Sharing a Global perspective of the Gem&Jewelry Industry with Vlogger 'LIFE by Kamidu'

Kamidu Priyankara is a Sri Lankan Gem&Jewelry industry professional - he is also the host of youtube channel 'LIFE by Kamindu". This channel is dedicated to educating young Sri Lankan gem and jewelry enthusiasts. I was absolutely thrilled to discover this channel as I believe this is a great resource for young Sri Lankans keen to learn more about the industry, international trade and quality standards.

Although Sri Lanka has a prominent history tied to colored stones, sadly, not very many in the mining communities have formal training or education on gem identification, quality assessment and international trade. And so this youtube channel - which is freely available to anyone is a great tool for local youngsters looking to start their journey in the industry.

It was such a pleasure to share my knowledge and experience with the Sri Lankan gem and jewelry community and young enthusiasts through Kamidu's youtube channel. Below please see the video. The Interview is in Sinhalese (local Sri Lankan language), however I've shared a translation of the discussion below video.

Question: Is there a demand for Sri Lankan Gem Stones in Western Countries

Answer:

• First of all, thank you for having me on your Youtube Channel, it’s a pleasure to be here and to share my knowledge with young Sri Lankan gem enthusiasts.

• To answer your question: Sri Lanka is one of the most significant and ancient localities known for colored stones. Many of the significant gemstones that have made history for their exceptional beauty or rarity, found on many crown jewels of Europe, East Asia and South Asia has originated in Sri Lanka.

• This historical record has positioned Sri Lanka as an esteemed destination for valuable and rare gemstones, especially gems of corundum species like Sapphire and Padparacha.

• A gem report from a reputable lab like the GIA or Gubelin that confirms the origin of a gemstone could possibly increase the value of the gem in the marketplace.

• There will always be demand for high quality Ceylon/Sri Lankan gems in my opinion.

Question: Can you share with us some information on Tiffany&Co.

Answer:

• As you mentioned Kamindu, Tiffany&Company is America’s largest and one of the world’s largest luxury jewelry companies. Tiffany&Co. was established in 1837, and have been in business for 183 years.

• Tiffany produces a wide range of jewels from High Jewelry to Fashion Jewelry.

• High Jewelry meaning - Jewelry that are truly one of a kind, handmade by master craftspeople, and are made with the rarest gems, and precious metals.

• Tiffany also offers fashion jewelry at lower prices - that is jewelry manufactured with less expensive materials for buyer’s looking for a lower price point.

Question: What are some things to consider when manufacturing gemstones or gems for a western market (For Europe/Americas)?

Answer:

• Finished Jewelry and loose gem-trade are two very different businesses. So let me first share my thoughts on faceting gems for the western market. In the West, especially if you want to work with retailers, you have to keep in mind, the quality of the stone is very important. I have seen Sri Lankan dealers that sometimes cut stones to preserve the weight of a stone while compromising the quality of the color and cut, this is not advisable.

• You can definitely demand a higher price for a stone that is of high quality.

• With finished jewelry - again quality of the materials and the workmanship are important. If you have a superior product you can demand a higher price.

• If you have a high quality stone, make sure you use precious metals to set it, and make sure your piece of jewelry is well made and finished well. The metal must be polished and finished properly.

• It you are working with semi-precious stones, you can use less precious metals like Sterling Silver or a lower clarity gold alloy like 12k or 14k gold. Or gold filled metal. Again, make sure the jewel is well made. The connections must be secure, stones must be secure. Everything must be well made, and finished well.

Question: How can one prepare for the future of this Industry?

Answer:

• Jewelry markets and consumers are changing rapidly. The advancements in information technology i.e. the worldwide web and social media have made it easy to trade around the world. Nowadays, many people have their own websites, and or they sell on social media.

• If you are serious about building a Gem or Jewelry related business, I urge you to look in to gaining an online presence.

• During this pandemic lockdown, many jewelers like Tiffany&Co. conducted majority of our business via our website.

• The other most trending topic in the Colored stone and Diamond trade at the moment is sustainability and traceability.

• What this means is being able to prove that your gemstones that you’re selling was obtained fairly, not from an illegal mine, and is from where you say they are from. And the mine that it came from is not posing long term damage to the environment.

Question: What advice do you have for someone that is keen to become a professional in the Gem&Jewelry trade?

Answer:

• If someone is keen to become a professional in the Gem&Jewelry trade, my recommendation is to get experience and exposure in the trade through work and formal training.

• If you don’t know where to start, or don’t have the funding, get a job at a gem shop or a lapidary. Learn at the workplace and save up to get your diploma.

• You can work as a customs officer, or at the National Gem&Jewelry Authority, or you can start your own business, become a gemology teacher etc.

• It’s also important to learn English, because trading with international buyers will require you to speak in English.

• Leverage the internet to always update your knowledge by using free resources such as Kamindu’s YouTube channel, and stay updated on the latest changes in the local and international trade.

• Proactively look for opportunities to learn and network within the Sri Lankan Gem trade. Attend trade shows such Facets - which is a large annual trade show in Sri Lanka.

Question: How can one get in touch with you?

Answer:

• if anyone would like to contact me, you can do that through my website www.gemheadblog.com or submit your questions to Kamindu.