Loose Gems and Gold by the Inch

[amkras]

Last year we sailed an RCI ship and I know on all of them they sell loose gems for $10/carat and Gold By The Inch. Does NCL do the same?

[cruise mouse]

We were on the Dawn in January and they did sell "gold" by the inch and loose stones. I don't recall the prices.

[98Charlie]

Every cruise we have been on has had gold by the inch. Recently we noticed that the gold has been for "One Day Only" which lasted for 3 or 4 days :eek:

 

Charlie

[drfrog]

We wre on the POA on the March 6th sailing. They offered gold by the inch and also loose stones for $10 a carat.

[thunder_lin]

NCL SEA offered Gold by the Inch but check the dates. This was not offered every day of the cruise.

[tuffy88]

We were on the Spirit in March and they sold gold by the inch every day. My wife bought a bracelet and thought she got a pretty good deal.

 

Charles

[beasfriend]

Do they sell loose diamonds on the ship (I know they wouldn't be $10/karat)? Also, are loose stones duty free?

[98Charlie]

Do they sell loose diamonds on the ship (I know they wouldn't be $10/karat)? Also, are loose stones duty free?

We've never bought loose stones. However, on the ship they have always talked about the value of buy the gems loose and having them set when you get home to save the duty. You may want to search through http://www.customs.gov for more information.'

 

Charlie

[seahorse]

Don`t want to burst any bubbles, but you all know the "gold" is plated and the stones are very expensive to have set? Not sure of the quality either.

 

 

As my husband always says "Jewelry is her hobby.":D

[annie m]

seahorse is right. It's 18kt over silver- thats why it is cheap. Although it's not really cheap for what it is.

[Conandlibrarian]

Actually, it is 18kt gold plated over another metal, according to the people that sold it on the Explorer of the Seas. And the loose stones are quite expensive to have mounted. The quality of the stones is pretty good, however.

A better idea is getting gold and loose stones at the ports of call. Many of the places that we have cruised to-Cozumel, San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Nassau, etc., had cheaper loose stones--as little as $7 a carat. Cozumel in particular had incredibly cheap silver--including one place called the $10 silver store, which had a huge assortment of silver trinkets along the walls that were $10. [The center of the store had larger, more expensive pieces, including a sort of a necklace/ornament that I had trouble lifting...and it was about $300 or so].

 

The same is true of almost anything that you can buy onboard. The cigars are cheaper at the ports. The booze is cheaper. The jewelery is MUCH cheaper. :D

[mbisson]

You guys are killing me. I bought a couple lbs of "gold by the inch" for my retirement. Guess I'll have to keep working now.

 

;)

 

-Monte

[amkras]

I know it's not "real" gold jewelry but they make good inexpensive gifts for kids back home.

 

As for the loose gems, I got 2 nice pieces on Adventure of the Sea last year and had a silver ring made out of one and a pendant for the other. Both look gorgeous. To me.

[phlydude]

Loose gems are duty exempt