Travel & Sourcing Advice
Travelling to gemstone markets is exciting, but without guidance, it can be confusing and risky.
I provide practical advice and insider tips for buying ethically and safely, whether in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Africa or elsewhere.
If you're travelling and expect to see gemstones along the way, keep my free ⬇️Gemstone Buying Checklist on your phone. It's designed for exactly that moment.
Practical Travel Advice
-
How to identify trustworthy vendors and avoid scams
-
How to navigate markets confidently and efficiently
-
Tips for transport, customs and protecting your purchases
Ethical Sourcing Guidance
-
How to ensure gemstones are ethically sourced
-
Understanding mining practices and provenance
-
Avoiding suppliers who exploit workers or cut corners
-
This sourcing step-by-step guide walks you through the full buying process, just as I explain in my books.
Who Is This For?
-
This guidance is for travellers, holiday-makers, tourists, collectors, gemstone enthusiasts and anyone buying gemstones abroad who wants to make safe, ethical and informed purchases.
-
⬇️Download the Concierge Pack.
Already have a stone in mind?
Travel Sourcing Advice prepares you to buy with confidence.
If you are already being shown stones, negotiating, or want a second opinion from an independent expert, assessing the deal in real time, this moves into Buyer Protection.
That's where I can:
🔎assess the risk
🔎verify what you're being told
🔎guide you through the final decision
So you don't have to rely on seller information alone.
➡️ See how Buyer Protection works
Additional Support
May Swan-Easton, Trusted Travel Planner
For anyone travelling to source gemstones internationally, having a trusted travel planner can make all the difference. I’ve relied on May Swan‑Easton for over 15 years, and she has been an absolute lifesaver, organising nearly every one of my book research trips and responding in emergencies, often outside normal hours. Unlike typical high-street agents, May is available day and night, despite 8-9 hour time differences, so you know that whatever happens, there’s someone experienced to guide you and keep your trip on track. Her attention to detail and personal care means you can focus entirely on your gemstone journey, confident every travel detail is taken care of.
