Buying Sapphires at the Chanthaburi Gem Market in Thailand
The Chanthaburi gem market, approximately a 4-hour drive from Bangkok, has a rich history dating back several centuries
top of page
- Apr 28
Ring Design Concepts - The Basics
Ring Design Concepts - an outline of the most popular ring design concepts for New Zealanders. Solitaire, Three-Stone, Halo, East-West, Pavé
105
- Mar 2
Applying the 4C's to Sapphires and Coloured Gemstones
The 4C's comprise Colour, Clarity, Cut and Carat size. These 4 criteria are measurable to accurately assess, grade and value sapphires
134
- Jan 15
Sapphire - The Most Ethical Precious Gemstone?
What is an Ethical Sapphire, and how is this defined? The ethical catchphrase evolved from the diamond industry, which has a history of...
99
- Sep 29, 2022
Peridot - The Official New Zealand Guide
The name Peridot is French and derives from the Greek word Peridona, meaning to 'bestow wealth'.
49
- Jul 18, 2022
Grandidierite - A Rare Gem
According to GIA in Bangkok, Grandidierite is one of the world's rarest gemstones.
77
- May 22, 2022
Unheated Sapphires versus Heated Sapphires
Unheated Sapphires or Heated Sapphires - A New Zealand Buyers Guide. What is the difference between a heated sapphire and unheated sapphire?
212
- May 10, 2022
Emerald - The Official New Zealand Guide
The Sapphire Merchant is a New Zealand based stockist of natural Emeralds at wholesale prices.
380
- Feb 19, 2022
Amethyst - A Guide to February's Birthstone
Amethyst, the purple variety of crystalline quartz loved by so many for its purple hue, is both the traditional and modern birthstone for...
63
- Jan 15, 2022
January Birthstone - A Modern & Traditional New Zealand Guide
Where did the concept of birthstones originate from, and who decided which gemstone correlated to which month? We see the symbolism of...
58
- Jan 2, 2022
Garnet - The Official New Zealand Buyers Guide
The word 'Garnet' originates from Latin 'granatus', which translates to 'rounded seed' or 'grain'. The inside of a pomegranate is the...
269
- Sep 3, 2021
A Brief History of Sapphires
The mining of sapphires dates back to 800BC. The word sapphire is derived from the Greek word 'Sapphirus'. It is accepted that the great...
156
- Jul 23, 2021
Modern Birthstones
A list of modern birthstones. The 12 signs of the zodiac had long been associated with a gemstone...
133
- Jun 24, 2021
Tourmaline - The Official New Zealand Buyers Guide
Sapphire Merchant has a beautiful collection of tourmaline gemstones available for purchase.
190
- Jun 14, 2021
Ruby Gemstone - The Official New Zealand Guide
Ruby derives its name from the Latin Rubens which directly translates to red. Ruby is the red variety of the mineral 'corundum' and...
619
- May 18, 2021
Spinel - The Official New Zealand Buyers Guide
The name 'spinel' comes from the Latin word spinella, meaning 'little thorn', referring to the sharp points of a spinel's crystal.
246
- May 1, 2021
Gahnospinel - Finding a needle in a haystack
The Sapphire Merchant had an auspicious find. We have all our gemstones laboratory tested to ensure quality control. When buying a lot of...
186
- Apr 28, 2021
Tsavorite Garnet - The Official New Zealand Guide
The Sapphire Merchant is proud to present to the New Zealand market this exceptional 3.05ct Tsavorite.
184
- Mar 22, 2021
The Sapphire Merchant - My Story
The Sapphire Merchant, an emerging online business run by 38-year-old Gemma Dillon, is changing the traditional method of how the...
506
- Mar 21, 2021
Paraiba Tourmaline - The Official New Zealand Buyers Guide
Paraiba Tourmaline Gemstone. The Sapphire Merchant Official New Zealand Buyers Guide.
198
- Mar 3, 2021
Aquamarine - The Official New Zealand Guide
The name Aquamarine translates to 'sea water' in Latin. Invoking its namesake - a sublime clear blue ocean. For many New Zealanders,...
470
- Feb 28, 2021
Finding Padparadscha in New Zealand - A Journey that led me to Sri Lanka
My inability to find Padparadscha, the sapphire that encapsulates a sunset within, took me away from New Zealand to the island of Sri...
27
- Feb 19, 2021
Buying a Blue Sapphire in New Zealand - The Official Guide
Buying a blue sapphire in New Zealand is a challenge... In 2019 my brother asked me to help him source a blue sapphire to have a bespoke...
1,015
- Feb 7, 2021
Easy Sapphire Buying Guide - Everything You Need to Know...
Purchasing a sapphire through a jeweller in New Zealand will cost a premium, and often there is little in the way of choice. I attribute...
240
bottom of page