All that glitters
A new museum focusing on the art of stone cutting and the beauty of Thai gems has just opened to the public.
Operated by SG Centre, the new Siamgems Heritage on Bangkok’s Pradithmanutham Road, has four rooms, one of them dedicated to prehistoric ornaments found in Thailand. “Eternity of Gems” takes visitors back to the age of beads – humanity’s first ornaments – through bronze, gold, precious stones, and exquisite jewellery.
“Reflection” is the theme of the second room, which displays the work of experienced Thai craftsmen as they carefully transform unremarkable coloured stones into glittering gems worthy of a place in any collection.
The third room, “Chamber of Virtue”, is home to Navaratna, the nine gems regarded by Thais as highly valuable items that bring great fortune to their owners, while the last room “Tiara of the Lady” showcases the tiara crafted meticulously by highly-skilled artisans with the luminous scarlet of Siamese rubies.
There’s also a cinema dome called Siamgems Sphere where visitors can explore the world of jewellery through a 360-degree light-and-sound presentation. Museum guides in Thai, English and Chinese are on hand.
The museum is open daily, from noon to 5pm. For details, call (02) 949 9500 or visit www.SiamgemsHeritage.com.
