Johari Bazaar — "Jewelers' Market" — is the heart of Jaipur's renowned gemstone trade. The city processes and exports more colored gems than anywhere else in the world, particularly emeralds from Colombia and Africa, rubies from Mozambique, and sapphires from Sri Lanka. The bazaar's narrow lanes are lined with workshops and shops selling gems, set jewelry, and unset stones at prices well below what you'd pay in Europe or North America.
The market is at its most atmospheric in the early morning when gem dealers spread their stones on velvet cloths and haggle in low voices, and in the evening when the pink sandstone buildings glow in the warm light. Even if you're not buying, the concentration of precious stones on display — emeralds in trays, rubies by the handful — is extraordinary.
Buying here requires some knowledge; quality varies enormously and reputable dealers are mixed among those catering entirely to uninformed tourists. Go with a clear sense of what you want, compare several shops, and don't let anyone take you to their "cousin's factory." For learning about gems, the gem laboratories off the main bazaar sometimes offer informal tours.