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MrsCornishWed

Shiny_Rock
Joined
May 4, 2014
Messages
221
I must know if you are buying your gems in the UK and if so where from?

Or if your buying from the US, advice and opinions on this would be excellent too.

Thank you in advance!
 
I have not bought any high end jewellery in the UK since I discovered the joy of internet shopping in the mid 90's.

I am currently working with Jeff White on 3 stones, a 12mm approx. Rubellite Tourmaline, a 12mm approx. white Topaz and a 17mm approx. white Danburite.

Other vendors that I have contacted/considered in the past, and am still hoping to work with them in the future, are Gene Flanagan of Precision Gem, and Richard Homer of Concave Gems.

All 3 of them based in the US.

DK :))
 
DK. . Is this because of the better value price wise (and seemingly workmanship? ) ...how do you find customs and charges etc?
 
Definitely better value even after adding the custom charges and handling fees.

I started off by buying and importing jewellery via eBay for personal use, and sold some of them later at a profit when I needed to raise some cash.

I recently checked out a small Akoya pearl pendant listed on the website of a well-known jeweller in Bath, and was shocked to find I could get something very similar for a fraction of the price at Pearl Paradise!

Just have a look at this offering at Argos, I can definitely get something cheaper and possibly better by importing from US, with exchange rate being very favourable for GBP/USD at the mo (over 1.65 USD to 1 GBP):

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2970633.htm

The PS diamond search tool returned the following list for J I1-I2 1ct rounds:

https://www.pricescope.com/diamond-search-results

Get a setting from e.g. Lord of Gem Rings:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6mm-Round...87705411?pt=US_Fine_Rings&hash=item565aa14343

I can still save some money by importing a stone and setting for the stone to be set at a local jeweller.

Exchange rate this good was back in 2007/8.


DK :))
 
This is super helpful thank you!


US it us :-D

I just don't feel like I can find a jeweller here whose knowledge of coloured gems I wholey trust and the price is just. ..!
 
Another vendor I would buy from, Edward Bristol of Wild Fish Gems, specialising in untreated CSs.

CS shopping in the high streets in the UK is even more disappointing than shopping for diamonds IMHO, however, I would consider buying certain items from the likes of the Jewellery Channel, like their Tanzanites.

DK :))
 
A word of caution/warning about importing from abroad: be prepared to lose out on importing charges and handling fees should the goods need to be returned for whatever reasons.

I have yet to return any imported goods, regardless of price, jewellery or otherwise, as life is too short, etc. etc...

DK :))
 
Sorry for the delayed reply... for some reason it won't let me reply via my phone?!

Can't believe we are the only ones on the thread! Surely we are not the only UK PS'ers?




DK would you send a purchased stone straight to setting? Or do you have it shipped then send it back for setting...or set in the UK?
 
There are a few UK dwellers, however, they may not be very active in the CS sub-forum.

I have not crossed that bridge yet about whether to send the stones straight to the bench for setting, or where to have them set etc., as I still have not decided or found a bench to work with me yet.

There is a bench at the jeweller near where I work, namely Coppins of Corsham, who did a great job in repairing my small ruby 3-stone ring when one of the diamonds sidestones was lost. At this moment in time, I am planning to meet with them face to face to discuss my ideas and projects, as I feel I can have a better connection and understanding with them that way.

However, the cost of having jewellery made in the UK is going to be higher than having them made say in the US.

Decision, decision...

DK :))
 
I know several posters who reside in the UK but have not seen them around the past few days/weeks.
 
Well that's just freaky!

We live very close to one another DK!
 
We could have a mini GTG one day!

I have been thinking about it, as I know I shall be in London for 3 nights in Feb 2015

DK :))
 
I'm actually in Bristol, so even closer than London.

Let me remortgage and get some sparklers under my belt first ;) haha
 
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