You might hear the Gems Center being called different names, by different people. Locally, it is known as ‘Pasar Rawa Bening’ in Bahasa Indonesia.
Regardless, these names are all referring to the same interesting place in east Jakarta.
Jakarta Gems Center is situated about 8 km southeast of the Monas – Indonesia’s National Monument.
The Jakarta Gem Market is a multistory shopping center that offers a wide selection of gems, crystals and silverware. Unlike most markets, the Jakarta Gems Center also functions as a working factory.
As you walk around the market you will see merchants cutting and polishing gemstones, but once a potential buyer approaches they act as a salesperson.
This makes the market quite interesting to explore because you will also get an idea of how the gemstones are prepared before they are ready for sale.
There are multiple long tables throughout the market area. Some of the stones are placed above the glass display casings whereas others are securely stored inside.
When you visit Jakarta Gems Center you will be able to easily recognize it from the outside due to the large artificial gemstones that are spread along its exterior. Once you enter and walk through the ground floor it doesn’t take long to realize that the selection of stones is very impressive.
The ground floor is the most active in terms of gemstones, shoppers and salesmen. Therefore, it’s a good place to start when you visit.
When you move upstairs there are still small shops to choose from but some of them specialize solely in wholesale trading within a minimum purchase of USD 200 equivalent.
There is also a small general store within the Jakarta Gems Center if you need a snack or some refreshments. Although the Jakarta Gems Center has a wide selection of stones to choose from, it definitely specializes in gemstone rings.
At many of the vendors, you can easily choose a stone and also the metal or silver frame that goes along with it. In other words, you can have a ring made right on the spot. You will also have no problem finding premade gemstone rings at the market if you don’t want to wait for them to put one together for you.
There are a few craft shops and silver outlets in the Jakarta Gems Center as well, but you will find way more ring vendors than anything else. They do have some gemstone pendants as well, but very few earrings in comparison.
One of the reasons why we chose to classify Jakarta Gems Center as a market opposed to a shopping mall is the informal atmosphere inside. This is by no means a pretentious place to shop.
You can also expect some wiggle-room in terms of negotiating for prices as well. Many of the merchants know each other, so it might be hard to compare prices from different people, but you can still try.
Like most markets around the world, the more you plan on buying the more leverage you have in terms of getting cheaper prices. Try to see if you can negotiate a cheaper price than the original one you are quoted while at Jakarta Gems Center. It might be well worth a try!
When you go to Jakarta Gems Center, you should know what you are going to get: gemstones, and lots of them!
Jakarta Gems Center:
Opening Times: Everyday from 7 am to 7 pm
Address: Jl. Bekasi Barat Raya No.2, RT.4/RW.2, Rw. Bunga, Jatinegara, Kota Jakarta Timur, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, 13350
