Sammie

Yes, another shopping question for all you experts of the bling bling. (I do so appreciate your answers!)

I hope to get my itinerary next week and then I can ask about ALL the other things I should see and do in Indonesia and Thailand! I do know there is more to Asia than shopping - I promise.

Here's my question: From some of the posting it seems to me a good deal of the gold jewelry is 18K. Is that true? Personally I'm not a fan of 18K (too yellow for me) and prefer 14K yellow or white gold and am wondering if I will find it easily.

Kathie

In many Asian cities, the Chinatown area has lots of gold shops where the gold is 22k - very yellow and quite soft. At most jewelers, you'll find lots of 18k gold. At SJ International, most of the gold is 18k, there is some 14k and there is white gold.

jessy123

hi kathie, are you able to bargain down prices at SJ? What are best techniques? My budget is small, but i'd love to bring something little back..

Kathie

If you use my name at SJ, you'll get the best price. Just say Kathie from Seattle sent you.

lcuy

SJ does have some 14K, but many asians don't consider 14K "real" gold, so most is 18K. Lots of it is not that real yellow color thoughm depends on what it is mixed with. The Chinese gold is 22K and relly yellow.

Definitely use kathie's name. Prices dropped by 50% immediately when we did that on our first visit. On later visits, they remembered us. Great store, and they have lots more inventory under the counters. They will make/size things for you with a day or two notice.

haroth

hi sammie:

can i wade in on gold? as stated by others most gold in bkk is 18/22/24K. it is a dull yellow and quite soft (compared with lesser gold content items). you can find 18K and you can find white and red gold, but not much. some places have introduced the shiny 'italian' gold @ 18K, but its hit or miss.

gold is now $535 per troy ounce (based upon a 100 kilo lots. as soon as you start breaking that down the cost goes up. but as water rising floats all boats, so does the daily price of gold. bkk prices both the sale and the take-in on the daily rate. when you go to a gold shop, you will see the price in baht for sales and take-in clearly displayed. BUT thai gold is sold based upon 30 grams per ounce! actual troy ounce is 31.3 grams! so you are losing 1.3 grams. start practicing with the metric rate so you wont fumble at the counter. go on-line to gold sites for better descriptions. compared to jewelry prices in the USA, it is still a good deal.

caveat on gems!!! buyer beware!

enjoy your trip!!

rhkkmk

our bkk jeweler will give us 14K but prefers 18...the price differential is very small unlike in the usa...

we always have to ask for 14 if we want to save a bit of money or need a tougher gold for certain uses...