Gem & Jewelry Heritage Shopping Tour

6 hours

Myanmar has long been recognized as the repository of the world’s foremost and rarest gems – particularly Burmese jade, rubies, sapphires and pearls. The jade deposits found in Myanmar's northern regions is the highest quality jadeite in the world, considered precious by sources in China going as far back as the 10th century. In addition, the best rubies are mined from Burma's "Valley of Rubies" in the mountainous Mogok area, which produces 90% of the world's supply and has been recognized for their exquisite quality since the 6th century. This valley is particularly noted for its rare pigeon's blood rubies, blue sapphires and green peridot, the last of which can rival the best emeralds, with all being considered the finest of their kind in the world. Finally, Myanmar is famed for its production of Golden South Sea Pearls, the world's most sought-after pearl. Burma, as the country was previously known, was renowned for its South Sea pearls in the 1800’s when the nomadic and sometimes enslaved Salon or Moken people, also known as "sea gypsies," dived for natural pearls around the 800 islands of the Myeik Archipelago in the far south of the country. Cut off by trade restrictions for many decades, these masterpieces have only recently been made available for purchase and export. As a result, the prices available locally are often a fraction of the cost elsewhere, ranging from a few dollars for commercially produced items, to many thousands of dollars for the choicest and rarest pieces. Our tour, which provides preferential offerings from a select group of established local dealers, is sure to satisfy guests with a wide range of budgets, expertise, and levels of connoisseurship. Visits to local gem and amber museums are also sometimes included as time and interest allows.