New to forum: question about smartbees in HK

[Andrew88]

Hi guys

I'm brand new to the forum am I'm not 100% in which area to post this.

I'll be travelling to HK soon for holidays and E ring hunting and have been told that smartbees jewellers are extremely good, as I don't know much about diamonds etc I was wondering if any of you guys have had much experience with them at all? I've been told they only use GIA diamonds which is abit of peice mind

Cheers andrew

 

[Dancing Fire]

Are you from the U.S.?

 

[Gypsy]

People from Hong Kong come to the US to shop, and you want to do the reverse?

Yeah. The jewelers in Hong Kong care only about color and clarity. Most have no concept of what truly makes for a good diamond: cut.

 

[GreenBling]

Hi, I'm from HK but never heard of smartbees. jewelry price is no longer competitive because of high rent and demand. Having said that, I find that pieces with complicated designs and settings are much cheaper, perhaps due to lower labor cost? I buy from independent jewelers who would help me source loose diamonds and their price is around same as US online vendors, however the level of education and information I could get is close to nil. FYI, I bought my stone from GOG then set in HK.

 

[Andrew88]

I'm from Australia where the prices are double compared to HK from what i have seen and been quoted the diamond I'm looking at is a GIA certified triple ex cut

Cheers andrew

 

[Andrew88]

http://m.yp.com.hk/23119715/261579/en

 

[Daisyoz]

I am also from Australia. My sister in law is from Hongkong now lives in Australia. We both bought our e rings online from the US. Hers is from Bluenile and mine is from Whiteflash. The price is much better than in Australia where there s a huge mark up, even with the tax added on and more transparent (especially with Whiteflash). Not sure about buying diamonds from Hongkong. All my SIL's Hongkong friends bought their erings from the US.

 

[mochiko42]

I'm from Hong Kong and would absolutely NOT buy diamonds or colored stones in Hong Kong (one exception may be the trade shows). The prices are inflated due to the high rents and the cuts are not great. Doubt you will get ASET or other information too.

Never heard of Smart Bees. Are you sure you're not thinking of Bee's Diamond?
http://www.beesdiamonds.com/mavista/cms/en/home

Caveat : I don't know much about Bees diamond as I don't know anyone who has purchased from them and so cannot personally recommend them. However FWIW they do seem to get a decent amount of media coverage.

Still, due to the high markups and overall average quality of retail inventory in Hong Kong I prefer to buy from the US.


I buy my colored stones and diamonds from US (I like GOG in New York), many vendors ship internationally and there is no import or sales tax in Hong Kong.

Greenbling, can you recommend a jeweler who will set outside stones in HK? I use one but not too happy with the most recent setting he made..my go-to for custom work is a jeweler in Thailand but I would like to have a good jeweler for simple setting work in HK. Thanks!

 

[mochiko42]

If you do want to buy jewelry in Hong Kong as a souvenir you could consider jade or 24k gold jewelry.

 

[GreenBling]

Mochiko42, I used several and like the one that set my FIL and RB solitaire. I have posted them on SMTB.

107 Welley Building, 97 Wellington Street, Central. Book.appointment with Mr Tam (owner) 90953022