Angela Lansbury with UK flag and hat. Selfie. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
1 ENGLAND
Birmingham, England
The Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, England.
Link here, but links are also repeated at the end of this post:
Birmingham:
http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/jewellery
London:
https://www.diamondsfactory.co.uk/education/diamond-guide
2 ISRAEL
I have taken a trip around a diamond factory which ended a free tour of Jaffa, the old hilltop area of Tel Aviv seaside in Israel (where I bought a microscopic diamond in an unusual triangle setting),
https://www.israel21c.org/israels-top-10-factory-tours/
3 THE NETHERLANDS
I visited a diamond factory in Europe.
http://www.amsterdamsights.com/attractions/diamonds.html
4 USA - turquoise set in silver
I watched Native Americans insert turquoise into silver at a large 'supermarket' stop (where I bought a six pointed star which Jews call the 'Star of David' and Moslems call 'The Seal of Solomon', and
5 CHINA
A jewellery factory in China where I bought a red and green stones ring.
6 NEW ZEALAND opals
Opal is the stone down under. Whilst my family were skiing in New Zealand, I went around every jewellery store checking the prices of charms for pendants, bracelets, rings and keyrings. In those days opals were opals.
Later In the UK I saw an opal bracelet, second hand, in the window of a shop in Wales. When I asked for a receipt, 'for insurance purposes', I was shocked to find that I had bought imitation opals.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g257473-d7980989-Reviews-The_Arrowtown_Jade_Opal_Factory-Arrowtown_Otago_Region_South_Island.html
7 MEXICO - Silver
On a cruise stop in Mexico we were taken to a jewellery and general souvenir store where we had a short talk about local goods and a chance to buy spherical bells as pendants, then more money if you wanted the matching silver chains. I bought. (Afterwards I saw a smaller and cheaper one on the cruise ship. Was one of them solid silver as claimed, another plated - I never found out about what I bought nor how to test.
8 POLAND - Amber
I bought an amber bracelet in three colour, the real amber which is an orange-y brown and contrasting green and yellow, in silver. All over Warsaw and other cities in Polands jewellery shops, souvenir shops and hotel shops displayed amber jewellery.
A museum is in the northern port of Gdansk.
For an aerial view of the Gdansk city rooftops and the inside of the glass column shelves of the museum displays:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SZSer11m3M
In fact a necklace ringing every time I moved soon turned out to be a nuisance. I discovered that at a concert where you were supposed to stay silent and scared to fidget. Every now and then I re-discover it, am really pleased and wonder why I have never worn it. I wear it for an evening, then tire of it again.
Advance Research
Check on your own birthstone. Do you like the colour of your birthstone?
What jewellery do you already have? Do you need any more?
If you can afford it, buy a matching set. If not, wear or take a photo of a ring or bracelet or necklace, and look for another piece which will form a set with what you already have and like.
Price Comparison
Make an advance comparison. Note the quality and size of jewellery you already have. Note the quality, size and price of jewellery offered at duty-free shops at the airport. Note the quality, size and price of jewellery offered in your home city jewellers or online shops. Compare with online prices shown for your destination.
Note the day's gold price which is listed in some local newspapers and online. Note the currency exchange rate. Note that the price for buying and selling may be different.
Insurance
How will you insure the item you buy?
Rewards
Which credit card offers you the best rewards or airmiles?
Altered To Fit
Can the jewellery item be altered to fit or is it adjustable?
For example, an adjustable ring. A necklace can be shortened and sometimes lengthened or a long one worn looped to make it shorter. If the item is shortened, is the alternation free? Will you need to return to collect the item or can it be done while you wait?
If so, how long will it take? Will it be done in front of you, so you can say exactly what size, and be sure the jeweller's assistant is not swapping stones nor shaving off gold nor damaging the gold plating with his pliers or vice?
Do you get to keep the links which are cut out? If so, can they be made into another piece of matching jewellery or a pendant or bracelet?
Can a matching piece be ordered by post later?
Can you go on a mailing list for the next sale?
Group Discounts
If you are on a tour, the tour organiser may get a discount from the shops where you are taken.
If you are a group and not on a tour, one of you might be able to organize a collective discount. For example, on a trip for a company from Singapore to Thailand, the organiser who was also the company secretary or treasurer or accountant, organized a group visit to a particular store where she had arranged ten percent off for everybody. She bought a large item, rumoured for an even bigger discount!
Useful Websites:
UK
https://www.diamondsfactory.co.uk/education/diamond-guide
http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/jewellery
https://www.visitbritainshop.com/world/
ISRAEL
https://www.israel21c.org/israels-top-10-factory-tours/ (Includes trips to see chocolate, honey, jewellery)
THE NETHERLANDS
http://www.amsterdamsights.com/attractions/diamonds.html
NEW ZEALAND
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g257473-d7980989-Reviews-The_Arrowtown_Jade_Opal_Factory-Arrowtown_Otago_Region_South_Island.html
POLAND
Gdansk and Amber Factory:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SZSer11m3M
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer. I have other posts on chocolate factory tour and workshops in England.
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