Which country is the world's number one exporter of cut colored gems other than emerald, ruby and sapphire?

• A. India
• B. Sri Lanka
• C. Thailand
• D. Vietnam

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is understanding who dominates the global market for finished colored gemstones outside the big three. India has a long, continuous tradition of gemstone cutting and polishing, with a vast pool of skilled lapidaries and well-established centers for processing and exporting finished stones. Stones from many sources around the world are cut, faceted, and finished in Indian workshops, then shipped to markets worldwide. This combination of extensive cutting capacity, cost-effectiveness, and entrenched trade networks drives a high volume of polished colored gems leaving the country, making it the leading exporter in this category. Other countries are important players in specific stones or regions, but their overall export volume for cut colored gems is not at India's level.