G V Gems & Handicrafts

You can find us at G V Gems & Handicrafts over at 42 Goner Road in Johari Bazar. Being in Johari Bazar means we are surrounded by jewelry shops and people looking for something special. Our shop is a bit different because we mix the gems with various handicrafts we’ve picked up over time. The building is old, like most things in this part of town, with high ceilings and those heavy wooden doors that creak every time someone enters. We spend most of our days sorting through stones or arranging the hand-carved pieces on the shelves. It’s not a quiet place; you can always hear the sound of the market outside, the bells from the rickshaws and the tourists talking. We don’t have a big fancy showroom with spotlights. Instead, we use the natural light coming through the front windows to show off the colors of the gems. Some days are very slow, and we just sit and polish the display cases or talk to the shopkeeper next door about the weather. Other days, it’s so crowded we can barely move between the tables. We’ve been here long enough that the local guides know where to find us. We don't do much advertising; people usually just wander in because they saw something interesting in the window. It’s a simple way to make a living, surrounded by beautiful things and the history of the bazar.