Cambodia’s gems and jewelry sector set to shine
Inside a nondescript villa in central Phnom Penh, men and women in white lab coats peer through lenses, carefully studying the magnified objects in front of them. But these aren’t biologists researching cell division or bacteria; these are gem testers concerned with inclusions and refractive indices on rubies, sapphires and other precious stones. They are working at Intertek, Cambodia’s first quality-testing lab for gems and jewelry and a further step in the evolution of an industry that experts say is sparkling with potential, but is still at the early stages of its development. Intertek was established to bring a new level of professionalism to a sector that has been the domain of amateurs and craftspeople with little training and almost no modern equipment. Khuth Sothy, the lab’s manager, says the lab is “an accelerator for exports” since it will increase trust and confidence in the Kingdom’s gem and jewelry products, essential if they are going to be a success on international markets. …
