Seminar on Managing Gemstone Scraps to Create Additional Value to Create Jewellry Decorative Products
Gemstone market operators in Chanthaburi Province face the challenge of low-value gemstone remnants. To address this, the International Chanthaburi Gems and Jewellery Festival 2024 featured a seminar by Dr. Dawan Madlee on value enhancement. The rationale was to explore research-based strategies beyond traditional souvenir uses, focusing on innovative techniques and designs to transform these scraps into high-value jewellery and decorative items that meet current market demands, boosting industry innovation and competitiveness.
The seminar aimed to equip attendees with innovative concepts for upcycling low-value gemstone remnants into profitable, varied jewellery and decorative items. A key objective was introducing new methods for combining these remnants with diverse materials. Furthermore, the seminar sought to provide actionable strategies for designing products that resonate with current market needs and trends. The overarching goal was to empower businesses with practical knowledge to drive innovation and enhance their competitive edge in the national and international gemstone and jewellery sectors.
The presentation commenced with a review of historical and contemporary approaches to enhancing the value of gemstone remnants, which are traditionally incorporated into conventional souvenir items such as gemstone-embellished pictures, coasters, keychains, and Buddha amulets. Subsequently, Dr. Dawan introduced developmental strategies integrating diverse manufacturing techniques, including the embedding of gemstone fragments in various materials like metal, wood, and resin, the creation of intricate patterns through the arrangement of small gemstones, and the combination of gemstone remnants with recycled materials to augment product variety and establish unique characteristics. The latter part of the seminar underscored the critical importance of aligning product development with market needs, encompassing considerations such as compelling and contemporary product design, the integration of gemstone remnants with current fashion trends and styles, the diversification of product offerings to cater to distinct consumer segments, and the presentation of innovative and original design concepts.
The primary objectives of this seminar were to provide attendees with novel ideas and inspiration for transforming low-value gemstone remnants into high-value, diversified products, encompassing jewellery and decorative items. Furthermore, participants gained insights into new techniques and methodologies for integrating gemstone remnants with a wide array of materials, alongside strategies for designing and developing products that resonate with prevailing market demands and contemporary trends. The knowledge acquired from this seminar is intended for practical application in business operations, fostering innovation, and enhancing the competitive edge of the gemstone and jewellery industry at both national and international levels.
Project Leader: Lecturer Dr. Dawan Madlee, Faculty of Gems