PROUD
MEMBER
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Melanie and I are extremely proud of the feedback we are getting lately and would like to boast a little bit if you would indulge us!
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"Just a quick e-mail to tell you that the ruby is stunning. I could not have gotten such a fine ring at this price with any local jeweler. The diamonds you chose were so bright and crisp- and half the cost of the guy here in town." ~Miriam N., Connecticut
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"I would never have purchased a fine gemstone without seeing it first but at the recommendation of a friend I took the plunge with you. This stone is now the focal point of my collection." ~James L., Texas
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"You make custom jewelry so easy. I love e-mailing pictures back and forth and getting ideas. I can't believe how quickly the process went. Let's start on the pendant now!!" ~Marquez G., Indiana
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Q: Custom Jewelry is Expensive, right?
A: Wrong! Actually, custom jewelry will be less expensive than jewelry that you buy online or from a bricks-and-mortar jeweler. One of the most critical factors that weighs heavily on jewelry merchants is the time they hold merchandise in inventory. The longer it sits, the more is has to generate in profit when it sells. Custom-made jewelry is usually the most economical choice.
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Yes...we sell diamonds. If you need a single stone, an earring pair, or multiple rounds or straight or tapered baguettes give us a try. We generally have the best price available anywhere whether you seek a retail stone or wholesale lots.
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Shock #1: You can see the damage
The first Bangkok shock has to be that if you know where to look, there is a lot of damage from the fires set by protesters as they left the city. There is scaffolding around a great deal of the damage and it is covered with tarps, but a big chunk of Central World, once the largest shopping center in Asia, is extra crispy. Why they would go to so much trouble to cover up that damage but leave this billboard in place is beyond me:
These shots were taken from the Siam station platform of the mass-transit skytrain. The two skytrain lines (Sukhumvit and Silom) come together here. It seemed very odd that all the effort was placed on shielding Central World from riot-leery tourists, but such obvious remnants were left untouched even though they are seen by as many people as the shopping center- if not even more.
Fire-damaged metal siding is exposed and rusting, and things are a bit raw right now.
Shock #2: Deep Discounting
I didn't expect the Bangkok dealers to discount heavily but many seem to be doing just that. Even quality rare goods like a fine yellow 26 carat Sri Lankan sapphire on offer opened much lower than I would have guessed. Desperate times call for desperate measures I suppose. I will surmise from this that not only tourists stayed away. It might have been very lonely in the gem district in Silom during the protests. It is unprecedented for us to stay in Bangkok for as long as we have this time, but so far they are keeping us here with quality goods at fair prices.
With all of the rage being Chinese freshwater pearls you may not have guessed that the opening image of the newsletter this month is Akoya. Yes, Japanese saltwater in a metallic silver color that is simply divine. And yes, they cost a lot more than freshwater pearls. But if you are the type of person who appreciates high-class, traditional saltwater pearls then there are opportunities in this market. The selection is limited but remember the rarity of the people to whom we give such gifts! There are times when saltwater pearls say exactly the right thing.
Here was a nice surprise at the pearl wholesaler- big chunky beads that break up your strand with cubes of REAL yellow sapphire, iolite, pink sappire, and who knows what other goodies.
These are exploding in popularity in high-end Western boutique retailers and high-end department stores, but you can design your own unique and exotic necklace for a fraction of the price of Needless Markup. (That's Neimann Marcus for those who missed that day!)
Shock 3: Don't pay the pair price!
Don't forget the economy of adding earrings to your strand of pearls, or ordering a stand-alone set of 18K yellow or white gold or platinum posts with sapphires or rubies. The gold weight is most often less than that required for a ring, and right now modestly-sized sapphire, ruby, and most other stones means that earrings are easy on the budget.
Some dealers in the trade are NOT charging a premium for picking a pair of stones out of calibrated parcels now- that was absurd even six months ago. Let me give it a whirl for you if your goodie box is short on earrings or you need a bit of colored bling for a new outfit. Don't underestimate the beautiful simplicity of a set of earrings in a complementary or adjacent color! That new blue blouse is screaming for violet sapphires, and that new earth-tone look comes to life with some orange or yellow sapphire.
Don't hesitate to go straight across the color wheel and pair green with red, or orange with blue. These are hot pairs that not only look great but say that you "get it"! Everyone wants to be judged on their merit- but remember that attention to detail warrants merit and whether you want to look great for that significant other or well-put-together for that job interview or review, small things say a lot about you. A well-cut pair of stones in the right custom settings that hit the color wheel at the sweet spot translates directly into strong appeal. The right choices will work as hard as you do!
It is as easy as ever to get in touch with us. Our toll-free number has never changed and rings to my cell while we are in Thailand- 800-607-1425. Note that we are twelve hours apart from you if you are in the central time zone of the U.S. Our clients in Australia have it easier as we are within a few hours of them now. We are five hours ahead of our clients in Western Europe, or six hours ahead of those of you in the U.K.
E-mail me at dave@tiptopgem.com if you have a question or request and I will reply via e-mail unless you request that I call you back.
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Rough Gemstones Direct
 We continue to work with rough stone dealers who are importing gems directly from Africa. The reason for this is two-fold: to find stones that Melanie and I will cut into beautiful creations, and also to supply our clients who require rough to cut for themselves or for their clients. If you have not contacted me about your needs for rough gemstones please send me an e-mail so I can put you on my list. We deal in quantities as small as a single piece to as large as several kilos.
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