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Buying Jewelry Abroad

By: david henry


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Buying a beautiful, wearable trinket on your holiday 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'm going for those fun, inexpensive pieces... that way I won't make a purchase that I'll regret later.

I could regret not knowing more and getting a great deal on a superb 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 is not what you're used to it might almost seem like "play money".

You're in the mood to indulge yourself, and jewellery may be quite a temptation.... but you might want to think this through... that's real money your spending, and you would like to get true value if you choose to buy.

Shopkeepers the world over are pros at convincing you that you can't live without that ring or necklace... and at convincing you that their country is one of the 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 seem to have a cousin that has a jewelry store where you'll get the buy of a lifetime.
Watch out for your emotions and those shop keepers and those taxi drivers. The worst approach to to get jewelry is to let the tour operator take you to a store and to let yourself be convinced that you really should buy a tanzanite ring in Tanzania.

You don't need to get trapped in the hunt.... end up disappointed for having spent a lot of money or for having purchased something that you do not really want, let alone need.

Once you have your emotions under control, you would like to be sure to're getting the actual thing. There are many synthetic gems available, and you can find natural stones which can be sometimes substituted for more precious stones. Cubic zirconia and manufactured emeralds may be hard even for experts to tell from the real thing. Other red stones like garnets might be substituted for rubies.

Sometimes the names provide you with a clue that stones of lesser value are being offered with fancy names in hopes of fooling you into thinking they may be more valuable. Mexican jade is probably dyed onyx. Smoky Topaz is probably just smoky quartz. And if the blue color of lapis comes off with water, it's merely a dyed stone no matter what it's called. If you get home and learn it's a fake, you will have a hard time returning it.

Do not forget that if you purchase an expensive piece, there will be customs duty to pay on it when you come home. Check out customs charges in your country before you leave home to help you decide if that piece of jewellery will amount to 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 web for reputable dealers... they're out there. You won't get the bargain the others are touting, but you'll pay fairly for the actual thing.
Buying jewelry abroad can give you a fantastic souvenir, just take note of the pitfalls... then enjoy that tanzanite ring!

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

David Henry is a travel industry expert and has been providing discounted travel products and services 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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