Rhino, Richard S., Dave...etc...thoughts on Creative Gem?

[aljdewey]

I''m considering a purchase from them for colored stones to replace damaged jewelry.




I''m not familiar with them and was hoping for some feedback on the reputation.




Thanks,


Al

 

[Richard Sherwood]

I'm not familiar with them either Al.

 

[elmo]

They're in Thailand aren't they, as are many of the other big color sites like thaigem and multicolour? Because you usually get charged an escrow or credit chargeback fee for normal returns from these sites, and because there's a possibility that customs will get involved, and because I've heard that consumer-friendly credit card policies may not help with an overseas transaction, I personally wouldn't spend more than a few hundred bucks at these sites on something I don't mind being disappointed in.

Edited to add: at least it looks like they're an AGTA and Jeweler's Board of Trade member.

 

[aljdewey]

Can any of you guys in the biz give me some suggestions on where to go for 8mm trillion peridots where I won't get hosed?




Thanks!

 

[Rhino]

My sister Amy and assistant Sandra handles that end of our biz. My head is in the diamonds & email all day so I'm oblivious.




Rhino

 

[valeria101]

----------------
On 10/10/2003 5:28:43 PM aljdewey wrote: I'm not familiar with them and was hoping for some feedback on the reputation ----------------

I guess I am the one who pointed out this shop. They are AGTA members, so you can go and check them on that front.

As for their Thay origin... well, the country (with its horible record by Transparency International with all) IS a world-class gem hub. So, not surprisingly, the largest low to mid-range, volume-sale colored gem businesses keep a foot there. Including Creative Gem, Thaigem and Multicolor (the last were the two largest last time I checked). The story changes for the high end sellers of few, great gems: they sell based on their credibility to buyers from mainly developed countries, so they are based near the customers. Of course, the US greatest jewelers still have to buy from the source (and Thailand is such a source, one step up on the market from the geologic sources in Burma, Nigeria, Laos, Tanzania... or worse), so they build their business on creating tests and gradings to reassure buyers.

Enough talk. There was a whole workshop at Cambridge U two years ago trying to explain why 'the best gems come from all the worts places'... The theory is still in the works

, but the mantra is empirically true. Too bad I don't remember which famous gemologist came up with it!

 

[fire&ice]

A while back I was looking for a sizable rainbow tourmaline, I became busy & forgot about it. I was talking w/ cherrypicked.com. Never consumated the sale, but their website is extensive & they were helpful.

Good luck.

Edited to add: I would be fearful of buying direct from Thailand or the area. I'd pay a premium to buy in the US. - just my spin.

 

[elmo]

Edit: Al edited her post; this reply moved to colored stone thread.