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Jakarta Post

The ups and downs of gemstones

Fri, April 13, 2018   /   11:21 am
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    Various gemstones are on display. JP/Boy T. Harjanto

Boy T Harjanto

Four years ago, gemstones became a trend among Indonesians regardless of their age group and social economy background. Fans started hunting for gemstones because they believed the stones could bring them good luck.

Doyok, a gemstone trader in Yogyakarta, launched his business long before the trend first emerged in the 1990s. The returning gemstone boom of 2014 earned him up to Rp 150 million (US$10,892) a month.

However, the trend has since died down, hitting Doyok and other traders hard. Many were forced to close down their kiosks and start a new business. Only a few managed to survive in Yogyakarta. [yan]