jewelry.”
“Thanks to that, miners and their families can get a regular kind of expected minimum revenue and, from time to time, some exceptional stones good enough to be cut and polished can be produced.”
Pardieu said they first presented the documentary during the 2019 ICA Congress to help illustrate his talk about the benefits of gem paintings to mining areas.
He added that the film has been selected for another festival, though the results aren’t in yet since it was postponed due to the pandemic.
In addition to Pardieu and Brunot, images were also taken by cameramen Didier Barriere and Anthony Methez.
There were also numerous locals who helped the team during creation; for full credits, visit the film’s YouTube page.
Watch the full 21-minute documentary there or above.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
EditorsSep 12, 2025
Out & About: Mining Sapphires in Rock Creek, MontanaAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.
TrendsSep 12, 2025
Piece of the Week: Arunashi’s Fordite and Rhodolite EarringsFordite is a man-made material created from the layers of dried enamel paint that dripped onto the floors of automotive factories.
Events & AwardsSep 12, 2025
Al Gilbertson Wins 2025 Robert M. Shipley AwardGilbertson has worked as a researcher, jeweler, lapidary artist, appraiser, and business owner throughout his decades in the industry.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
Policies & IssuesSep 11, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case in November A decision likely won’t come until January 2026 at the earliest, and the tariffs remain in effect until then.
Weekly QuizSep 12, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsSep 11, 2025
Tabayer Opens Nordstrom Shop-In-ShopLocated in the revamped jewelry hall at the retailer’s New York City flagship, this opening is Tabayer’s first shop-in-shop.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
Stuller to Swap Gold Scrap for Full Credit to AccountAs the gold price rises, the manufacturer is offering a 100 percent payout through Sept. 30 for gold clean scrap.
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key IssuesJewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.
TrendsSep 10, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Archival Jewels Bring Life to ‘Frankenstein’Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 “Frankenstein” will feature 27 jewels and objects from the storied brand, including pieces from its archives.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York’s Banquet to Return to Waldorf AstoriaThe Waldorf Astoria New York’s grand reopening this past summer means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event.
SourcingSep 09, 2025
Anglo American to Merge With Canadian Copper Miner Anglo plans to merge with Teck Resources Ltd. to form Anglo Teck. The deal changes nothing about its plans to offload De Beers.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
‘The Mellon Blue’ to Return to Auction, This Time at Christie’s The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which set two world auction records at Sotheby’s in 2014, is estimated to fetch up to $30 million.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
Phillips Names Dianne Batista Head of Jewels, New YorkThe industry veteran joins the auction house as it looks to solidify its footprint in the jewelry market.
MajorsSep 09, 2025
MJSA Education Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship WinnersThe nonprofit awarded four students pursuing a professional career in jewelry making and design with $2,250 each.
IndependentsSep 08, 2025
Take a Look Inside the New Korman Store in AustinThe Texas-based jeweler has also undergone a brand refresh, debuting a new website and logo.
MajorsSep 08, 2025
MJSA Is Officially Now Under JA’s UmbrellaThe two organizations have finalized and signed the affiliation agreement announced in May.
AuctionsSep 08, 2025
Sotheby’s To Auction ‘Exceptional’ Collection of JAR, Suzanne Belperron JewelsThe single-owner sale will headline Sotheby's inaugural jewelry auction at the Breuer building, its new global headquarters, this December.
Events & AwardsSep 08, 2025
27 Can’t-Miss Converge Sessions, Events From sunrise yoga to tariffs talks, these are some events to check out at the upcoming inaugural event.
ColumnistsSep 05, 2025
Peter Smith: A Lasting Lesson From Maurice Tempelsman Smith recalls a bit of wisdom the industry leader, who died last week, shared at a diamond conference years ago.
CollectionsSep 05, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jamie Turner’s ‘Victoria’ Necklace The “Victoria” necklace features a labradorite hugged by diamond accents in 18-karat yellow gold.
Policies & IssuesSep 05, 2025
Trump Takes Tariffs Case to the Supreme Court Two lower courts have moved to block the import taxes, which will remain in place as the legal battle continues.
WatchesSep 05, 2025
Patrick Mahomes Is the New Hublot Brand AmbassadorThe Kansas City Chiefs quarterback shares Hublot’s dedication to pursuing greatness, the Swiss watchmaker said.
SourcingSep 04, 2025
Lucara Unveils Unusual 37-Carat Pink DiamondThe Type IIa stone, recovered from Botswana’s Karowe diamond mine last month, features unique coloration.
WatchesSep 04, 2025
Breitling Takes Its NFL Game to the Next Level Breitling is now the NFL’s official timepiece partner, a move that puts the brand in front of the millions of Americans who watch football.
Events & AwardsSep 04, 2025
The NYC Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show Returns in NovemberNYCJAOS is set for Nov. 21-23 in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood.
SourcingSep 03, 2025
Gemfields Confirms Completion of Fabergé SaleU.S.-based investment company SMG Capital LLC is the new owner of the luxury brand.
