Good Morning from Very Dry Texas!

Does anyone have any experience with Venus Jewelers (I think Wireless Road), across from the American Embassy? I understand that many Embassy officials and American political groups (I'm not sure this is a recommendation) buy jewelry there.

Many Fodorites seem to shop SJ International, but what about Venus? Just wondering if it is worth a look.

Thanks.

Sandra (McBeanie)

Good morning, Sandra. I've never heard of this store. Maybe I'll have a look in the next couple of weeks, since I'll be sort of "in that neighborhood."

We have more rain this morning. I wish we could send it down to you!!!

Carol

I also don't know this jeweler. I would only use a jeweler for whom I have a personal referral.

I remember the poster who decided to buy jewelry in CM, asked the Four Seasons for a good jewelry store, they sent her to one where she ended up paying the same as she would have paid in the US - 2x-4x more than she should have paid in Thailand. Yes, they sent her to a reputable jeweler, but she didn't know how much she should be paying and didn't have a referral that would get her a good price.

Hi Sandra,
We went to Venus Jewelers when we were in Bangkok in 2004. It is close to the American Embassy and a lot of officials do shop there, including US Presidents, their pictures are posted on the walls. We had hired Ratt (the driver recommended here on Fodors). We asked her for a good jewelry store recommendation and she took us there. She said a lot of her customers shop there. I don't remember prices but we did buy a few things. My husband bought a ring and it needed to be sized, but we were leaving for Phuket the next day. A girl from the store hand delivered the ring later that evening to our hotel. The staff in the store were very friendly and we had no complaints about their services.

Connie
From sweltering Seattle, we sure could use your rain Carol!

We are about ready to build an ark! I'd love to shove the rain in another direction.

My friend, a gemologist and jewelry store owner, swears by them. She has been doing business with them for over 20 years. Each time I go to Bangkok I mean to go, but haven't yet. Maybe you can give us a report, Carol!

Carol and Bizzyb:

We had an inch of rain yesterday out here in the country west of Houston. All our grasses have turned green again, but that won't last long since there is no rain predicted for several weeks -- and temps are 100+. I agree -- this is very unusual for Seattle, as one of the things we like about Washington state is the climate. In fact, before we moved here 13 years ago, we looked at the Seattle area. But really felt that it is too far away from our children who are all in the eastern part of Texas.

Thanks for the info on Venus. Carol, if you have a chance to visit there, please let me know what you think.

Take care everyone.

Sandra (McBeanie)

i have been wanting to visit there for several years but never make it...maybe this year.....they are well known and well respected and are used to americans

It certainly sounds like they are reputable. Now the question will be price. Do your research before you go. Go to good jewelers and look at the kinds of pieces you are interested in. If you'd like to buy rubies or sapphires (the best bargains) ask to see the best your jeweler has and talk with them about color. You should also look at the stones through a loupe.

You should be able to get ruby and sapphire jewelry in Bangkok for one-half to one-fourth the US price. If the prices you are being quoted seem too high, bargain with them or tell them you are going to check other jewelers. Then do so. If you opt to visit S&J, you are welcome to use me as a reference. Do note that S&J will pick you up from your hotel and take you back - free- no obligation.

I've been a couple of times, but not for a few years. They seemed a little high if i recall, but maybe I'm just a cheap tightwad

Can you tell us more about S&J? Location? Internet site? Phone number? Bargaining tactics?

You ask to work with Lily when you call for your ride. Tell her you are a friend of Kathie from Seattle. She will knock about 1/2 off their regular price. No need for hard bargaining at that point. But if something is a bit much for you, ask if she has something similar but cheaper. She will start bringing out boxes of similar stuff to find something more to your liking. T

hey will size rings for free, plate yellow gold pieces with white gold or vice versa, lengthen or shorten necklaces and bracelets, and also do custom work (with your gems or theirs). If they need to do work, they'll deliver the items to your hotel when finished.

They sell everything from simple rings in silver with semi-precious stones for about US$ 9 to Ooh la la art pieces.Do not use their web site for shopping. It has only limited items and the prices are not discounted at all.

They will pick you up and treat you well, and there is no hard sell or obligation. Lovely & fun place to shop! One of my very good friends is going to Bangkok on Monday, so I sent a picture of Lily and me from 2008 with her. She loves buying jewelry, so I look forward to seeing her stuff!

Icuy - was your last post about S&J?

This is sounding more tempting all the time. I may just have to put not one but two jewelry stores on my list for this trip! I've heard about SJ from being on fodors, but have never gone there. I'm trying it out this time! Plus, I'll go to Venus. That way I can compare prices and pieces. I know nothing about quality of gem stones (not of interest to me) but it might be fun to see what I can learn.

We have a friend who uses Venus and he has NEVER been to Thailand. He does it all thru Email. I have seen several of the piece they have bought and they look very nice, and nicely finished. The prices he told us were about right for thai products. As bob said, we plan to check them out next trip.

Yes, lcuy's post is about S&J. This is the place I've been buying from for the last 20+ years.

SJ International, 125/8 Sawankhalok Road, Dusit, Bangkok, phone 02-2342446, 02-2342447, 02-2411875 Call for pick-up.

Once she's given you the special price for being a referred by me, there really isn't bargaining to be done. You get the same prices I get, which like lcuy says, are about half off their regular price. Sometimes she'll have something special to show you that's "really" a bargain, like a ruby bracelet that has an old price and the price of rubies has escalated a lot since then (I have one of those from a dozen years ago). She has done custom work for me from my descriptions and sketches and perhaps a picture from a magazine, she has re-strung beads or pearls (hand knotted on silk) for free, re-sized ring, even replaced a small diamond in Cheryl's ring for free (we bought it there).

just to add to the address above, the shop is very close to the king's actual palace.. this just for reference on a map... the palace name begins with C....

My friend and I have been shopping at SJ for 20 years. The quality and prices can't be beat. I trust them more than any other jeweler in Bangkok, obviously since we return every year. The convenience of them providing free transportation is great and they won't take you on any "side trips" to "factories". These are their vans and their employees. We always feel like we are visiting friends when we go there and I hope they feel the same way.

For silver items nothing beats the silver shops on the main streee behind the Oriental Hotel. They sell by weight and very affordable items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings etc. Some shops are only wholsale but others do both wholesale and retail. We have shopped there several times for bargains.