How many kinds of Thai amulets collected or used by Thai people ?
There are MANY THOUSANDS kinds of Thai amulets collected and used by Thai people. For foreign collectors and users know only few kinds.

Are there fakes on Thai amulets?
Thai amulets in Thai society are valuable assets. They are high-liquidity assets, they can be transacted or changed to money easily because most Thai people hang amulets on their necks. They want authentic items which are limited in quantity. So, there are SO MANY FAKES AND IMITATIONS in amulet markets. A lot of Thai people buy these fakes and imitations. And a lot of fakes and imitations are also exported to many countries--in Asia, Europe and the United States. At present, many fakes and imitations are publicly sold via SOME WEB SITES. Foreign buyers who have no knowledges on Thai amulets can easily be delicious preys of the cheated and deceptive online dealers.

How do they do the fakes business?
Fakes and imitations are widely sold in amulet markets, the wholesale prices are very low. An average price of a fake or imitation runs between 10-20 Baht(around a US quarter--50 US Cents) per piece. They just sell you 10-30 US$, they can make a big profit. But the items on your necks are not amulets, but just plain pieces of plaster, alloy, copper, or gravel. Absolutely, these street materials can not protect you at all.  

How about the real prices of authentic Thai amulets ?
The prices of authentic Thai amulets are upon their popularities. The Great-Grand-Five or BenjaPhakhi which are antique amulets--the price of each are millions in Baht, roughly estimation starting from 30,000 US$ up. Some items are valued of 500,000 US$. Meanwhile prices of many other authentic old items-- both Guru-created and antique items-- run between four to six figures in Baht (roughly between 30-24,000 US$)  

Is it difficult to identify the authenticity of Thai amulets ?
Yes, it's rather difficult. It needs time and experiences to learn and develop skills. Because Thai amulets comprise of MANY THOUSANDS items,  examiners who identify them must have specific knowledges on their imprints, materials and surface characteristics which are widely different. It really takes time to learn them each by each as days have gone by. So, it is normally that many professional experts have standed on this field more than 15 years.

How different between identification on gems and Thai amulets?
Commercial gems are just many tens of kinds, their physical properties are certain values. We identify its hardness which run between 1-10 Moh Scale. We identify their reflective index and specific gravities which also are certain values. Todays, there are many modern device to identify gems, it's not so difficult to learn. But for Thai amulets, you use only 10x-magnifying lens to identify their authenticity. Absolutely, you must have good memory on MANY HUNDREDS or THOUSANDS of their imprints, mass, materials, colors, textures, surface characteristics, etc. You must differentiate these factors by one magnifying lens only. Apart from good memories on recording data onto your "computer"(brain), you also must have the efficient eagle eyes to differentiate everything under the magnifying lens.

Is there any best way to start collecting Thai amulets?
Yes, there is the best and most safest ways. Collecting and finding only the amulets that are CREATED BY OLD GREAT OR WELL-KNOWN GURUS, OR FROM FAMOUS TEMPLES. By this way you know their histories and origins. Try to avoid the unknown or strange-look items. Before collecting any item, please learn their imprints and mass characteristics thoroughly, otherwise buying from the ETHICAL AND TRUSTABLE DEALERS only. 

How many ethical and trustable dealers?
There are not many good dealers of this kind. The most important thing you must realize--in the amulet markets  the fakes and imitations overwhelm the genuine items. If you have no knowledges on Thai amulets, it's a must to rely on the moral, ethical and trustable dealers.