Which island is best to buy a new wedding ring?

[Jacey1971]

I bought diamond huggie earrings in the Caribbean and later found out I did NOT get a good deal at all.

[Keith1010]

Your best deals would be in St Maarten.

 

With that said sometimes you are just best to purchase jewelry at home so that you can take your time with the purchase and so that if there are any issues you can followup with the jewelry store.

 

Keith

[SuiteTraveler]

I looked at a men's diamond ring at a certain diamonds store in the Caribbean that was $6,000. A month or so later, I was with a good friend when she selected and purchased the same ring in from a local jewelry store for her fiancé. Here it was $2,000. No way would I waste my money or time trying to buy from the Caribbean.

[hartskys]

Thanks everyone, great information and I have decided to keep looking at home and not take a chance.

 

You all have been great help. :)

 

Now, to find a ring.. ;)

[Donray]

Los Angles jewelry district.

[RJ2002]

We bought a nice watch in the Caribbean many years ago. We thought we got a good deal on it, and it was before the proliferation of the internet, so I wasn't able to easily price compare once I returned.

 

Today, I would not make a jewelry purchase away from home unless you had a very specific item in mind, and had some prices in hand from local stores before you made the purchase.

[iancal]

We would never buy good jewelry (not watches) in the Caribbean-or in a shopping center at home for that matter.

 

First off, we know absolutely nothing about diamonds or gemstones. Or, at least not enough to match wits with a jewelry store where the salespeople are pros and work primarily on commission. We would not know if what we were told was true and once the boat has sailed, well it is game over.

 

As others have said, the 'appraisal' is a meaningless piece of paper designed to make you buy. Stop for a moment and think...is it really possible that jewelry stores can sell you product at 50, 60, 70 percent discounts. If the answer is yes, then there must really be a tooth fairy. You may score the odd good buy. These people play on your emotions and on the fact that you are only in port for several hours.

 

You will get a far better buy at home from places like Costco, Blue Saphire, or a small local jeweler.

Edited November 15, 2014 by iancal

[rvsullivan]

For any of those getting appraised values after you come home. Just ask the jeweler after he/she gives you the insurance value for your item, will they buy it from you for that price. Watch the shocked look on their face just before they tell you no way! DI and the others are a rip off, just take a brief look online at the problems.

Buy at home from a local/reputable jeweler.

[Keith1010]

For any of those getting appraised values after you come home. Just ask the jeweler after he/she gives you the insurance value for your item, will they buy it from you for that price. Watch the shocked look on their face just before they tell you no way! DI and the others are a rip off, just take a brief look online at the problems.

Buy at home from a local/reputable jeweler.

 

Well why would a jeweler buy and item at the face value since there would be no profit to be made. :confused:

[DirtyDawg]

Well why would a jeweler buy and item at the face value since there would be no profit to be made. :confused:

 

A good socialist jeweler would. :D

 

But of course there are no socialist jewelers around anymore. They all went out of business.:eek:

[Keith1010]

A good socialist jeweler would. :D

 

But of course there are no socialist jewelers around anymore. They all went out of business.:eek:

 

LOL. :D But.........::eek:

[sail7seas]

A good socialist jeweler would. :D

 

But of course there are no socialist jewelers around anymore. They all went out of business.:eek:

 

LOL....... right. :)

 

[SPacificbound]

Simply put, I would not buy jewelery anywhere outside the US. Go to Costco if you have one near.

[awhfy]

I've bought rings at Milano in St Thomas, & Ballerina in St Maarten both appraised at home for considerably more than I paid for them. All depends on what you're looking for & how much time you're willing to spend. This was the past two years

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[jimicaj]

The island that you live on. Too many things can go wrong.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Forums mobile app

[BruceMuzz]

Manhattan Island is a far better and safer place to buy diamonds than any island in the Caribbean.

[veryseasonedtraveler]

Buyer beware. Go to Diamonds International problems on internet. Interesting reading.

 

I personally have lots to say about the quality of what we bought at DI.

Edited November 16, 2014 by veryseasonedtraveler

[gumdrop44]

We bought ours on st.thomas.

[gumdrop44]

St thomas or st martin. My engagement ring is from st thomas.

[ithaca gal]

So glad to see the OP is going to buy locally. One, it is great to support local companies and two, it probably is a much safer way to purchase jewelry.

 

Now I can forget about this thread and go back to searching others. :)

[muggo11]

Manhattan

[schittenden]

Bluenile.com

[skandls]

I got my GIA diamond from Costco - regular jewelers could not come close to the price for the quality of my stone.

[sparkymom]

Does anyone buy on the ship during these trips?

[Keith1010]

People buy items on board ships too but just like in the islands you really have to know what you want and often you do better buying the items at home at your local jeweler.

 

keith