Ma Wutyi Khine Min Shein wearing some of Victory Jewellery’s wares last week. Pic: Aung Tun Win

GLITTERING just as brightly as their vastly more expensive cousins, it’s no surprise that demand for semi-precious stones such as amethyst, peridot and topaz have increased in the past year, said some of Yangon’s gems and jewellery shops.

Ma Ei Ei Kyaw Thet, the assistant marketing manager of the Victory Jewellery Management Co Ltd showroom in Bogyoke Aung San market, said sales of semi-precious jewellery at their shops is up by about 50 percent this year.

“We found that about half of our total sales come from semi-precious jewellery,” she said.

Daw Pwint Phyu Tin Htut, the managing director of the Manawmaya Gems and Jewellery Co Ltd in Bahan township, agreed that sales of semi-precious jewellery are up but refused to say by how much.

“Demand for semi-precious jewellery has increased in recent years and semi-precious stones produced by Mogok are the most popular choices,” she said, adding that spinals are also selling well.

“Jewellery made with spinels is usually purchased by European customers,” she said.

U Win Htwe, the marketing manager of the Myanmar VES Joint Venture Co Ltd showroom on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, said he has noticed the same trend, although he declined to say by how much.

He said amethyst, peridot and topaz are the most popular choices and the majority of his customers choose jewellery inlaid with semi-precious stones rather than diamonds, rubies or emeralds.

“I think that sales of jewellery made with semi-precious stones account for about 60pc of our sales,” he said.

Ma Ei Ei Kyaw Thet said she thinks that jewellery based on semi-precious stones is popular because it’s cheap and comes in an array of colours and styles.

“When we’ve created new designs using low-cost gems such as spinals, customers have generally shown great interest,” she said, adding that semi-precious stones cost about the same as fake precious stones, which has helped to lift their sales.

Ma Latt Latt, a famous fashion designer, said changing fashion trends have contributed to the popularity of such jewellery.

“We’ve seen lots of people interested in semi-precious jewellery after there were several fashion shows recently that showcased it along with designer clothes,” she said. Among the fashion conscious, she said, blue and pink topaz, and citrine stones are the hottest tickets because they are bright and have attractive colours.

She said that amethyst, peridot and topaz are the most popular semi-precious stones internationally.

Ma Wutyi Khine Min Shein, the owner of the Yangon Florist and Gift shop in Sanchaung township, said she buys jewellery made with semi-precious stones because they are easy to match with her clothing.

And she prefers to buy it at a goldsmith, although she admits that if something on the street catches her eye she will snap it up, especially if it’s made from amethyst, which is her favourite.

“Wearing semi-precious jewellery makes me feel very elegant,” she said.