Questions To Ask When Buying Jewellery With Gems In Thailand

By Steive Pavel 3 years ago

Thailand is an excellent destination for purchasing exquisite jewellery studded with beautiful gems, and there are many places to buy jewellery when in Thailand. It is a primary trading hub for finished jewellery, with many companies worldwide sourcing jewellery there. However, as the industry is so massive, unscrupulous people will try and rip you off, so you need to be careful. Below are some of the questions you should ask before buying jewellery in Thailand that can help ensure you are getting an excellent deal.

Do The Gems Come With A Certificate?

It is an excellent question to ask no matter where you buy your jewellery, so you will want to ask whether the gems have certificates to prove their quality. It is not essential to have these when selling jewellery, but it can give the buyer extra added peace of mind. The jewellery may be willing to authenticate them at a gemmological laboratory, but this will increase the price. The certificate will tell you the size and cut of the gems, their clarity, and other helpful information that can denote their value.

Have The Gems Been Enhanced?

A gemstone certificate will also tell you if they have been enhanced, so if there is not one available you will want to ask the jewellery store whether they have been enhanced or not. It is common for many gems to go through an enhancing process, such as rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, but it is still worthwhile asking about gemstone enhancement.

Are They A Member Of The Jewel Fest Club?

In 1995, the Tourism Authority of Thailand created the Jewel Fest Club, and if a jewellery store is a member of this, it guarantees the quality and authenticity of the gems you buy there. You can still find quality places to purchase jewellery from but looking for the logo can save you a lot of time and hassle. It is worth noting that you may pay a little extra at these establishments, but it is worth paying extra for quality assurance.

Where Do The Gemstones Originate?

You will also want to ask about the origins of the gems in the jewellery you are looking to purchase. There are many countries throughout the world producing gemstones, but some countries are better known for their quality than others. For example, Myanmar (formally known as Burma) has the best rubies, while Columbia is best known for emeralds, and Kashmir, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka are best for Sapphires.