Gem Discovery 1 with Tay Kunming *OCTOBER 2026

You may have admired a beautiful gemstone, wondered why one stone costs more than another, or simply wanted to know more about the jewellery you already own.

You don't need any gem knowledge or experience to join us. Just come with your curiosity.

In this hands-on workshop, you'll get to explore gemstones up close, learn what to look out for, and gain a better understanding of how to appreciate and choose gems with confidence.

Gem Discovery with Tay Kunming is a 2-hour, hands-on introduction to gemstones, led by gemologist Tay Kunming.

You'll get to handle natural gemstones from around the world, learn how to look at and assess them, and see a live gemstone assessment.

Tay will also share his experience from years of working in the gem trade, including stories and insights from the markets where he sources his stones.

It's a practical and relaxed way to learn more about gems, whether you're completely new to them or simply want to know more.

How the 2 Hours Work

1:55pm — Arrive at The Gem Museum Singapore, 9 Perak Road, Little India

Tay personally walks you through the museum — not the standard public tour. Stories, context, and a behind-the-scenes perspective that most visitors never get. This is where the journey begins.

2:00pm — The session begins

Over 90 minutes you will:

• Handle real gemstones sourced directly from Tucson, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Gem Genève — stones Tay personally selected on his most recent sourcing trips
• Watch a live gemological assessment using professional tools — a loupe, a refractometer, a UV lamp — and understand exactly what you're seeing
• Hear stories from inside the trade — what Tay has seen, sourced, and learned across 20 years and four continents
• Complete a short personal discovery exercise that helps you understand what draws you to gems — and what your natural next step looks like
• Leave with your own Gem Passport — your pathway, your next step, the stones you handled, all written in your own hand and yours to keep

4:00pm — The session closes. The stones stay on the table.

If something spoke to you during the session — you'll have the opportunity to take it home. Stones are available for purchase after the session with full disclosure and honest pricing. No pressure. No rush. Just the right conversation at the right time.

What Draws People to This Session

Everyone arrives curious about something different:

🪨 The Collector — always wanted to own beautiful stones but didn't know how to start
💍 The Creator — has an idea for a piece of jewellery but doesn't know where to begin
🔬 The Verifier — owns stones or jewellery and has always wondered what they actually have
📚 The Learner — wants to truly understand gems, not just admire them
🏛️ The Heritage Keeper — has inherited something precious that needs care, valuation, or new life
🎁 The Gift Giver — wants to give something that genuinely means something
🌍 The Explorer — not sure yet, just knows something keeps pulling them toward gems

You don't need to know which one you are before you arrive. That's what the session is for.

Meet Tay Kunming

Gemologist, educator, and co-founder of The Gem Museum Singapore

Tay Kunming is a gemologist, co-founder of The Gem Museum Singapore, and Director of the Far East Gem Research Institute (GEM-A Accredited Allied Training Center). He is also the founder of The King’s Bespoke, where he works with clients to transform meaningful gemstones into jewellery made to last for generations.

With over 20 years of experience in the gem trade, Tay has built his expertise through years of sourcing gemstones directly from major gem markets around the world, including Tucson, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and GemGenève.

He believes that education is the best protection a gemstone buyer can have. Rather than simply selling stones, Tay is passionate about helping people understand what they are buying — from gemstone quality and value to making informed decisions with confidence.

Beyond his work in the gem industry, Tay serves as an Executive Committee Member of the Singapore Jewellers Association and the Diamond Exchange of Singapore.

Together with his wife, Loke Hui Ying, Tay founded The Gem Museum Singapore, the first and only gem museum in Singapore open to the public, with the vision of making the fascinating world of gemstones more accessible through education and hands-on learning.

When you sit across from Tay, you're not simply speaking with a salesperson. You're learning from someone who has spent two decades immersed in the world of gemstones — sourcing, studying, teaching, and helping people discover the stones that are right for them.

“My job is to make sure that whatever your next step with gems turns out to be — you know exactly where to take it, and you don't have to figure it out alone.”
— Tay Kunming

What You Leave With

✦ A completely different way of seeing and understanding gems
✦ Your Gem Passport — your pathway and next step, in your own hand
✦ Stories and knowledge you won't find in a book or on Google
✦ A standing invitation to return to The Gem Museum Singapore
✦ The opportunity to purchase stones directly after the session — with gem reports, at honest prices

Event Details

📍 The Gem Museum Singapore, 9 Perak Road, Rochor MRT Exit B

📅24 October 2026 Saturday.
🕐 Arrive by 1:55pm · Session 2:00pm – 4:00pm
🎟️ SGD 58 per person
👥 6 seats only

The stones on the table for this session were personally sourced by Tay on his most recent trip to Bangkok. Available for purchase after the session — on a limited window only.

Register in Eventbrite

You've been curious about gems for a while now.

You just needed somewhere to start.

Limited to just 6 seats. Register early — registration closes when all seats are filled!