Buying a gorgeous, wearable trinket on your trip is tempting, but buying jewelry abroad generally is a tricky thing. I freely admit that I do not know anything about gems.... whether or not they are precious stones or semi-precious, so when I contemplate buying jewelry abroad, I go for the fun, inexpensive pieces... that way I won't make a purchase that I'll regret later. I may regret not knowing more and getting a great deal on a fabulous stone, but that's something I'll have to live with. {Being a| tourist can put you into a special state of mind. You're happy and relaxed... enjoying your escape from your daily grind. You're spending "foreign money". Since it isn't what you're used to it might almost seem to be "play money". You're in the mood to indulge yourself, and jewellery will be quite a temptation.... but you need to think this through... that's real money your spending, and you ought to get true value if you choose to buy. Shopkeepers the world over are pros at convincing you you could not't live without that ring or necklace... and at convincing you that their country is the very best place to purchase it. Buy tanzanite in Tanzania, buy emeralds in Brazil, buy sapphires and rubies in Sri Lanka or India! Cab drivers and tour operators all appear to have a cousin that has a jewelry store where you're going to get the buy of your lifetime. Beware of your emotions and those shop keepers and those taxi drivers. The worst way to to get jewelry is always to let the tour operator take you to a store and to let yourself be convinced that you really should get a tanzanite ring in Tanzania. You do not need to get trapped in the hunt.... end up disappointed for having spent a lot of money or for having purchased something that you don't really want, not to mention need. Once you've got your emotions under control, you need to make sure you're getting the actual thing. There are lots of synthetic gems out there, and you will find natural stones that are sometimes substituted for further precious stones. Cubic zirconia and manufactured emeralds could be hard even for experts to tell from the real thing. Other red stones like garnets might be substituted for rubies. Sometimes the names will give you a clue that stones of lesser value are being offered with fancy names in hopes of fooling you into thinking they're more valuable. Mexican jade possibly dyed onyx. Smoky Topaz is probably just smoky quartz. And if the blue color of lapis comes off with water, it's just a dyed stone no matter what it's called. If you get home and discover it is a fake, you will have a tough time returning it. Do not forget - if you buy an expensive piece, there will be customs duty to pay for on it when you come home. Look at customs charges in your country prior to leave home to help you decide if that piece of bijou will cost you more than you think. If you are interested in buying jewelry abroad, do your research at home. Learn about the stones and what to look for. Search the internet for reputable dealers... they're out there. You won't get the bargain the others are touting, but you can pay fairly for the genuine thing. Buying jewelry abroad can provide you with an amazing souvenir, just take note of the pitfalls... then enjoy that tanzanite ring!
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Buying a gorgeous, wearable trinket on your trip is tempting, but buying jewelry abroad can be a tricky thing. I freely admit that I do not know anything about gems.... whether or not they are precious stones or semi-precious, so when I contemplate buying jewelry abroad, I am going for those fun, inexpensive pieces... that way I won't make a purchase that I'll regret later.
David Henry is a travel industry expert and has been providing discounted travel services and products for 25 years. A great choice of quality hotels and apartments in the worlds best holiday destinations can be found at holiday rooms direct Book online and make savings of up to 70% off normal rates providing the very best travel discounts around.
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