Award Announcement for The World Most Beautiful Ruby Contest 2017 in 60^th Bangkok Gem and Jewelry Fair

The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (Public Organization) or GIT, under the supervision of Ministry of Commerce, collaborated with private sectors organized the World Ruby Forum in order to promote, support, raise awareness and create accurate understanding on ruby to the general public, entrepreneurs and both government and private organization, aiming to boost up ruby as Thailand’s most important exported jewel and promote Thailand as the world’s gem and jewelry trading center.

Mrs. Duangkamol Jiambutr, GIT’s Director, revealed that GIT has enhanced collaboration with our partners such as Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Jewelry Trade Center (JTC), Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS), and The Association of Gemmology for France (AFG), established the World Ruby Forum with the objectives to promote, support, raise awareness and create accurate understanding on ruby to people worldwide. World Ruby Forum also aims to increase recognition on value and beauty of ruby, which is regarded as “The King of Gems” and the strength of Thailand’s gemstone industry. This project is expected to directly and indirectly contribute to an increasing of gem and jewelry trading value and drive Thailand to become one of the world’s most important gem and jewelry trading hub.

Gem and jewelry is one of the most important industry which tremendously contributes to the Thailand’s overall economic by creating added values to several industries such as tourism, increasing number of employments, supporting Thailand’s creative economy policy and increasing sales for other related products and services. Further, gem and jewelry export values was ranked in the 3^rd position running after automotive and computer parts. The major export markets are Europe, Hong Kong, USA, Australia, India, Japan, and Middle East. In term of product, the highest exporting values are gold, gold jewelry, silver jewelry and diamond.

In 2016, the value of gem and jewelry including gold exportation is 501,080.48 million Baht or 3.49% of GDP. Ruby exported to global market value is 9,668.73 million, 20.93% growth which was accounted for 41.13% of the overall colored stones exported value or 1.93% of the total gem and jewelry product export amount. However, the export value of gem and jewelry products exclusive of gold was accounted only 244,432.48 million Baht or 1.70% of the country’s GDP.

In order to strengthen Thailand’s image as one of the world’s most important gem and jewelry trading hub and to announce the World Ruby Event which will be took place on November 4^th, 2017 to the public, GIT together with partners such as DITP, JTC, and AIGS will organize the Award Announcement Ceremony for the World’s Most Beautiful Ruby Contest 2017 in the 60^th Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair during September 6^th – 8^th, 2017 at the World Ruby Forum Venue located in front of Challenger Hall 2, Impact, Muangthong Thani. This is the second public relations event for World Ruby Forum after the first event was organized in 59^th Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair in the past February that turned out highly successful with total 32 ruby submitted to the contest and the event was participated by numbers of visitor and partners from all over the world.

The World Most Beautiful Ruby Contest is created in order to search for the most beautiful from every corner around the world. This project is supported by the leading gem entrepreneurs worldwide. Honorary judges for the contest include Mrs. Wilawan Atichat, GIT’s advisor, Mr. Chawalit Salwala, colored stone expert & Managing Director of Thai Lapidary International Co., Ltd., Mr. Victor Tuzlukov, the World’s champion gem faceter, Ms. Gail Brett Levine, Executive Director of National Association of National Appraisers USA, Mr. George Shen, Director of California Gemological Institute (A division of Edgewood College of California), and Mrs. Winnie Chen, Chairman of Guangdong Shining House. The contest was already hosted on August 23^rd, 2017 at meeting room 3^rd floor, GIT.

The award announcement ceremony was hosted on September 6^th, 2017 in 60^th Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair. The ceremony was presided over by Ms. Apiradee Tantraporn, Minister of Commerce. This time, the contest was organized in 6 categories; Natural Unheated Ruby and Traditional Heated for ruby sizes 3-5 carats, 5-10 carats and weight more than 10 carats. The Royal Trophy granted by Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol and Certificate of Recognition were awarded as follow:

Natural Unheated

1. Veerasak Gems Co., Ltd. for Ruby weight 3.00 - 5.00 carats
2. Gemburi Co., Ltd. for Ruby weight 5.01 - 10.00 carats
3. K.V. Gems Co., Ltd for Ruby weight more than 10.00 carats

Conventional Heated

1. Premiere Gems Co., Ltd. for Ruby weight 3.00 - 5.00 carats
2. Jack Abraham for Ruby weight 5.01 - 10.00 carats
3. Veerasak Gems Co., Ltd. for Ruby weight more than 10.00 carats