Bangkok Jewelry Stores

[Guest]

Can anyone recommend a quality & reliable jewelry shop in Bangkok? I know Chinatown is the place to go for gold but I am looking to purchase a ring, earrings, etc. tried searching the forum but nothing came up, Thanks for your feedback...

[dutch]

(Carlo_Gambino @ Oct. 30 2008,02:18) Can anyone recommend a quality & reliable jewelry shop in Bangkok? I know Chinatown is the place to go for gold but I am looking to purchase a ring, earrings, etc.  tried searching the forum but nothing came up, Thanks for your feedback...

There are a lot of shops at MBK, but I don't know anything about there "quality and reliability".

[surropan]

Johnny's Gems, 199 Thanon Fuang Nakhon, off Charoen Krung. Up near the Royal Palace et. al. It's perennially listed in Lonely Planet. I bought a gorgeous pair of ruby earrings there for the gf. Absolutely no rip-off at all. They definitely cater to people with $ to spend, and might be a bit more expensive than some bargain-basement place, but the quality is top-notch and you will NEVER find yourself getting scammed. Nice, honest people there. Also, they can do custom work.

[pacman]

Be very careful buying jewellery anywhere in Asia, particularly now with the gold price so high.

I know nothing about Bangkok retail jewellers but I know plenty about buying jewellery out of Thailand.

I can add nothing about Johnny's Gems, I've never heard of them but if they have been long established & have a large farang clientele, they will want to safeguard their reputation.

There are independent jewellery valuation laboratories in Bangkok & I suggest you ask your hotel to locate one for you, then before you close the sale, tell the owner that you want an employee to bring the piece with you to the lab & wait while it is assessed.

They will probably say they can do it for you but if you are spending decent money & the price seems too good to be true, insist on getting a second opinion, that you will need to pay for.

The lab won't be drawn on giving a retail price & if you don't speak Thai, you have no idea what they are agreeing on, the lab should be able to confirm that the stones are natural & give the carat rate for the gold.

I say "should" because most synthetic stones are re-created & test as natural & they are problematic to confirm them from the real stuff. Too hard for me to tell, gemologists need equipment & then they still often shrug as they give me the news.

Unless you are in a top-end store, the sapphires & rubies will almost certainly test as "enhanced" or "treated".

Don't worry about that, these treatments are universal & acceptable. They can't reverse & they are the reason why this stuff is affordable.

To see an unbelievable display of gemset jewellery, take your girlfriend for a windowshop through Siam Paragon but unless you are very well-heeled, under no circumstances let her try anything on.

Lastly, never buy off the street, YOU ARE 100% CERTAIN TO BE RIPPED-OFF.

[Stogie]

 Good inciteful post and great advice, Pacman...  

I, for one, would be interested in a few tales of your experiences in this area.



http://www.bangkokscams.com/

[pacman]

How long you got?    

I will cast my mind back over the years to see if I can recall any anecdotes worthy of the forum.

I doubt anyone wants to read of tiresome negotiations or tales of attempted fraud.

Better are the memories of green-as-grass buyers from home who discovered their Patpong barfine really wasn't a girl after all.

Oh the horror, they all cried....

[afghanblast]

Venus Jewelry, near the Lumpini (sp?) police station is pretty good.
AB

[surropan]

Actually, did you know that the Royal Palace is closed? I'll give you a ride in my Tuk-tuk, only five baht. I'll take you to a special temple. We just need to make one stop at a gem shop though. Very good deal mak maa.

[newatthis]

Carlo,
You might check out Pracha Jewelry a few doors down from Nana Plaza. I was introduced to the owner, Nancy, about 10 years ago by a local farang friend who has spent a small fortune in there. She has a small "factory" and several shops, so the prices are good with no middleman. I have found her to be honest and fair to deal with in the past. My friend has greater knowledge in this area than I and he is very picky as well so I feel comfortable recommending it. The last thing I bought was an "enhanced" star sapphire ring for $450.

A word of caution though, drinks are complementary and after several Johnny Black and sodas it gets easier to go over your budget.

Cheers

[dommy6]

(Carlo_Gambino @ Oct. 30 2008,05:18) Can anyone recommend a quality & reliable jewelry shop in Bangkok? I know Chinatown is the place to go for gold but I am looking to purchase a ring, earrings, etc.  tried searching the forum but nothing came up, Thanks for your feedback...

The Gambino family has no conections in bkk? You have to ask us humble members.    

[Guest]

thanks for all the great info wanker...

[jimslim]

Easy godfather , the guy was only having a bit of fun with you ,no need to give him the horse's head in the bed treatment

[dommy6]

(Carlo_Gambino @ Nov. 01 2008,11:12)

thanks for all the great info wanker...

As you were the OP, before you thank me in your second and up to now only post in this topic, you may want to show good manners and thank the some of the previous posters who answered your query in a quite helpful manner. And as well as provide interesting information in general for us all.

It would be wise to also look at the emoticons used before, during and after a sarcastic reply. Otherwise you are going to find this forum to be very insensitive.

Have a nice day.

[SamplerDoc]

(Carlo_Gambino @ Oct. 30 2008,02:18) Can anyone recommend a quality & reliable jewelry shop in Bangkok?

Ask any tuk tuk driver

[SukhumvitRoad]

Sincere Jewelry (Emporium and Paragon) and Frank's Jewelry (Four Seasons Hotel) are the top of the local market, the Tiffany of Thai jewelers. If you want the best, and are willing to pay for it, that's where you go.