Just left Jeff Davies office (Bangkok)

[keemoog99]

He is the nicest guy. Went to his office to pick up the stones I won at auction. Going to Bangkok saved me the $6.99 shipping to the U.S. ha ha... Won amethysts, blue topaz and citrine. Much better looking in person than his videos. And he said these were not his best. So I said, show me your best. For earring jackets, ended up with 5mm gray spinels (2 sets), pinkish red spinels 6mm, precision cut amethysts 5mm (he cut them down from 6mms), 2 carat precison cut amethyst round, beautiful color and cut, and waiting on custom cut peridot, he just got the rough in (said to come back in two days.)
He has a cutting crew on the premises and a goldsmith partner who can make anything on site. Normally sells to wholesalers so it was nice he took time to sell me onesies. Like most, he has a lot more gemstones in his office than on the internet.
All my stones are being set right now so no pictures.
Trays of spinels, the gray silvers are gorgeous and have a hint of pink in some of the stones. We had a really nice chat, saw his camera setup, the cutting area. He is polishing a stone I had with some chips and says he recuts native stones into nicer specs for customers.
It was a great time and much nicer than wandering around the basement of Jewelry Trade Center trying to find what I wanted. Pictures to follow when I get everything back.

 

[Siameseroo]

Amazing! I'm so jealous! Please post lots of photos when you have time. I'm definitely visiting his showroom next time I'm in Bangkok.

 

[chrono]

Sounds super! I don't want to bother him by asking this and I think PSers know the answer anyway: does he accept outside stones?

 

[keemoog99]

do you mean will he set outside stones? not sure, but i can ask him when i see him wednesday. maybe the issue is getting it through customs, as my local jeweler told me that is a problem for them. but don't see why he wouldn't (money is money). actually i saw some work he was doing for someone a necklace with big stone and diamonds, but don't know where the stones came from. will let you know when i find out. and for the record, most of his stones are bigger than the teeny 5mms i bought.

 

[Acinom]

Sounds like a great experience! Looking forward to see what you have acquired.

 

[NKOTB]

Lucky! Sounds like a lot of fun.

I've had two stones set by Jeff's bench and was very happy with both experiences. Only slightly nerve wracking part was shipping them abroad.

 

[digdeep]

What a great experience!! Looking forward to the pic's............

 

[minousbijoux]

I bet he is enjoying his office immensely - I gather that his office is fairly new. Anyway, chalk me up as another envious PSer who can't wait to see your photos.

 

[kgizo]

Sounds like you had a fun and productive meeting. I can't wait to see pics of the finished pieces.

 

[tourma-guy]

Must be nice to be so close to a large source of pretty gems

I won a sunstone on ebay from him. Can't wait to get it.

 

[GliderPoss]

Wow that sounds like my dream - just spending hours in a jeweller/lapidary office with millions of gems...

Can't wait to see pics of what you bought!

 

[sydneyatl]

Oh, I'm so glad you posted this. We just bought my engagement ring stone from him a few days ago and I'm so excited to get it in the mail! (Our first time buying any sort of gem online, combined with shipping from overseas, made us a bit nervous - but this helps allay some of those worries )

 

[chrono]

Keemoog and NKOTB,
Thanks for your response to my query about his setting outside stones.

 

[keemoog99]

so i went and saw jeff today. he was covered in polishing compound (splattered all over his shirt -ha). re: working with outside stones.
he is happy to accept outside stones, but of course prefers you use his (ha ha). he said to contact him directly and he will explain the process of shipping them and how the design process works. he prefers you have a specific design in mind, pictures are good. he admits he has no sense of what stones goes best with what colors, but if you know what you want, he can do it. re: the peridot rough i talked about. he told me in 5mm stone it would wash out so advised not to do it. with a bigger stone no problem, it's pretty well saturated.
he can get more rough but i am leaving in a few days and wouldn't be done in time for me to take back.

he's had some psers come visit him before but from the asia area (singapore). said he would welcome anyone that wants to come by. his office is very close to the jewelry trade center on mahaesak road. ok, that's all for now. taking stones to venus jewelers, right next to the lumphini police station (good location, huh?) and pix to follow as everything is set. i've been going to them since 1997, family run and a really nice bunch. all the free soft drinks, coffee and beer you can drink and they will pick you up and drop you off anywhere.

 

[pregcurious]

Thanks for your post. You're in CS heaven

 

[Siameseroo]

so i went and saw jeff today. he was covered in polishing compound (splattered all over his shirt -ha). re: working with outside stones.
he is happy to accept outside stones, but of course prefers you use his (ha ha). he said to contact him directly and he will explain the process of shipping them and how the design process works. he prefers you have a specific design in mind, pictures are good. he admits he has no sense of what stones goes best with what colors, but if you know what you want, he can do it. re: the peridot rough i talked about. he told me in 5mm stone it would wash out so advised not to do it. with a bigger stone no problem, it's pretty well saturated.
he can get more rough but i am leaving in a few days and wouldn't be done in time for me to take back.

he's had some psers come visit him before but from the asia area (singapore). said he would welcome anyone that wants to come by. his office is very close to the jewelry trade center on mahaesak road. ok, that's all for now. taking stones to venus jewelers, right next to the lumphini police station (good location, huh?) and pix to follow as everything is set. i've been going to them since 1997, family run and a really nice bunch. all the free soft drinks, coffee and beer you can drink and they will pick you up and drop you off anywhere.

Lol so I speak Thai fluently and I just noticed your username... Is it what I think it is? Charming!
PS thanks for the info!

 

[chrono]

I think it's a nickname given by a friend who frequents the Ulu.

 

[dk168]

>>>planning a detour to visit JD while I am in HK in 2017 (unlikely to have spare pennies in time for this year's trip in November).

DK

 

[Siameseroo]

I was planning on renaming her Snotty! Kee moog literally means 'nose shit' in Thai and is the colloquial term for a boogie!

 

[tourma-guy]

I was planning on renaming her Snotty! Kee moog literally means 'nose shit' in Thai and is the colloquial term for a boogie!

This made me

 

[mochiko42]

>>>planning a detour to visit JD while I am in HK in 2017 (unlikely to have spare pennies in time for this year's trip in November).

DK

Soo tempting! I'm in HK and would love to visit Bangkok again, as I haven't been in a couple years. DK, what do you think of the HK show prices, I found they were all over the place. Last year I went to the Sept and Nov shows but was not confident enough at that point to purchase much. I'm hoping to go again this year now I have a slightly more informed perspective.

 

[dk168]

>>>planning a detour to visit JD while I am in HK in 2017 (unlikely to have spare pennies in time for this year's trip in November).

DK

Soo tempting! I'm in HK and would love to visit Bangkok again, as I haven't been in a couple years. DK, what do you think of the HK show prices, I found they were all over the place. Last year I went to the Sept and Nov shows but was not confident enough at that point to purchase much. I'm hoping to go again this year now I have a slightly more informed perspective.

I only went once in Manufacturers' Show in Nov 2013, and was still very green with regard to CSs. I did not have the means to buy much, hence I did not ask about the prices, just window-shopped.

If all goes according to plan, I shall return to HK in late Nov 2015 so that I can attend this year's show. Not sure if I would be able to save sufficient pennies to spend much at the show though, however, I live in hope.

Perhaps we could meet up if you are in the area.

DK

 

[sonyachancs]

I thought I'd add on - I've been to Jeff's office twice now, when stopping over in bangkok for business and leisure (and hey! I'm from singapore ) and he really is the nicest chap.

he pulls out all his drawers of stones he has now - and he doesn't show you just the more expensive stones, but really anything you want to get your hand on. and he had LOVELY chrysoberyls, but the nice ones were above budget, and the ones in budget were a tad too small for me. I also thought it was a nice chance to see stones I don't see much locally, and he's always open to cutting things.

love stopping by! I had my hands on a a couple completed jewelry pieces they had made, and the workmanship is pretty decent. I would classify it as middle-weight, which is to say it isn't as light as stock settings, but my hand-forging jeweler produces a heavier product. I've seen quite a few photos of the jewelry online, and now that I've seen it in person, I think you could really consider doing an entire piece with him. he's a really nice person, very prompt with emails, and the prices are reasonable (especially if you're comparing it with higher prices in the US/ UK).

I brought the soon-to-be in-laws this time, and they ended up buying more stones than me , which my FI did not expect at all! he thought HE would be the one spending.. man of little faith

 

[Dioptase]

Last year I went to the Sept and Nov shows but was not confident enough at that point to purchase much. I'm hoping to go again this year now I have a slightly more informed perspective.

Feel free to swing by our booth if you do so. Don't be shy, we don't bite (and we have chocolates and wine)

 

[mochiko42]

Last year I went to the Sept and Nov shows but was not confident enough at that point to purchase much. I'm hoping to go again this year now I have a slightly more informed perspective.

Feel free to swing by our booth if you do so. Don't be shy, we don't bite (and we have chocolates and wine)

Aww, maybe I will next time! Chocolate is my weak spot.
At the previous Sept show I went to, Nomad's, Constantin Wild, and Yavorskyy had the nicest materials that I was interested in. Will you be here in in June/Nov or only Sept?


DK, it might be fun to hang out at the Nov show when you're in town - we can go admire the sparkly rocks together. A very mini-mini- version of a PS GTG, perhaps?

 

[Dioptase]

We exhibit 3 times per year in HK: March, June and September. But enough derailing the thread.

 

[dk168]

DK, it might be fun to hang out at the Nov show when you're in town - we can go admire the sparkly rocks together. A very mini-mini- version of a PS GTG, perhaps?

Indeed!

Hopefully the show will be in the same week as Christie's HK Magnificent Jewellery auction like it was in 2013 a couple of floors up from the exhibition centre, and we can ogle and even try on the pieces on offer!

DK

 

[dk168]

We exhibit 3 times per year in HK: March, June and September. But enough derailing the thread.

Shame, as I usually visit HK in November when it is cool enough to be comfortable for me.

I would be walking around town in my bright and colourful Hawaiian shirts and shorts, when the locals are wrapped up in cardigans and jumpers, and even fur coats!

DK

 

[keemoog99]

now you know my secret about my user name. just thought it was so funny and so appropriate to this part of asia. ha ha...
jewelry trade center has stones mostly now in the basement. the upper floors are branded name clothes, purses, shoes...boringgggg, but the tour buses love it.
i'm eyeing some welo chocolatey opals, very nice and 1/2 the price of U.S.
needed some clear 5mm round opals and found them at the Warner Bldg. the guy just handed me a bag, a mm caliper and said have fun. cost retail: $2.00 a carat. (australian cabs)

i love this place.

 

[Siameseroo]

This is great, thanks for sharing your experience. How did you find the JTC? Are the vendors reputable? And were there many good quality stones?