Safe to buy Sapphires in Sri Lanka
Jun 22nd, 2014, 11:48 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Safe to buy Sapphires in Sri Lanka
I would like to buy sapphire jewellery in Sri Lanka but I am not sure about how to buy genuine verified gems. Any advice would be great. We will be in Kandy and Colombo as part of our trip.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Jun 23rd, 2014, 05:40 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would not buy jewelry in Sri Lanka. I visited probably half a dozen jewelry stores when I was there and the prices were 4x-10x what I'd pay in Bangkok.
Watch for Mohammed, who lives in Sri Lanka to give some input, as he may have a recommendation.
How well do you know stones? What would you have to pay at home for the size and quality stone you want? Make sure you've done all of your research before you buy stones anywhere in the world.
Watch for Mohammed, who lives in Sri Lanka to give some input, as he may have a recommendation.
How well do you know stones? What would you have to pay at home for the size and quality stone you want? Make sure you've done all of your research before you buy stones anywhere in the world.
Jun 23rd, 2014, 09:14 AM
#3
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 710
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi,
Sri Lanka probably has the best Blue Saphires in the world and these are not cheap street side stones/jewellery. you find these stones even on the Crown Jewels of England.
If I may suggest for top quality stuff look at
1. Colombo Jewellery Stores ( you can find a branch at Cinnamon Grand and Crescat Shopping Center in Colombo)
2. AMA Careems (you can find a branch at Colombo Hilton)
IMHO these offer certified Diamond/Ruby/Blue Sapphire etc inset jewellery and very reputable stores on par with the best in the world.
3. For cheaper coloured stones like topaz, garnets, aquamarine, citrine etc and silver inset jewellery I suggest you to look at the several shops in Galle Fort, near the Peddlar Inn Cafe and the Galle Fort Hotel.
my 2 cts (but carry more money!!!!)
Sri Lanka probably has the best Blue Saphires in the world and these are not cheap street side stones/jewellery. you find these stones even on the Crown Jewels of England.
If I may suggest for top quality stuff look at
1. Colombo Jewellery Stores ( you can find a branch at Cinnamon Grand and Crescat Shopping Center in Colombo)
2. AMA Careems (you can find a branch at Colombo Hilton)
IMHO these offer certified Diamond/Ruby/Blue Sapphire etc inset jewellery and very reputable stores on par with the best in the world.
3. For cheaper coloured stones like topaz, garnets, aquamarine, citrine etc and silver inset jewellery I suggest you to look at the several shops in Galle Fort, near the Peddlar Inn Cafe and the Galle Fort Hotel.
my 2 cts (but carry more money!!!!)
Dec 15th, 2014, 01:59 AM
#5
we met a couple in SL who were intending to buy some gems in Colombo, and following our talk with them, we briefly considered doing the same. However they were from Thailand and obviously very experienced with gems and knew what they were looking for. We, OTOH know nothing about them, and quickly decided that it was not for us.
we did look at the shops in Galle Fort but again, had no real yardstick by which to judge what we were being offered, so declined.
I think that caveat emptor should be your guide.
we did look at the shops in Galle Fort but again, had no real yardstick by which to judge what we were being offered, so declined.
I think that caveat emptor should be your guide.
Dec 15th, 2014, 07:32 AM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is it safe in terms of being real sapphires rather than fakes? I agree with Bob, any upscale shop should sell you the real thing.
Is it safe interns of getting a good price? No. I found shops to have very high prices. Only if you really know what you are doing, know prices you can get elsewhere, can judge quality of stones would I even consider buying in Sri Lanka.
Is it safe interns of getting a good price? No. I found shops to have very high prices. Only if you really know what you are doing, know prices you can get elsewhere, can judge quality of stones would I even consider buying in Sri Lanka.
Dec 27th, 2014, 08:51 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Most of the really fine sapphires come from Sri Lanka. I have a few myself. But the prices from my jeweler in Bangkok are so much better than the prices I saw in SL, I just wouldn't buy them there. Yes, it seems like they should be better priced in Sri Lanka but that was not my experience.
