Gold Jewelry

[ace112759]

Seems the time will be approaching soon to be buying gold jewelry.

Are there any reputable jewelry stores that one can buy at reasonable prices as a farang?

Or would it be better to search out in BKK when I am there?

Thank you.

Ace

[BobHelm]

I think that you would have to try very hard to pay a 'falang price' for gold jewelry in Udon.

All gold stores have the price of their gold per baht (15.16 grams) very clearly marked & visible from even outside the shop. Inside the store the items are physically located by weight - so 1 baht, 2 baht etc, Even so any reputable dealer would be happy to weight the item that you have chosen infront of you before you purchased. Except in rare cases (involving jewelry containing precious stones) the weight of the item * the baht rate quoted = price..

I guess there is a chance that the gold could actually be less than the 96.5 (23 carat) it is suppose to be but he would then be cheating Thai buyers equally with Falang. Given that Thais buy & sell gold as a hobby (or at least dependent on financial circumstances ) there is not much chance that any such roguish seller would get away with it for very long & would be likely to suffer pretty dire consequences.

I am unsure if there is any difference between the baht price quoted in BKK & Udon.
The daily baht price for gold used to be quoted every day in the Bangkok Post (it still might be, but it is years since I have read a copy) which implies that there is at least a set maximum price.

[trubrit]

At the new year just gone I bought some for my wife , as is Thai custom , so I've been told.! This year going to a brand new shop located immediately on the corner as you exit immigration. As Bob say's the gold itself is pretty standard in both quality and price for most goldsmiths around town, but you may find slight variation in the labour charge for making the item into a piece of jewelry, this charge is often negotiable. It wouldn't of course apply if you are buying ingots. I mentioned the above shop because the owners are a young couple educated at Uni of London, so speaking excellent English who offer excellent advise and good service. They actually cleaned many items of mine without charge while we waited .Will certainly go back when the pound stops plunging . :-"

[ace112759]

thank you both very much for the feedback. I am used to buying bullion in USa, and I have experienced challenges in China before, so I thought I would ask.

Very helpful information. I will be there on the 17th of February and definitely will be checking it out.

Thanks again.

Ace.