This article first appeared in the GEMSWORLD 2025.

Fine calibrated coloured gemstones remain in high demand, with the market perennially on the lookout for these precious gems, according to Li Chongjie, CEO of China Stone.

The Thailand-based company specialises in extremely precise, machine-cut coloured gemstones ranging primarily from 0.6mm to 3mm. It uses advanced digital engineering and state-of-the-art cutting technology to guarantee symmetry and uniformity in size and shape.

China Stone’s customer base consists mainly of international jewellery and watch brands. Li said this client mix yields regular orders since brands require a steady and consistent supply of coloured gemstones for their production needs.

Demand for calibrated sizes was thus stable in 2024, with stones in the 0.8mm to 2mm category performing particularly well. Clients gravitated mostly towards red, pink, green and blue coloured gemstones, Li added.

Market conditions

But while demand for good-quality calibrated stones will always be robust, supply is another matter altogether. Li considers the shortage of suitable rough gemstones as the main challenge facing the business.

He explained, “Supply of good-quality rough is always limited. Our ability to produce the high-precision calibrated gemstones we are known for is largely dependent on securing the necessary raw materials. Prices inevitably reflect sourcing challenges.”

Meanwhile, stricter regulatory frameworks and evolving consumer preferences are prompting heightened scrutiny of sustainability credentials.

“The one major trend we observed in the past year is the market’s growing insistence on working with and purchasing from responsible sources. This development necessitates full disclosure and proper declaration of origins and sourcing processes,” Li shared. “We have been adhering to sustainability principles and regulations from the onset, so such requirements do not pose any difficulties for us.”

He pointed out that China Stone provides clients with a transparent and sustainable supply chain. Moreover, it adopted a solar energy system at its production facility in 2023 to significantly reduce carbon emissions.

Enhancements

Business for China Stone is likely to stay on an even keel in 2025 and beyond, said Li. Jewellery and watch businesses need raw materials to operate, and calibrated sizes are often an integral part of designs and collections.

“We have no intention of increasing our production capacity this year. Our focus is on expanding our product portfolio to start offering coloured gemstones that are not currently in our inventory as well as developing and providing more intricate cuts,” he disclosed.

In addition, China Stone is continually enhancing its technological capabilities for more effective and precise production while developing an online chat interface for seamless customer service and orders.

These measures are all designed to cement China Stone’s reputation in the market as a reliable and leading supplier of high-precision cut coloured gemstones.

The company was established in 1997 to provide the market with exceptional coloured gemstones. At the turn of the millennium, it pioneered precise and automated machine-cut calibration and steadily built its name and staked its reputation on delivering calibrated natural gemstones with high standards in size, cut, clarity and colour sorting.

Today, China Stone has 300 employees across five locations. Headquartered in Bangkok, it maintains branches and business partners in China, the US, Italy and Switzerland to service local customers.

“All our efforts are geared towards market recognition as a trusted, innovative and consistent source of precision-cut natural gemstones, and this continues to be our mission to this day and moving forward,” Li asserted.