Our Partners

Turquoise Mountain was founded in 2006 by HRH the Prince of Wales to preserve and promote cultural heritage and support artisan communities in the Middle East and Asia, and has been working in Myanmar since 2016. Our work in Myanmar focuses on the restoration and adaptive re-use of historic buildings in Yangon, the preservation and promotion of traditional crafts, and the social and economic development of artisan communities. For centuries, Myanmar goldsmiths were renowned for their hand-crafted jewellery. Nowadays, complex decorative designs using handmade filigree, open-wire work, and other traditional methods are hard to find and machine-made production dominates the offering. The skills needed to craft a jewellery piece by hand, from creating the right alloy to the polishing of the finished product are at risk of disappearing. Our goldsmiths are all natives of Ramree Island, which has a goldsmithing tradition going back to the sixth century. Using 18 karat gold and semi-precious gemstones, they create timeless works of art and safeguard their unique cultural heritage.

For nine generations, the Kasliwal family has been handcrafting jewelry that challenges the conventions of art and transcends time, maintaining traditions and techniques that date back centuries. Intricately crafted pieces often required years of perfecting by dedicated craftsmen. With an uncompromising commitment to perfection, The Gem Palace has been creating pieces that stand the test of centuries, reinforcing a central tenet – ‘though we may come and go, jewelry remains forever.’ Centuries of Mughal emperors had depended on jewelers like the Kasliwal family. After decades as jewelers for Mughal royalty, the Kasliwals went on to serve as the crown jewelers to the royal family of Jaipur. Around the world, the Kasliwal name is synonymous with innovative design and flawless craftsmanship and with the mastery of traditional Indian techniques like Kundan setting and Meenakari enameling. The Gem Palace jewels have been displayed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Somerset House, The Kremlin, and The Kennedy Center. The Gem Palace remains located today on MI Road and continues to employ many descendants of the original studio craftsmen. Many of the workers represent a long line of skill and mastery, having learned their particular expertise from fathers and grandfathers before them. A long, unbroken chain of craftsmanship sets The Gem Palace apart.