KELLY GEMS

How Daigou Reshaped Sri Lanka’s Gem Trade

Fri, 29 May 2026 21:41:30 -0700

For readers who have followed my previous articles, it is possible to clearly observe the changes in the market. After several major shifts in the global environment, Sri Lanka’s gemstone procurement market has undergone a tremendous transformation compared to ten years ago. In the early years, there were only a small number of Chinese jewellery shop owners and wholesale buyers. Today, however, Sri Lanka has become an important hub for Chinese purchasing agents (“daigou”).

Daigou = Purchasing products from around the world and selling them directly online through the internet, then personally carrying or shipping them back to China.

Livestreaming = Using a smartphone and an online platform to conduct live sales of products on-site.

The market transformation is already a reality that cannot be reversed.

Origins of the Trend

During the pandemic, due to a lack of liquidity among gemstone owners and...Read More

什么是宝石溯源所有权证书？

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:08:20 -0700

KELLY GEMS International（凯莉宝石国际）于2025年12月在斯里兰卡成立并合法注册。作为KELLY GEMS的子公司，KELLY GEMS International致力于开启宝石和珠宝行业的新篇章，率先在全球范围内建立包含所有权描述的可追溯宝石证书，并在实体服务点记录宝石的整个交易过程。本公司提供宝石所有权身份证书。

发起者源自凯莉宝石交易所创办人刘凯莉，一位通过中国武汉地质大学珠宝鉴定师、英国宝石协会宝石学家认证、英国伯明罕城市大学奢侈珠宝管理硕士、经营斯里兰卡宝石上游中介交易所历经十年之久，为世界各国宝石批发商交易数万颗宝石，这期间透过不断做相关研究并且丰富的写作，出版相关文章及研究内容至各大珠宝杂志、专业研究期刊，缔造丰富的商务与研究经验，在十年后，凯莉迈向宝石的新篇章，成立宝石与珠宝的所有权溯源证书，成为世界首创，落实交易透明、永续计划、为所有的宝石的写下所有历史纪录。让宝石不在只是一张科学的检测报告、相对应的价格，而是历史及文化的传承。

这是我们建立全球宝石可追溯性和包含所有权资讯的实体服务点的第一步。我们的主要目标是追踪宝石旅程的每一个环节，从原石到切割、抛光、上游拍卖市场、批发商、出口、珠宝设计、终端买家，甚至未来的拍卖。所有与所有权转移相关的数据都记录在区块链上，每颗宝石都运用科学和宝石学原理进行记录，以降低误判、失窃风险，并为每颗宝石创建独一无二的所有权证书。该记录确保了可持续性，并透过

KELLY GEMS International was established and legally registered in Sri Lanka in December 2025. As a n associated company of KELLY GEMS. The company is committed to opening a new chapter in the gemstone and jewellery industry. It is the first initiative in the world to establish traceable gemstone certificates which include ownership descriptions, whilst recording the entire transaction process of gemstones through physical service points. Our company provides Gemstone Traceability Ownership Identity Certificates.

Gemstone Traceability Certificate (TC)

The initiative was founded by Kelly Liu, the founder of the KELLY GEMS. She is a certified gemological appraiser from China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), a gemologist Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain(FGA), and holds a Master’s degree in Luxury Jewellery Management from Birmingham City University in the Great Britain.

For over a decade, she has operated an upstream gemstone brokerage exchange in Sri Lanka, facilitating transactions involving tens of thousands of gemstones for wholesalers from around the world. During this time, she conducted continuous research and produced extensive academic writing, publishing articles and studies in major jewellery magazines and professional research journals. Through this experience, she accumulated profound expertise in both commercial trading and academic research.

After a decade in the industry, Kelly embarked on a new chapter, establishing the world's first traceable ownership certification system for gemstones...Read More

The future of gemstone ownership

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:24:15 -0800

Introduction
For the past decade I have personally focused on upstream trading and research in coloured gemstones. My understanding of the market led me to an idea that I’ve long held and for which I now feel the time has come; namely a Gemstones Traceability Certificate programme based on the uniqueness of a gemstone which traces the gemstones from upstream to the final buyer.
There have been limited attempt at this in the past, but they have relied on forms of numerical tagging or external coding, rather than the uniqueness of the gemstone itself, and have focused on identification not also the history from upstream to final buyer.

The New Traceability Product
It is the natural inclusions within coloured gemstones which solves the overall coding problem and provides irrefutable lifelong data. Providing scientific and narrative traceability for gemstones, whilst increasing their identifiability. Even if the gemstone is lost, it can be found by tracing its origin records.
The KELLY GEMS International platform (Gemstones Traceability Certificate) provides comprehensive data on coloured gemstones and jewellery, documenting a gemstones entire history. From its natural codes (inclusions) to transition from nature to human intervention the information will include scientific origin traceability, elemental content, detailed photographs of artificial and natural inclusions (which serve as signature codes), origin descriptions, special visible characteristics, and narrative transaction histories. In addition, there will be a register of the owner's information (anonymity of owner name can be selected for added safety and security), all gemstone...Read More

The 3th Sri Lanka National Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute annual symposium

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 02:14:13 -0700

This year, I was honored to be invited as a panel member at the largest academic organization under the Sri Lankan government, alongside three distinguished guests:
• Prof. G.W.A. Rohan Fernand, CEO of the Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute (GJRTI),
• Rizwan Nayeem, Executive Director of the Ceylon Gems and Jewellery Trade Association (CGJTA), and
• Kelly Liu, Managing Director of KELLY GEMS.

Kelly Liu’s presentation part of theme on the symposium:
How do responsible sourcing and traceability systems within the supply chain influence international buyers’ trust and demand for Sri Lankan gemstones?

Responsible sourcing ensures that the mining and supply of gemstones are free from:
• Child labor and labor exploitation
• Financing of armed...Read More

Why Do Professional Gemstone's Buyers in Sri Lanka Need Intermediaries?

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 10:08:58 -0700

Why Do Professional Gemstone's Buyers in Sri Lanka Need Intermediaries?
Sri Lanka is a major source of colored sapphires and remains one of the few countries still actively mining these precious stones. Many of the world's most famous blue sapphires originate here. For example, a dazzling 392.52 carat unheated blue sapphire necklace recently auctioned at Christie’s was identified by the Gübelin Gem Lab as Sri Lankan in origin, unheated, and of exceptional quality one of the largest faceted sapphires ever examined by the lab. ( Part of information are according to Gubelin's post)
(Photo from Christie's)
Against this backdrop, Sri Lanka has become a key destination for gemstone traders. The country currently has two major and mature gemstone markets: Ratnapura (the City of Gems) and Beruwala. These two markets were detailed in a previous article for those interested in learning more.
Is It Legal to Take Gemstones Out of the Country?
Under Sri Lankan government regulations, tourists are allowed to legally purchase up to USD $10,000 worth of gemstones for personal use, provided they are not in commercial quantities. These stones can be taken out of the country using official invoices from licensed jewelry companies. However, whether the quantity qualifies as “non-commercial” is at the discretion of customs officials.
If a buyer wishes to take...Read More

Where Is Asia’s Two Largest International Gem Trading Hubs?

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 11:34:46 -0700

Currently, there are two significant international gemstone trading hubs in Asia: Thailand and Sri Lanka. Let’s explore the fascinating gemstone industry and the professional geological factors behind it.

Thailand
Thailand has a long-standing history in the gemstone trade, dating back several centuries, particularly in the eastern provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat. Here are some key development phases in Thailand’s gemstone industry:
14th–15th Century (Ayutthaya Kingdom Period)
During the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1350–1767), Thailand began mining and trading gemstones, mainly rubies and sapphires, especially Burmese rubies and local Thai sapphires. These gems were used as ornaments for nobility and traded for spices and silk with China, India, and the Arab world along the Silk Road.
Gem Industry Formation - Late 19th to Early 20th Century
Rich gemstone deposits were discovered in...Read More

Sri Lankan gem trader buys rough spinel in Africa turns out to be a rare blue diamond?!

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 10:51:17 -0700

Sri Lankan gem trader buys rough spinel in Africa turns out to be a rare blue diamond?!
Sri Lankan gem traders have been sourcing rough gemstones from African countries for many years. Last month, a bombshell shook the entire market. A group of three Sri Lankan Muslims comprising one specialist in gemstone heating and two long time rough stone buyers who frequently travel to Africa and return to Sri Lanka for polishing and selling encountered an astonishing find.
One of the group members, while in Africa, came across a rough stone weighing over 14 carats. Initially, it was believed to be a blue spinel. Due to budget limitations, they brought the stone back to Sri Lanka first for cutting. However, during the cutting process, the cutter found the stone to be extremely hard and suspected it required further testing.
(In Sri Lanka, the standard cutting wheel used can handle gemstones with a Mohs hardness of up to 9, such as sapphires. It cannot cut diamonds, which have a hardness of 10. Diamonds can only be cut by other diamonds or by using advanced laser cutting technology.)
The rough was sent to a local gem lab in Sri Lanka for identification, where it was confirmed to be a diamond. It was then promptly sent to Thailand for certification by GIA. The result, issued on August 15th, was shocking it turned out to be a natural blue diamond with a grayish-blue hue. This was confirmed to be an extremely rare natural blue diamond.
Thai diamond traders immediately made offers, with initial reports suggesting a bid of around USD 5 million. The final deal was reportedly closed at approximately USD 6.5 million.
Read More

Observations on the Upstream Market of Colored Gemstones in Sri Lanka-Beruwala

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 08:27:47 -0700

Sri Lanka has long been an important region for sourcing-colored gemstones. In addition to producing its own gemstones, it also serves as a hub connecting to East Africa. In earlier years, due to government restrictions on domestic mining, many local Muslim traders began traveling to countries such as Madagascar, Mozambique, and other African nations to purchase rough stones, which were then brought back to Sri Lanka for cutting and polishing. Over time, Sri Lanka has become a significant wholesale market for colored gemstones in Asia, second only to Thailand, and is also a major producer and trader of sapphires.

1. Changes in the Upstream Segment of the Gemstone Supply Chain
1.1 Types of Buyers: Live Streamers, Online Purchasing Agents, Studios, Professional Buyers
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, around 2021, the first wave of livestream gemstone sales began. The main participants were Chinese nationals living overseas and some former tour guides or small restaurant owners in Sri Lanka who pivoted due to pandemic-related uncertainties. Simultaneously, the upstream gemstone market had seen a few years of shutdowns, creating pent-up demand. Suppliers, who previously disallowed filming and preferred direct sales, began allowing buyers to photograph gemstones and conduct transactions on-site. These changes lowered the entry barriers for newcomers in the upstream gemstone industry, allowing...Read More