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2 questions: Tanzanite and your best flight price to JNB

2 questions: Tanzanite and your best flight price to JNB

Old Mar 27th, 2005, 03:37 PM
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2 questions: Tanzanite and your best flight price to JNB

I have two questions:
This may sound stupid, but where do you buy Tanzanite?
And what has been your best ticket price from the US to JNB during June thru August? (please exclude the use of frequent flyer miles - you lucky folks!!)
Thank you
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Old Mar 27th, 2005, 04:53 PM
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Silvia: the best price I got for coach travel was $1270 by booking online. It certainly would be nice to go Business Class at some point!
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Old Mar 27th, 2005, 09:40 PM
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Message: Silivia, on trips to Tanzania both in 2002 and last year we purchased tanzanite in Aursha. Also, notes such was available for sale in gift shops of several lodges were we stayed. If you do search on this board you should find more details. I am sure you can also purchase same in most jewelry shops in home country. Dick
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Old Mar 27th, 2005, 09:54 PM
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Silivia, your post got my curiousity up so I did a text search on tanzanite and found interesting comments as to possibility of purchasing fake stones. The one post even referenced the establishment where we dealt. Maybe we did okay as two local jewelers who mounted stones for us indicated we had legit stones. But, in any case I am less inclined to buy any more without having a gemnologist along who I trust.
Dick
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Old Mar 28th, 2005, 03:34 AM
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Thanks Dick,

I did a search before posting the question and saw the report about the fake. I was hoping that someone had went recently and had a recommendation.
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Old Mar 28th, 2005, 04:43 AM
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In Arusha, I buy Tanzanite only from one place - Swala Gem Traders in the lobby area of the New Arusha Hotel.
http://www.swalagemtraders.com

Through the years, I've been offered plenty of "deals" by touts in Arusha and most turned out to be of lower quality rather than fake.

But if you are serious about your stones it is best to talk to a professional gemologist.
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Old Mar 28th, 2005, 04:57 AM
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By the way, when in Arusha beware of driver/guides who hang around to get their "sales commissions" from the owners of the establishments. Some will stick to you like magnets, making for uncomfortable shopping especially in upscale places such as Swala mentioned above.

It is best to do your research beforehand and then walk around on your own while shopping. After visiting a few shops, you will soon get a feel for prices and how to bargain without someone looking over your shoulder.
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