Beautiful Gemstones
Cambodian gemstones
Cambodia has a wealth of beautiful gemstones. Some, like rubies from Pailin, have established an international reputation for their quality, but other stones are relatively unknown.
♦ Ruby
♦ Sapphire
♦ Zircon
♦ Peridot
♦ Aquamarine
♦ Garnet
♦ Topaz
♦ Amethyst, Citrine, Quartz (rock crystal)
♦ Agate and Carnelian
♦ Obsidian
Vivid red
Ruby
Vivid red rubies with good clarity are the most valuable gemstones in Cambodia. Rubies are recovered from riverbeds around Pailin where prospectors wash through river gravel. After diamond, ruby (along with sapphire) is the hardest gemstone and is a good choice for jewellery that is worn every day. A ruby must be red to be called a ruby: if the same type of stone is pink or orange (or any other colour) it is called a sapphire.
Bright blue
Sapphire
Like rubies, sapphires are recovered from riverbeds. Although many people think of sapphires as blue, they come in a wide range of colours, including pink, purple, yellow, green and even black. Sapphires have the same hardness as rubies and are also a good choice for everyday wear. Sapphires are typically more affordable than rubies. Sapphires with the brightest colours come from Pailin.
Brilliance and sparkle
Zircon
Zircon stones are found in Ratanakiri, at the opposite end of the country to Pailin. Not to be confused with cubic zirconia (a factory-made stone), zircons are natural.
The stones are typically shades of orange or brown in the raw state, but heating brings about a change of colour to intense blue (the most valuable) or even white. Zircons have great brilliance and sparkle. While they are very beautiful, zircon stones are softer than rubies or sapphires and are a good choice for earrings, pendants, or rings in a protected setting.
Brightest green
Peridot
The brightest green gemstone found locally is peridot, from Mondulkiri province beside Vietnam. (Emeralds are not found in Cambodia.) Typically a fresh bright green, peridot is both attractive and affordable. It is softer than rubies or sapphires and about the same as zircon. It is a good choice for earrings, pendants, or rings in a protected setting.
Pale blue
Aquamarine
Aquamarine crystals in Cambodia, found in Takeo province, are typically a very pale blue in their natural state.
Rich red
Garnet
Cambodia has two types of garnets, one a very dark rich red, the other purplish-red. Most of our garnets come from Pailin.
Hard gemstone
Topaz
Found in Takeo and some other provinces, topaz in Cambodia is typically colourless or a very pale blue, with great sparkle. It is a hard gemstone (less at risk of scratching than quartz or peridot) but can be damaged if it is given a hard knock.
Many colours
Amethyst, Citrine, Quartz (rock crystal)
Quartz comes in many colours and has many names. Amethysts (from Kampong Thom or Ratanakiri) range from soft lilac to deep purple, while citrine ranges from yellow to orange. Colourless quartz is often called rock crystal. Quartz from Takeo province includes the colourless variety, smoky quartz, and stones that range from pale lemon yellow to an intense cinnamon. While these stones can make spectacular pieces of jewellery, they are best used for earrings, pendants, or rings in a protected setting to avoid the risk of damage.
Bands of red
Agate and Carnelian
Agate typically has bands of red, brown, yellow and other colours while carnelian is a vivid orange or reddish orange. These stones have been carved into beads for many centuries. Carnelian stones can be seen in gold jewellery from the time of the Khmer empire (802–1431).
Deep black
Obsidian
Produced by volcanic action, obsidian is popular for its deep black colour. It has been used in jewellery and ornaments for thousands of years – the pupils in the eyes of the famous gold mask of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun are made of obsidian.
