[Jewelry making - Article 01239] - Re: [Orchid] India & Thailand gem purchasing trip

[doug]

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    If you're going to be in Thailand for more than a few days I highly
    recommend a trip to Mae Sot on the Burma border, there are some very
    interesting stones for sale on the street and in the small indoor gem
    markets, not as much selection and some synthetics of course but much
    less fakery and deceptiveness in general than Chanthaburi, at least
    in my experience. I know there are honest dealers in Chanthaburi, but
    as a student of a very respected gem school in Bangkok I was told by
    more than one person not to but anything there until I had been there
    every weekend for at least 2 months. After all, Chanthaburi is the
    place where nearly all modern gem treatments were invented, and they
    don't advertise when they find a new one. 

    My favorite place to buy stones in Thailand is the Bangkok Gem and
    Jewelry Expo, twice a year in September and February, there you have
    over a thousand vendors under one roof, with all the amenities,
    security, etc. Bangkok can be ok for buying stones, if you know what
    you're doing. However you must be prepared for tough negotiations
    while keeping a smile and a friendly vibe, if you get flustered or
    nervous the price will go up and you will lose face. If you drop a
    stone, don't get upset, just say oh, sorry, and pick it up. When you
    walk into a dealers office you're on their turf, and they can make
    you feel as if you have to buy something or you're wasting their
    precious time. Even the way you use your tweezers can change the
    price. Keep your poker face on when you see something you like and
    very casually ask the price. If you really want it, don't react, wait
    a while and move on to something else before coming back to the thing
    you really want, then offer half or two thirds of the the price you
    think it's really worth. The dealer will counter offer, and
    eventually, hopefully, you will get it for the price that you think
    is fair. 

    Sometimes the initial price is already a fair price, not often in
    Bangkok, but sometimes. If it seems like a good deal, ask if that's
    the best price. I like SWD gems on Silom road across from the jewelry
    trade center, they often have very fair starting prices. Most
    importantly, keep smiling, Thai people value politeness and "saving
    face" above all. Thailand is a wonderful place to buy stones (if you
    know what you're doing) and a great place to get seriously ripped off
    if you don't. Maybe you know all this stuff already, if so maybe
    someone will find this useful. I could write about buying stones in
    TH all night but I'm getting long-winded so I'll leave it at that. If
    you want more info I'll try to think of some other dealers I know in
    BKK.

Happy travels,
Douglas
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