Diamonds in Hong Kong?

[teetee]

I am going to Hong Kong and Thailand the beginning of July for vacation and was wondering if anyone here on PS has had experience buying diamonds in Hong Kong. I have read older threads here that claim the HK merchants push color and clarity. However, with the new GIA reports that rate the cut quality, would it make it easier to find a nicely cut stone? Also, how are the HK prices compared to US? I heard you can bargain over there and get approximately 20% off the tag price.

A co-worker suggested that I visit TSL - Tse Shui Luen. They have several locations throughout HK.

Thanks in advance for any tips or suggestions.

 

[surfgirl]

teetee, I dont have HK experience but Thailand is like my second home so based on that, let me advise you that unless you are a HIGHLY trained professional stone dealer, I would not buy diamonds or any $$$ gemstones (rubies, sapphires) over there. Tourists get ripped off all the time there buying stones that are touted as highly valuable. Of course you will be made to think you're getting such a deal, but more often than not, when you get back here and get your stone appraised, you ended up getting ripped off. Dont even consider buying rubies or sapphires because they are constantly one step ahead of appraisers on how to treat stones to look better than they are. In fact, my appraiser said even he would never buy such stones over there because they're always cooking up new ways to enhance stones that are not yet detectable...

I know one shop that I trust in Bangkok, for diamonds, but let me tell you that you pay way more there, than you do here for the same quality. WAY more. And I've never seen a GIA stone over there. Any other jewelry I buy in Asia is purchased solely because I love the piece and I cannot get it here. For example, Indian style earrings because I cannot find them here. But diamonds? No way. You wont find better prices, IMO, than here in the US.

 

[neatfreak]

Considering that PS is BOMBARDED almost daily with individuals from HK wanting to buy from US based vendors, I would say the prices there must be considerably higher.

Otherwise why would all these people buy from US vendors? Wouldn''t make sense.

 

[tumbelina]

surfgirl, I lived in BAngkok last year and we bought our e-ring from a store in Paragon (D''mond). The stone had a GIA cert. I''m sure you are more experienced than I am in the whole thing though! The price of the stone seemed okay although the workmanship on the ring was a bit ho hum.

 

[Kissmark]

Hi I don''t have personal diamond buying experience from Hong Kong but I have some close friends who have. In general, unless you or your friends know the vendor well, or speaks the local language, or really know your diamonds, it''ll be very hard to bargain a good deal w/ the local vendors. HK merchants are known to be very shrewd. There are several large chain jewelry stores, so if you want to be safe you can try one of them. They do put for color and clarity, best friend just got convinced to purchase a E/IF ering. I don''t know about the craftsmanship, but I assume if you get it from one of the larger chain stores, it should be no problem. HTH!

 

[teetee]

Thanks for all the responses. My bf and I have been looking for a diamond for an e-ring and thought it would be a good opportunity to get a bargain in HK. But it does not sound like bargains will be easy to come by. I think that TSL place is a big chain store so we'll go check out one of the stores if it is convenient.

I already know what setting I want to set the diamond in so it's just a matter of finding the right stone at the right price. I am not an expert by any means but my bf works at a high end jewelry store and is used to looking at large D/IF diamonds all the time. He probably has a more discriminating eye than I do. I am more realistic and am not expecting something that high quality. I just want an excellent cut and good color/clarity and realize it doesn't take a D/IF to get that.

We are with a tour in Thailand and I think they are taking us to a jewelry center. I think it will be in Pattaya or somewhere between there and Bangkok. However, I have a feeling that any place they take us to on the tour will be some sort of tourist trap...