Henry Ho

Henry Ho is a jeweler in Thailand and President of the Bangkok Diamond & Precious Stones Exchange.

Early life

Born in Rangoon, Myanmar, the youngest of four children, Ho left for Thailand in 1963. He decided to settle in Bangkok and started a company called "World Lapidary". In 1976 Henry Ho graduated at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Santa Monica, California, USA. During this time, he met Robert Weiser, a fellow student and scholar where together they set up the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS) in 1978. He served as the vice-president of TGJTA from 1993 to 1995, and is an Advisor to the association. Ho also represented the highest and official diamond authority in Belgium, the Diamond High Council (1996 - 1999) by operating their Asian office, offering educational courses and promoting Belgian diamond interests.

Notable activities

In 1996, Henry Ho created a special diamond cut for the Queen Mother of Thailand, Queen Sirikit, on the occasion of her 60th birthday.

In 1995, the Golden Jubilee, the world's largest faceted diamond of 545.67 carats was purchased from De Beers by a group of Thai business people led by Henry Ho in 1995. It was arranged for the diamond to be given to King Bhumibol as a gift from the people to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the King's ascent to the throne. The diamond is now on display in the Royal Museum at Pimammek Golden Temple Throne Hall in Bangkok as part of the crown jewels. an international academic conference aimed to establish ruby as Thailand's most important exported gem.

In conjunction with the World Ruby Forum, Henry Ho's major activities during the event include the World's Most Beautiful Ruby Contest and the Ruby Heart of Love supported by leading entrepreneurs. The Ruby Heart of Love is a charitable project composed of assembling 700 rubies into a heart shape representing love and harmony of the Thai people to commemorate the late King's 70th coronation and also the 84th birthday of Queen Sirikit.

Bangkok Diamond & Precious Stones Exchange

Most recently, Ho was appointed President of the Bangkok Diamond & Precious Stones Exchange (BDPSE). The BDPSE is officially recognized and endorsed by the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB). The Bangkok Diamond & Precious Stones Exchange (BDPSE) is currently situated at the Jewelry Trade Center, where Ho oversees the growth and development of the BDPSE along with the executive board, the advisory board and its members.