TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 45-year-old Toni had to pay for Rp22 million for a super bacan doko agate stone from a vendor at Pasar Segar Panakkukang, Makassar.
“The owner did not want any less,” said Toni to Tempo at Pasar Segar Panakkukang, Penganyoman Street on Friday, March 27.
Pasar Segar was suddenly packed with agate stone vendors when gemstone community in Makassar, the Gemstone Lover, held an agate exhibition starting from March 26 to 29. Men, women, young and old were all crowding the market located on the second floor of the ex-Makassar mall.
Vendors from Jakarta, Central Java, East Java, Aceh and Ternate were taking part along with local vendors. Agate sold in larger chunks are considered cheaper because it can be made into several agate.
“This is the first trial lab which is held outside Java,” said Agus Dwi from the ACC Gem Lab.
Yulianti, a vendor taking part in the festival said that the agate bought by Toni was not expensive. She claimed to have sold similar stone for Rp500 million.
“For gemstone lovers, the price are affordable,” said Yulianti.
Visitors who arrived on budget can shop on dragon scale stone from Enrekang and higado from Bau-bau which are sold only for Rp100,000 to Rp300,000 per piece.
MUHAMMAD YUNUS
