What are your thoughts on buying loose stones from St. Thomas or St. Maarten?

[LuvDiamonds]

We're going to St. Maarten/St. Thomas to hopefully buy a loose Marquise diamond real soon (GIA certified, around 1.5 carat, no lower than G, no lower than SI1). What are your thoughts/advice on location and thoughts/advice on general specs to looks for or avoid in a Marquise? I know there are general guidelines under the "tutorial" sections, but any personal tricks that might help me as a novice?

 

[DiamondExpert]

One thing to check for are possible limitations for return/recourse in case you are not happy with your purchase...

Personally, I've always been curious and mystified as to why someone would want to be involved in purchasing a high ticket item off shore, which should take considerable thought and learning (read that, time consuming education), when they are on vacation having a great time...unless $$$ is no object...I certainly doubt that there is greater selection and pricing than you can get elsewhere.

 

[WinkHPD]

I have spent a LOT of time helping hapless travelers get their money back from less than scrupulous vendors in the Caribbean. I have spent very little time, but some, telling people that they got a good buy, generally within a point or two of what they would pay here, and once, only once, telling an important person that he made a STEAL DEAL KILLING on a ruby and an emerald that he got in Hong Kong. About half of US wholesale. He was there negotiating a multi hundred million dollar contract and I think he was taken VERY good care of by the people he was dealing with. He was not involved in the jewelery industry, but rather the food industry, but his hosts certainly knew where to take him, and it was not to the normal tourist traps!

I offered him a 10k profit on either of his two stones, he just laughed, especially since I had just finished telling him that he saved about 50k on the two stones at wholesale...

Wink

 

[diamond demon]

Hi Luv,

I am no expert but do have a bit of personal experience with jewelery purchases in both St. Thomas and St. Maarten.

If you stick to strictly the well-known, higher end reputable stores, you can get some great deals! You won't always get a great deal, but if you're knowledgeable on quality and have good idea of US prices (internet), you're at the right place to buy some fabulous jewelery.

There are some items though that are better deals than others. I have found that no one anywhere can beat their prices on superb quality tanzanite. Diamonds, I can't say are any great bargain, and I personally would buy it through a Pricescope dealer.

I purchased a 5 carat tanzanite in a 1 ctw diamond setting. The stone is georgous!! Because I was on a cruise I only had a limited time for them to set the stone. I can tell thet really wanted more time...and I almost missed the ship! Sure enough, about a month after I got back home, my tanzanite fell out of the setting. I phoned my salesman in St. Maarten and he gave me an address to send it to in the states. I send the ring in and got it back in less than a week absolutely perfect. They were just great to deal with. That was almost 3 years ago.

When I was looking to purchase a diamond about 6 months ago, I called the salesman I dealth with in St. Maarten and gave him the particulars. He was willing to send me a stone "on approval". While I loved the service, I found that I could do better on Pricescope.

Hope my experiences help. Good luck.

 

[Jennifer5973]

Diamond Demon sums up my opinion--you can do just as well, if not better, than any deal to be found in the islands. It seems exciting and mysterious to buy something on a trip down there but I really think you'll do better here.