Semi-precious stones in Bangkok or Hong Kong
Nov 6th, 2012, 10:20 PM
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Semi-precious stones in Bangkok or Hong Kong
Hey lovely Fodorites!
I have completely enjoyed my trip to Bangkok, Siem Reap and Khao Lak, largely due to your terrific recommendations. Sadly, I am soon to begin the trip home. Stopping in Bangkok and Hong Kong along the way. I love to make jewelry, and wanted to pick up some inexpensive strands of semiprecious stones - sapphire, labradorite, Afghani jade, etc. Any favorite shops to get things like this? Any favorite shops for silver beads? Thanks
I have completely enjoyed my trip to Bangkok, Siem Reap and Khao Lak, largely due to your terrific recommendations. Sadly, I am soon to begin the trip home. Stopping in Bangkok and Hong Kong along the way. I love to make jewelry, and wanted to pick up some inexpensive strands of semiprecious stones - sapphire, labradorite, Afghani jade, etc. Any favorite shops to get things like this? Any favorite shops for silver beads? Thanks
Nov 7th, 2012, 05:18 PM
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Silver beads at Lin Silver (a whole series of shops) on New Road, a couple of blocks behind the Oriental. My jeweler, SJ International, does have strands of semi-precious stones, though they specialize more in sapphires and rubies.
SJ International, 125/8 Sawankhalok Road, Dusit, Bangkok, phone 02-2342446, 02-2342447, 02-2411875 Call for pick-up. they'll send a car and not pressure you at all if you choose not to buy. I usually tell people to ask for Lily and tell them Kathie from Seattle sent you in order to get the best price, but I don't know that it will make much difference with lower priced items.
Happy shopping!
SJ International, 125/8 Sawankhalok Road, Dusit, Bangkok, phone 02-2342446, 02-2342447, 02-2411875 Call for pick-up. they'll send a car and not pressure you at all if you choose not to buy. I usually tell people to ask for Lily and tell them Kathie from Seattle sent you in order to get the best price, but I don't know that it will make much difference with lower priced items.
Happy shopping!
Nov 7th, 2012, 06:38 PM
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For Hong Kong, there are several jewelry conventions/exhbitions each year. You will find most everything listed at http://www.discoverhongkong.com/mice/eng/. You may be able to find what you are looking for there, or find local wholesalers.
There is a <b>wholesale gem/bead</b> area in <b>Hung Hom</b>, a district of Kowloon. This area is a warehouse district which houses all sorts of wholesalers and discounters. I have not been to the gemstone/bead ones, but have been to some others outlet shops in the various buildings over the years. The shops/offices are mostly open on weekdays, some are open Saturday mornings, but I would say to go on weekdays to be sure of finding the most open shops. None are open on Sundays. The streets to focus on are Man Yue Street, Hok Yuen Street and Ma Tau Wai Road; buildings you are looking for are Guardforce building and Kaiser Estates (this building has a number of clothing discount shops as well). Then read the building directories to find who is selling gemstones or beads (gem wholesalers may also sell beads).
To get there, if you are coming from Hong Kong Island, my recco would be that you take the ferry from Central or Wan Chai to Hung Hom and then a taxi. If you are in Kowloon already, I would probably suggest a taxi assuming you are staying in the Nathan Road area of the tip of Kowloon. You could also take the MTR to the Hung Hom station and then a taxi. A taxi from any of these will take about 5-10 minutes and cost about HK$30-60. A public bus is possible, but you would most likely have to change, and then you don’t know the area once you get there (it is perfectly safe, just confusing). A map of this area is helpful, you hotel may have one, or the Hong Kong tourist office may have one. The Kaiser Estates building is often listed in guidebooks as a place for discount shopping, so you may find directions or a map in guidebooks. With these wholesalers, speaking Cantonese may help you get a better price, so you may want to have an interpreter. (I think you will find English spoken, but you may want to negotiate more in Cantonese or at least have an interpreter there so he/she can explain what is going on as necessary.)
You can also try the <b>bead and notions market</b> in the <b>Shamshuipo</b> district in Kowloon. Take the MTR to Shamshuipo station, go out Exit Door C (Apliu street). Walk straight ahead, cross one street, then turn left down Yu Chau Street. Most of the bead shops are on the right hand side of the road. I believe most of the shops are closed on Sundays.
The <b>Jade Market</b>, not too far from the Shamshuipo bead area, also has some stalls selling beads in addition to the “jade” on sale. I think this market is a lot of fun, as long as you don’t kid yourself that are buying real jade. There may be some real jade among the fake, and if you know your stuff, there probably are bargains to be had. It is not open at night, so go during the day. The Jade Market and Shanghai Street area are a few blocks up and over from Nathan Road and the Jordan MTR. From the Jordan stop on the MTR, take Exit Door A, turn right out the exit, then right again onto Jordan Road and walk up Jordan (away from the harbour) about 5-6 blocks to Kansu Street and turn left, the market is down on the right a few blocks under a highway overpass, it looks like a shanty town.
You might also find loose silver beads for sale in <b>Wing Kut Street</b> and <b>Wing Wo Street</b> in <b>Sheung Wan</b> on Hong Kong Island. I call these little streets “teenage girls’ heaven” because it is full of shops selling very inexpensive costume jewelry, hair accessories and assorted cheap shoes and casual clothing. These are narrow pedestrian-only streets running between Queens Road and Des Voeux Road. They are quite close to the Shueng Wan MTR stop (exit Door E2, cross the street, turn left and walk down the street, looking for Wing Wo which will be the first narrow alley on the right. Wing Kut is the next alley.) It also just on the edge of Central, and could easily be incorporated into a tour around Central and the markets of Peel and Graham Street.
If you want <b>retail jewelers</b>, some reputable jewelers are below, I don't know that they sell strings, although Lane Joiller does sell loose gemstones:
K. S. Sze & Sons K. S. Sze & Sons
1st Floor Shopping Arcade 1st Floor Princes Building
Mandarin Oriental Hotel 10 Chater Road
5 Connaught Road
http://www.sze-jewelry.com/index.php/cms/aboutUs
Lane Joaillier
106 Prince's Building
10 Charter Road, Central
Tel:.852 2869 8819
Tayma Fine Jewellery
Shop 252
2nd Floor Prince's Building,
10 Chater Road, Central,
Hong Kong
Telephone: 2525 5280
http://www.taymajewellery.com/
There is a <b>wholesale gem/bead</b> area in <b>Hung Hom</b>, a district of Kowloon. This area is a warehouse district which houses all sorts of wholesalers and discounters. I have not been to the gemstone/bead ones, but have been to some others outlet shops in the various buildings over the years. The shops/offices are mostly open on weekdays, some are open Saturday mornings, but I would say to go on weekdays to be sure of finding the most open shops. None are open on Sundays. The streets to focus on are Man Yue Street, Hok Yuen Street and Ma Tau Wai Road; buildings you are looking for are Guardforce building and Kaiser Estates (this building has a number of clothing discount shops as well). Then read the building directories to find who is selling gemstones or beads (gem wholesalers may also sell beads).
To get there, if you are coming from Hong Kong Island, my recco would be that you take the ferry from Central or Wan Chai to Hung Hom and then a taxi. If you are in Kowloon already, I would probably suggest a taxi assuming you are staying in the Nathan Road area of the tip of Kowloon. You could also take the MTR to the Hung Hom station and then a taxi. A taxi from any of these will take about 5-10 minutes and cost about HK$30-60. A public bus is possible, but you would most likely have to change, and then you don’t know the area once you get there (it is perfectly safe, just confusing). A map of this area is helpful, you hotel may have one, or the Hong Kong tourist office may have one. The Kaiser Estates building is often listed in guidebooks as a place for discount shopping, so you may find directions or a map in guidebooks. With these wholesalers, speaking Cantonese may help you get a better price, so you may want to have an interpreter. (I think you will find English spoken, but you may want to negotiate more in Cantonese or at least have an interpreter there so he/she can explain what is going on as necessary.)
You can also try the <b>bead and notions market</b> in the <b>Shamshuipo</b> district in Kowloon. Take the MTR to Shamshuipo station, go out Exit Door C (Apliu street). Walk straight ahead, cross one street, then turn left down Yu Chau Street. Most of the bead shops are on the right hand side of the road. I believe most of the shops are closed on Sundays.
The <b>Jade Market</b>, not too far from the Shamshuipo bead area, also has some stalls selling beads in addition to the “jade” on sale. I think this market is a lot of fun, as long as you don’t kid yourself that are buying real jade. There may be some real jade among the fake, and if you know your stuff, there probably are bargains to be had. It is not open at night, so go during the day. The Jade Market and Shanghai Street area are a few blocks up and over from Nathan Road and the Jordan MTR. From the Jordan stop on the MTR, take Exit Door A, turn right out the exit, then right again onto Jordan Road and walk up Jordan (away from the harbour) about 5-6 blocks to Kansu Street and turn left, the market is down on the right a few blocks under a highway overpass, it looks like a shanty town.
You might also find loose silver beads for sale in <b>Wing Kut Street</b> and <b>Wing Wo Street</b> in <b>Sheung Wan</b> on Hong Kong Island. I call these little streets “teenage girls’ heaven” because it is full of shops selling very inexpensive costume jewelry, hair accessories and assorted cheap shoes and casual clothing. These are narrow pedestrian-only streets running between Queens Road and Des Voeux Road. They are quite close to the Shueng Wan MTR stop (exit Door E2, cross the street, turn left and walk down the street, looking for Wing Wo which will be the first narrow alley on the right. Wing Kut is the next alley.) It also just on the edge of Central, and could easily be incorporated into a tour around Central and the markets of Peel and Graham Street.
If you want <b>retail jewelers</b>, some reputable jewelers are below, I don't know that they sell strings, although Lane Joiller does sell loose gemstones:
K. S. Sze & Sons K. S. Sze & Sons
1st Floor Shopping Arcade 1st Floor Princes Building
Mandarin Oriental Hotel 10 Chater Road
5 Connaught Road
http://www.sze-jewelry.com/index.php/cms/aboutUs
Lane Joaillier
106 Prince's Building
10 Charter Road, Central
Tel:.852 2869 8819
Tayma Fine Jewellery
Shop 252
2nd Floor Prince's Building,
10 Chater Road, Central,
Hong Kong
Telephone: 2525 5280
http://www.taymajewellery.com/
Nov 7th, 2012, 08:26 PM
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i thought of another place to look...
at the base of silom road, near to where it meets new rd, there are lots of big jem stores. you probably could pick up semi-precious stones there..
also street markets might have strands of beads you could deconstruct.
along silom rd on the left, there is a market called "silom mkt" you might find things there.
but i still think along new road is your best bet. where the skytrain crosses over new rd at taskim station there is a complex where robinson's dept store is and you might find things there too.
we loved meeting you today in the breakfast room. enjoy your last day here in paradisw
bob
at the base of silom road, near to where it meets new rd, there are lots of big jem stores. you probably could pick up semi-precious stones there..
also street markets might have strands of beads you could deconstruct.
along silom rd on the left, there is a market called "silom mkt" you might find things there.
but i still think along new road is your best bet. where the skytrain crosses over new rd at taskim station there is a complex where robinson's dept store is and you might find things there too.
we loved meeting you today in the breakfast room. enjoy your last day here in paradisw
bob
Nov 7th, 2012, 09:51 PM
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Thanks for all the tips. I will definitely shop at New Road, and also keep my eyes open for the suggested areas during our whirlwind stopover in Hong Kong. It was so fun to meet you Bob, as well as Karen and Pat. Thanks for all your wonderful suggestions. We feel a little heartbroken to be leaving.
- Dyanna (and Rob)
- Dyanna (and Rob)
