Faces of Myanmar - A jeweller in Jade Market

The Jade Market in Mandalay is a fascinating place where craftsmen (including gem cutters, polishers and dealers) are gathered together in a closed market, containing hundreds of crowded workshops all working the jade.

Early in the morning, the main trading activity comes alive in the streets of the jade market: Burmese from the Northern Regions (Kachin State) come to sell their pieces of jade. The craftsmen buy the commodity with the greatest attention (you will see them meticulously examining the stones with small torches to determine its purity). As soon as an emerald-green or a lavender hue appears in a block of jade, prices soar, reaching several hundred or even thousands of euros.

At any time walking through the streets of the market you will see jade being cut, shaped, and polished. You will also witness Burmese taking a break by playing traditional games that I never heard of.