Diamonds / Precious Gems In South Africa??
Jul 4th, 2008, 11:04 AM
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Diamonds / Precious Gems In South Africa??
Travelling to S. Africs in a few weeks---will be in J'burg, Cape Town & the WInelands...looking to pick up a great souvenir of the trip & was wondering if anyone knew of where I can find a great price on a piece of jewelry w/out the added retail mark up that we experience in the US?
Jul 4th, 2008, 12:02 PM
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Unless you get a referral for a very reliable jeweler or gemologist, whether for loose or set stones (earrings, pendant, etc.); if small carat size, I've always done better at home.
Only with a referral when in Thailand (and lots or pre-research), where I purchased some jade pieces, I've done better in the States for diamonds, rubies, sapphires, etc.
Don't know where you live in the States, but there are plenty of places where "sparklies" can be had at reasonable prices.
Only with a referral when in Thailand (and lots or pre-research), where I purchased some jade pieces, I've done better in the States for diamonds, rubies, sapphires, etc.
Don't know where you live in the States, but there are plenty of places where "sparklies" can be had at reasonable prices.
Jul 4th, 2008, 04:11 PM
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belive me: buy it at home, get a certificate and appreciate!
it's not worthwhile to buy, to struggle and to pay customs on an item which is as much expensive as at home!
forget it! it's a fairy tale from a bygone era that you can buy gems in sa cheaper that outside sa!
div
it's not worthwhile to buy, to struggle and to pay customs on an item which is as much expensive as at home!
forget it! it's a fairy tale from a bygone era that you can buy gems in sa cheaper that outside sa!
div
Jul 5th, 2008, 04:57 AM
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You pay 14%vat and you get back 12.5%
The cost of labour in South Africa is cheaper
The expertese for setting stones such as Tanzanite is not common all over the world
The closer you buy to the source the more middle-men you "cut out"
Every design is unuique, so ultimately you have to appreciate it
In Cape Town there are some great wholesalers such as Jewel Africa, Destiny, Eva Kouter, Diamond Workshop..
The cost of labour in South Africa is cheaper
The expertese for setting stones such as Tanzanite is not common all over the world
The closer you buy to the source the more middle-men you "cut out"
Every design is unuique, so ultimately you have to appreciate it
In Cape Town there are some great wholesalers such as Jewel Africa, Destiny, Eva Kouter, Diamond Workshop..
Jul 5th, 2008, 07:41 AM
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Hi
We went to a diamond mine outside Johannesburg when I went there in March. We got a tour of the mine (which is still in production) and on the way out they also sold diamonds. Not sure if the prices were good but they were beautiful. Here is a Johannesburg trip report from a couple of years back http://gardkarlsen.com/johannesburg_...frica_2004.htm . Maybe you can find some useful info there
Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures
We went to a diamond mine outside Johannesburg when I went there in March. We got a tour of the mine (which is still in production) and on the way out they also sold diamonds. Not sure if the prices were good but they were beautiful. Here is a Johannesburg trip report from a couple of years back http://gardkarlsen.com/johannesburg_...frica_2004.htm . Maybe you can find some useful info there
Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures
Jul 5th, 2008, 08:05 AM
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Peyton18
Many visitors to South Africa believe jewellery is cheaper in SA relative to the rest of the world only because so much of the worlds diamonds and gold are found in our land. They would be wrong in thinking so. Diamonds and gold come at a standard price that is Dollar based throughout the world. With that said the only gain that one will obtain by buying jewellery in SA is via a Dollar/Rand exchange rate on the labour content of making the jewellery.
This might not affect you but for the benefit of Fodorites reading this mail be aware that most tourguides and operators will not tell you the above as they are intent on having sales made and grabbing commissions.
The only way to go when buying a daimond is to find I a diamond wholesaler. When doing so one could save quite a bit on the Dollar cost. Diamond wholesalers are at the bottom of the food chain. I.e they legally obtain the diamonds from the mines and legally sell them to the jewellers. Their prices are thus the wholesale prices of diamonds and are cheaper than the retail sector. Most of these wholesalers have outside facilities to set these stones however this takes time to do. If you want to buy stones from a wholesaler I would recommend the purchase however it would be advisable to have the settings done back home if time is a problem of any nature. All wholesalers generally have the facility of having their stones certified and I would strongly suggest that you ask for this certificate no matter what. If you dont receive a certificate dont do the deal.
I know of one wholesaler in Cape Town whom I have succesfully purchased form in private capacity as well as have sent many visitors to. His name is Warren Chakolsky and his cell number is 083 492 5901. Warren is an American who has been working in Cape Town for many years. He is right at the bottom of the "food chain" so you will obtain good prices from him. He is in my opinion a good, honest and highly qualified diamond dealer. The only slight problem is that Warren does not operate in the city centre as he is based in the southern suburbs so you might have to do some travelling depending on where you are based in Cape Town. Furthermore you might not find him in as he spends about 4 months of the year back in the United States. Unfortunately in this case you wont be able to be helped as he is a one man show who he simply closes down for these periods.
Hope this helps and that you are glittering a little bit extra via a good value purchase when you leave our shores after visiting us.
Very proudly part of the wonderful
nation of South Africa
Many visitors to South Africa believe jewellery is cheaper in SA relative to the rest of the world only because so much of the worlds diamonds and gold are found in our land. They would be wrong in thinking so. Diamonds and gold come at a standard price that is Dollar based throughout the world. With that said the only gain that one will obtain by buying jewellery in SA is via a Dollar/Rand exchange rate on the labour content of making the jewellery.
This might not affect you but for the benefit of Fodorites reading this mail be aware that most tourguides and operators will not tell you the above as they are intent on having sales made and grabbing commissions.
The only way to go when buying a daimond is to find I a diamond wholesaler. When doing so one could save quite a bit on the Dollar cost. Diamond wholesalers are at the bottom of the food chain. I.e they legally obtain the diamonds from the mines and legally sell them to the jewellers. Their prices are thus the wholesale prices of diamonds and are cheaper than the retail sector. Most of these wholesalers have outside facilities to set these stones however this takes time to do. If you want to buy stones from a wholesaler I would recommend the purchase however it would be advisable to have the settings done back home if time is a problem of any nature. All wholesalers generally have the facility of having their stones certified and I would strongly suggest that you ask for this certificate no matter what. If you dont receive a certificate dont do the deal.
I know of one wholesaler in Cape Town whom I have succesfully purchased form in private capacity as well as have sent many visitors to. His name is Warren Chakolsky and his cell number is 083 492 5901. Warren is an American who has been working in Cape Town for many years. He is right at the bottom of the "food chain" so you will obtain good prices from him. He is in my opinion a good, honest and highly qualified diamond dealer. The only slight problem is that Warren does not operate in the city centre as he is based in the southern suburbs so you might have to do some travelling depending on where you are based in Cape Town. Furthermore you might not find him in as he spends about 4 months of the year back in the United States. Unfortunately in this case you wont be able to be helped as he is a one man show who he simply closes down for these periods.
Hope this helps and that you are glittering a little bit extra via a good value purchase when you leave our shores after visiting us.
Very proudly part of the wonderful
nation of South Africa
