A gem-lovers paradise in Jakarta

(14 May 2011)
Jakarta, 18 April 2011
1. Exterior of Jakarta Gems Centre
2. Wide of traders inside market
3. Pan from traders to gems
4. Mid of gems
5. Close up of rings on display
6. Wide of rings
7. Tilt up from gems to visitors
8. Close up of hands holding gem
9. Wide of exhibition hall in the market
10. Tilt down from officials to precious rocks
11. Close up of rocks
12. Wide of Chamami Aziz showing gems to visitors
13. Close up of rings
14. SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian) Chamami Aziz, gem seller
" We have a mixture of imported stones and local stones here. Indonesia is truly rich of precious stones. I can say that each province has its own distinct stone. "
15. Close up of gem being polished
16. Wide of trader polishing gem
17. Close up of a ring being taken
18. Wide of trader setting a ring
19. Close up of ring set with a hammer
20. Wide of man smoothing out gem
21. Close up of gem
22. Wide of visitors at the market
23. Mid of visitor looking at gem using flashlight
24. SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian) Chamami Aziz, gem seller
" We have a lot of local and international buyers coming here. We have a number of local buyers, but we also have buyers from Korea, Taiwan, Netherland, United States, Malaysia, Singapore and many more. "
25. Wide of Basri showing off his collection of gems
26. Mid of gems
27. Close up of rings
28. SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian) Basri, gem collector
" Personally I prefer natural gems without any human touch. Even though processed gems are beautiful, but I don't like them as much. I like natural gems, and Indonesia happens to have an abundance of natural and beautiful gems. "
29. Tilt up from gems to people in the market
30. Pan from trader to visitor
31. Wide of trader talking to visitor
32. Close up of rings on display
33. Wide of trader showing off his gems
LEADIN
In the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, there's a must-see destination for gem lovers.
The Jakarta Gems Centre is a towering four-floor mall specialising in precious stones.
STORYLINE
The mall in Rawa Bening district began selling gems in 1980. Now it's home to some 750 traders, who claim the mall is one of the biggest gem centres in Asia.
There are some imported gems for sale here, but it mainly has an extensive collection of pure Indonesian gems.
Chamami Aziz has been selling gems for 38 years and was one of the first gem traders to settle at the Rawa Bening market.
Chamami argues that Indonesian gems have several advantages over imported gems.
Indonesian gems can show a variety of 5 to 7 colours, while imported gems usually have only up to 3 colours.
The country also has 33 provinces, and each province produces a distinct gem found only in that province.
One of the most popular local gems is the dark green Bacan stone from the Moluccas.
In the gem centre, traders are involved in a number of activities outside trading itself including holding exhibitions and training for its members.
The centre also works together with the tourism ministry to promote its products. At least twice a week, groups of tourists are taken there as part of tour of the capital city.
It is no surprise that Chamami has a long list of domestic and international clients such as from the Koreas, Taiwan, United States and Singapore.
These precious stones found in the mall have a wide range of prices, ranging from US$100 up to more than US$5,000 a piece.
Gem collector Basri has been obsessively collecting gems for the past 4 years.
Basri says that the price of a good gem depends on its beauty, its cut and its colours.
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[@unpopuIaropinion]

Are the prices good there?

[@akhirpekan7092]

amazing market

[@chiringtamang1833]

Do you have Indonesian hand made stone
That glow in water

[@athageledex9620]

Akik never die

[@rahimullahshinwari7992]

What stones are these?

[@SamsungPhone-pr1lf]

Di mana tempat ini ya

[@Roma22khan]

I am stone seller from Pakistan