Gem town
Martapura diamond market
Martapura, Indonesia
Market town near Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, known for diamonds dug by hand from local river gravels, with cutting workshops and gem shops.
Martapura, near Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, is Indonesia's diamond town. Diamonds have been dug by hand from the river gravels of the area for centuries, and nearby Cempaka is known for artisanal diamond mining in deep, water-filled pits.
What you find
Locally mined alluvial diamonds, rough and cut, alongside gemstones, gold and silver jewellery. Small workshops cut diamonds and stones, and the market area has many gem and jewellery shops.
How trading works
The town's markets sell to local buyers, collectors and visitors; trade parcels are handled by local dealers. Prices are negotiated.
Visiting and buying safely
- Glass, cubic zirconia and synthetic stones circulate with natural goods; buy diamonds with a grading report.
- Visits to the Cempaka mining area are possible with local guides; mining there is hard, hazardous work.
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