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Darkness
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
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 Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:42 pm Post subject: Jewelery and Custom Made Stuff |
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Is Jewelry cheap in Korea?
Anyone know of any reliable jewelery makers in Korea, or overseas? |
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spliff
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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| I've heard of people here taking expensive jewelery into shops for cleaning and getting back their piece(s) w/ switched diamonds or rubies. |
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Darkness
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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umm......ok.
lol....That's a pretty neat trick.
But I don't need anything cleaned, I want somethign made
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spliff
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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Are you providing the stones? If so, watch out.. 
I'd rather do something like that in Thailand. I have friends who make jewelry. |
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Darkness
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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Got any websites?
What about China, or other SE Asian countries for jewelery? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Darkness wrote: |
Got any websites?
What about China, or other SE Asian countries for jewelery? |
Go to Hong Kong.
Go to a licensed dealer in Hong Kong. The government of HK guarantees that the description on the invoice will match the item you buy or you get your money back (and the dealer goes out of business).
Licensed shops will have the daily gold rates posted on the wall. Your setting price will be based on that. Precious stones and gems are competitively priced.
If you know your stuff you can get jewelry there for about 1/2 the cost you would pay here and about 70% of what you would pay in North America.
On an average diamond ring (.35ct, VVS1, brilliant, round, white), the savings between pricing here and there would pay for the airfare and weekend get-a-way in HK.
A cheap ring (.33ct, I2, round, white) can be gotten for about US$500.
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spliff
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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| How much for 1 ct high quality? Can I buy online? |
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Darkness
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the info!! |
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Darkness
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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| How long will it take to have a ring made there? Could it be done in 4 business days?? Are they open Sat's like Korea? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Darkness wrote: |
| How long will it take to have a ring made there? Could it be done in 4 business days?? Are they open Sat's like Korea? |
I had a ring made for the wife in about 8 hours (setting molds were already made).
If it is a custom design of your own then it would depend on the complexity of the design and time to make the mold or do the welding.
If you just want to pick a stone and then have it set in a pre-made ring it only takes a couple hours (or less depending on how busy they are).
Many (most ?) of the reputable dealers in HK and Kowloon (and Macau) are open 9-9, 7 days a week. There are lots on and around Nathan road from Salisbury up to (and past) Jordan road.
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spliff
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Make sure you get a certificate on the stone. Nothing like having a guarantee, IMHO. |
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Zebra12
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Location: Ottawa
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 2:36 am Post subject: |
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You can have gold work done here...you just need to meet the right goldsmith. The city of Iksan (near Jeonju) has a world class facility for making and setting fine stones in 14 & 18k. And, the local Gem Museum is well worth a visit.
I've had a number of 20 and 24k items made here...my designs were done in a computer graphic format...stones were then selected with the aid of a refraction device, to verify the proper index [number], and correct inclusion/colour pattern etc. Cool, if you know what you're doing. You don't need to go to HK. Korea has the real McCoy. But, the best rubies can be difficult to find...that is, the fine Magoks and Cambodian reds. I just bought 10 of them, along with five fine saphires. They were all small stones [.60 - .77 carats], but beautiful for future settings. And, a nice 1.2 ct. emerald. My stones will be appraised at a lab in Ottawa...[re]confirming the value of the lot. Then...they're off to a private shop in La Havana, Cuba...for dancers at the Tropicana.
I'm on the lookout for alexandrites if anyone has some good leads, let me know. Israel rules.
Iksan Gem Museum: www.jewelmuseum.go.kr/ |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 4:28 am Post subject: |
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| Zebra12 wrote: |
You can have gold work done here...you just need to meet the right goldsmith. The city of Iksan (near Jeonju) has a world class facility for making and setting fine stones in 14 & 18k. And, the local Gem Museum is well worth a visit.
I've had a number of 20 and 24k items made here...my designs were done in a computer graphic format...stones were then selected with the aid of a refraction device, to verify the proper index [number], and correct inclusion/colour pattern etc. Cool, if you know what you're doing. You don't need to go to HK. Korea has the real McCoy. But, the best rubies can be difficult to find...that is, the fine Magoks and Cambodian reds. I just bought 10 of them, along with five fine saphires. They were all small stones [.60 - .77 carats], but beautiful for future settings. And, a nice 1.2 ct. emerald. My stones will be appraised at a lab in Ottawa...[re]confirming the value of the lot. Then...they're off to a private shop in La Havana, Cuba...for dancers at the Tropicana.
I'm on the lookout for alexandrites if anyone has some good leads, let me know. Israel rules.
Iksan Gem Museum: www.jewelmuseum.go.kr/ |
The problem with buying it in Korea are the taxes and tariffs.
It will cost you double to buy the same thing here over the price in HK.
Import tariffs on precious metals and stones can be as much as 100% of the cost of the item when it is imported by a dealer.
Then you can add an additional 10% for the VAT/sales tax when the dealer sells it to you. Add that to the cost you would pay in HK.
On a set of 10pt diamond chips in an 18k setting, who cares BUT you won't be getting .33ct diamond rings for 500k won in Korea. At that size and larger, the savings as compared to HK will certainly pay for your weekend get-a-way.
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Zebra12
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Location: Ottawa
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| Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| Zebra12 wrote: |
You can have gold work done here...you just need to meet the right goldsmith. The city of Iksan (near Jeonju) has a world class facility for making and setting fine stones in 14 & 18k. And, the local Gem Museum is well worth a visit.
I've had a number of 20 and 24k items made here...my designs were done in a computer graphic format...stones were then selected with the aid of a refraction device, to verify the proper index [number], and correct inclusion/colour pattern etc. Cool, if you know what you're doing. You don't need to go to HK. Korea has the real McCoy. But, the best rubies can be difficult to find...that is, the fine Magoks and Cambodian reds. I just bought 10 of them, along with five fine saphires. They were all small stones [.60 - .77 carats], but beautiful for future settings. And, a nice 1.2 ct. emerald. My stones will be appraised at a lab in Ottawa...[re]confirming the value of the lot. Then...they're off to a private shop in La Havana, Cuba...for dancers at the Tropicana.
I'm on the lookout for alexandrites if anyone has some good leads, let me know. Israel rules.
Iksan Gem Museum: www.jewelmuseum.go.kr/ |
The problem with buying it in Korea are the taxes and tariffs.
It will cost you double to buy the same thing here over the price in HK.
Import tariffs on precious metals and stones can be as much as 100% of the cost of the item when it is imported by a dealer.
Then you can add an additional 10% for the VAT/sales tax when the dealer sells it to you. Add that to the cost you would pay in HK.
On a set of 10pt diamond chips in an 18k setting, who cares BUT you won't be getting .33ct diamond rings for 500k won in Korea. At that size and larger, the savings as compared to HK will certainly pay for your weekend get-a-way.
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Yes, well, that may be so. I have not set diamonds [yet]--just coloured gems--so you may be right there about the price point and additional costs etc. The diamonds I'd get would be from a reputable dealer in Ottawa (as I'm Can.)...off the tray...stones from Yellowknife, NWT. Fine quality stones, with the micro-fine 'polar bear' [lazer] stamp.
My contacts in Korea, are interested in expanding their participation in inter'l jewellery markets...so Havana is a hot new destination. (HK is nice, but a little boring compared to Cuba...too many strobes and plastic people there.) Free trade zones--among the Caribbean pirates--where salsa swings. |
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