Thanks to you both for your quick reply! My son does not know jewelry. I am interested in a pair of oval sapphire earrings, simple setting, Type II Clarity VS preferably set in white gold. I have done some research on price, but don't know what to expect for a price quote. Any thoughts?

I forgot to mention the color. I do like the Ceylon color, but also like the kanchanaburi color from Thailand

and the weight?? of each stone

Hi,
I would like sapphire earrings that are about 1 ct each. Any idea about an average cost?

Donna, there is such a range of sapphires available, it is very hard to give you any estimate. If you are interested in sapphire earrings, do your research at home, then go to a good jewelry store in Bangkok and see what you like. For two one-carat stones, the price might range from under US$100 to hundreds of dollars.

I noticed no-one has mentioned Gems Gallery. They have a huge range of jewelry and handbags, purse, pewter Etc. I think they may be more expensive than the others listed here but it is well worth the look. Ask at any hotel and they will provide transport. Its not really my scene to buy jewelry but I brought some pewter for my wife.

Hi Kathie,
My son just returned from Thailand. He visited SJ international and met with Lily. I gave him specifics related to the quality, clarity and color of the sapphire earrings I wanted. He came home with earrings just under 1 ct each with a small diamond on each. The cost was $200. I took them to my local jeweler and they said that the sapphires were very clear and estimated that the cost at home would be about $500. Thank you for your source, because it could have been a disaster sending my son who knows nothing about jewelry to shop for me. I do have a questions, though. Will SJ sell at the same prices via internet or phone?
Donna

Glad you got what you wanted. SJ is great. Happy Travels!

Donna, I'm glad you had a good experience. And I'll bet your son felt more confident, too, with a bit of coaching.

I have never purchased by phone or internet from SJ. I think it would be hard to buy jewelry sight unseen. And I don't know that the price would be as good as it is in person. besides, it's a great excuse for a trip to Bangkok!

Just a big thanks to our experts.... such a wealth of information from my original question back in September.
Sue

I'm getting ready to "upgrade" my wife's original diamond wedding ring. We're going to Bangkok over Christmas. Would this be recommended at one of the jewelers in this thread? I'm not exactly sure what she wants, but something in the 1 - 1.5 ct. range and clean.

I would recommend SJ to you. I'd also recommend that rather than buying a diamond, you opt for a ruby or a sapphire. You won't save much money on diamonds, as they are internationally priced. You will save a LOT on rubies and sapphires.

I can highly recommend S.J. International. I bought a beautiful diamond and sapphire bracelet in 2000 at S.J. International. My trip originated in Bangkok, and then biking in Northern Thailand and then to Phuket. I was uncomfortable about carrying around the jewelery. They met me at my airport hotel prior to my U.S. departure to deliver the goods. I had already paid in advance so I was a bit nervous. I am going back to Bangkok in Dec 2006 and they are on the short list.

we are again using thai stone jewelry in the nana hotel on soi 4, sukhumvit road....this family run company is very accomodating and can do about anything you might want...they have only a medium stock of prepared items...we do custom work with them and it is 100% and reasonable we find

Am reviving this original question as we recently returned from BKK and made a couple of visits to SJ Jewelers where we used Kathie's name and parted with quite a few US$s!

One of my questions was, would SJ be able to melt down my gold bracelets, remove the diamonds and make them into another piece? As some suspected they were not of interest to SJ. Because they were of 10K gold they said that they just didn't work with 10K so we brought those back home with us intact. I got these at a house sale (there were 4 heavy chain link bracelets with charms with diamonds, longevity awards for an Illinois Bell employee of 45 years).

I did find a beautiful set of Black south sea pearl earrings surrounded in white gold and diamonds, another pair of white south sea pearl earrings surrounded in a burst of gold and diamonds. But the thing I'm most happy about is that I had a large amythyst that was grazed and worn (was a center stone in a big flashy ring!) they polished the stone and set it in 18K yellow gold and used some diamonds from another necklace I brought with me, to place in a swirl around the stone and over the top of a clip which will clip onto my white pearls or a nice omega gold chain. I'm thrilled with this piece which cost me $270 for the work and gold yet to polish the stone alone in the US was quoted as over $150. It's a stunning piece and I'm wondering what it will appraise for.

They also re strung some pearls for me at no cost.

I'm taking my 3 purchases to the local jeweler tomorrow and will let you all know what the appraised value is. (Keeping my fingers crossed).

Thanks Kathie
Sue

I am glad to see this blog regenerated. I have made a page of notes-I always have to get a piece of jewlery on a trip-thanks for all the wonderful ideas. I have a large ceylon saphire ring at home and a bracelet to match-now I can get some earings to go with it. the yellow saphires also sound incredable-be in BKK in October-Chris

We will be visiting Bangkok later this year. I prefer white gold to yellow gold - do most of the jewelers (including SJ and the others mentioned on this thread) use white gold?

Thanks!

Yes S.J. had many items in white gold.
Sue

Most of the gold at fine jewelers will be yellow golf (typically 18k), but you will see white gold pieces as well at SJ and of course, they do custom work.

Sue, glad you had a good experience at SJ!

Most of the gold at fine jewelers will be yellow gold (typically 18k), but you will see white gold pieces as well at SJ and of course, they do custom work.

Sue, glad you had a good experience at SJ!