Fossil and kalimaya stones craftsmen in Lebak regency, Banten province are able to penetrate the ASEAN market since the demand is high enough in those countries.
“We’re overwhelmed to fulfill the demand for gemstone crafts to neighboring countries,” said Ardineswati, a craftwoman from Rangkasbitung district, Lebak. She said that fossil and kalimaya stones are natural wealth existing in Lebak regency. The stones worth hundreds of millions of dollars are available in a number of areas in Lebak, such as Sajira, Maja, Cipanas, Cimarga, and Muncang.
According to Ardineswati, the craftsmen sells handicrafts made from fossil and kalimaya stones to some ASEAN countries such as Singapore, Malaysian, Thailand, and Philippines. The price for each handicraft varies from Rp 500,000 to Rp 100 million. “I think customers are interested in gemstones because they’ve got high artistic value,” she said.
Nong, a gemstone craftsman in Rangkasbitung, Lebak admitted that kalimaya stones from this area are the best in the world because the stones have got different color types compared with gemstones from Australia, Latin America, and Somalia. Kalimaya stones from Lebak are very fascinating because they have got different colors like black, brown, yellow, purple, blue and rainbow colors.
To get the gems, he said, traditional exploitation is needed, which is digging a hole to the underground to tens of meters. “It there’s a kalimaya stone underground, there’ll be visible ray,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Department of Industry and Trade of Lebak regency, Herisnen said, local government continue to develop kalimaya and fossil stones craftsmen because it can improve the local economy as well as employment.
Source:
Post - Kompas.com, April 20, 2011.
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