In his apartment, the crooked gem dealer had waited in the living room alcove.

"The gem dealers of Lyra do not want your wares."

Above the bazaar is the Gemological Institute of America which trains gem dealers.

The truth is, most of the diamonds stolen are unique and would be instantly recognizable to any gem dealer in the world.

Mr. Groom, 39 years old, has been a gem dealer for the last 15 years.

Many of the prominent gem dealers in Sri Lanka operate from this town.

When he returned to collecting in 1992, Mr. Freilich, was an experienced gem dealer who also knew where to find minerals.

"I spent 33 years as another man's shadow," says a chauffeur, who worked for a Norwegian gem dealer.

I talked with a lot of gem dealers.

His father was a gem dealer.